The Placer herald., 1859-02-26
Our New Idria Quicksilver Mine.

lhe new Clnnabar Mines are Just now
making great stir in and around San Juan,
Monterey county. 1t is uncertain, yet,
whether they are in Monterey or Merced
county, as the county lines have not as yet
been run. They lie in the vicinity of the
Panoche Peak, about sixty miles south of San
Juan Mission, near the head d-waters of San
Benito Creek. The mine is situated in a
very high, barren, desolate country; but the
mineral, from our Information, is equally as
abundant and rich as that of New Almaden.
Some persons assert that the quality Of the
liquid quicksilver is superior to that of any
other in the world, being preferred by as.
sayers and gold miners. 1t is stated TO us
that there are now as many as one hundred
and fifty men at work, and quite an estab-
lshment of haciendas has been formed, at
cost of over $4,000, under the charge of
Daniel Glib & Co., Of San Francisco. The
workmen and traffic of the mine make a
large current expenditure Of money, and
lively times exist at San Juan.
Indications of cinnabar have also been
lately found in the mountains Immediately
east of Natividad, in Monterey county. No
doubt there are other rich deposits Of this
valuable mineral in the eastern slopes and
ridges of the Coast Range of mountains
running through Santa Clara, Alameda,
Contra Costa, StansIaus, Monterey, San
Luis Obispo, Fresno, and Buena Vista coun-
ties, and running as far down as the Tejon
Pass. In the mountains Of the Estrella
Pass of San Miguel Mission, there is the
face of precipitous white rock covered with
figures by the Indians many of which are
painted in permilion. Where did the Indians
get this? AT Panoche Peak, New Almaden,
or some other mine of the same range fur
ther south? There seems to be an enormous
mineral development in this back bone of
mountains. From indications, the mass of
mineral seems developed through Il line
about fifteen miles east of the San Joaquin
plains, from Livermore's Pass down to the
Tejon, where the country is dreadfully bar
ren, dry, woodless, and mineral, except in
spots. Claviero, in his "Hstory of Lower
California" mentions places in that country
where Indian rock figures are painted in
vermion, before the arrival Of the Span
iards. Where did the Indians set their
vermlion? Doubtless, in the southern part
of our State, or the northern part of Lower
California.
A German traveller stated to us, some
time ago, that in the mountains of Guate-
mala, four or five days travel east of the city
of that name, there is said to be deposit Of
liquid quicksilver, which is sometimes brought
into the city by the Indians. in the most
private manner, as present to very particu-
lar friends AS the Indians are Independent,
and no white man is allowed in their terri
tory, the discovery Of the mine has not been
made by outsiders, as no money or other
motives has yet induced the Indians to reveal
its whereabouts. The liquid quicksilver mine
is not an impossibilty, as the old Idra mines
were discovered by cooper having his tubs,
put to soak near the mine, filled with mercury
instead of water.
If the richer qualities of the New Alma
den cinnabar in coarse powder, are exposed
to hot sun for a few days, the liquid mer
curry will deposit itself, as any one can prove.
A lake Of quicksilver-liquid mercury-s
not impossible; but it must be small one,
in California, as it has not yet been found
The New Idria mine was discovered by
Messrs. Nolin, Pitts, Smith, and others, in
1854, and many attempts have been made,
under great difficulties, to get it in opera
tion, from that time to the present. Itseems
fairly started now; but it is not quite out of
the woods, as the owners of the Panoche
Grand Ranch claim it to be within their
boundaries. S. +. Bulletin.