The Arizona sentinel., 1886-09-18
A VALUABLE METAL.
How Quicksilver Is Obtained and the Man
 Uses to Which It Is Put.

 Uses to Which It Is Put.
 Quicksilver forms part of a soft red rock called cinnabar, composed of mer- cury and sulphur. The cinnabar is crushed and exposed to the heat, when the metal, in form of vapor, passes into vessel suitable for the purpose, where it is cooled Then, being reduced to it's liquid state, it is pure and fit for use.
 When men working in the mines heat the rocks, the quicksilver will sometimes roll out in drops as large as pigeons egg, and fall on the ground in a million sparkling globules. It is said to be very beautiful against the dark, red rock, glittering everywhere with this ''living silver," while every crack and crevice is also filled with it. Just as wood floats on water because it is lighter, so large stones thrown into kettle of mercury would float on top. it is so much more heavy substance than the stone.
 There are only four important local ities where it is obtained-California, Peru, Austria and Almaden, in Spain. The mines in Peru were discovered in curious manner. Cinnabar, when ground very fine, makes beautiful red paint. The Indians used this to orna- ment their bodies on great occasions. This caused the country where they lived to be examined, and the cinnabar was found. The Romans used this paint hundreds of years ago in decorat- ing their images. It is of great value now in our times, and we call it yer. million.
 This wonderful quicksilver is very useful in separating metals from the rocks to which they cling. The rocks are crushed fine, sifted and washed un- til as much of the gold and silver is re- moved as possible. Then it is placedin bottle with the quicksilver, which seems to absorb it at once, separating it entirely from every particle of sand or rock. If the metal to be cleaned is gold, you will see a yellowish mass of sort of paste or amalgam. This is heated, and the mercury or quicksilver flies away, leaving behind it pure gold. It is only after years of patient toll and very many unsuccessful attempts that this wonder-working process was brought about.
 Not many years ago, near the rich gold mines of California, there were dis covered large mines of quicksilver. Previous to this, all the quicksilver had to be shipped to this country from for eign shores, which made it very hard to obtain, and very expensive. Now, the tables are turned. For we, after supply ing our own demand, can supply other countries ourselves plentifully.
 Although mercury is so useful in many ways, it is also deadly poison, and its vapor so dangerous that in the search for it many persons have lost their lives. Not many years ago the mines of Austria took fire, and thirteen hundred work men were poisoned, many of them dying in consequence; and the water used tC quench the flames, pumped into river near by, caused all the fish in the river to die.
 Have you ever seen mercury carried aboutP It is put in sheepskin bags and cast-iron bottles. It is so heavy that in- stead of an ordinary cork, an iron stop per is used-screwed in! Sometimes these bags do sad havoc, as in the case of storage of several in the hold of ship, bringing it to this country. Some of the bags leaked. Everybody on board was poisoned. Every bit of metal was covered with silver coating of quick silver.