Home > California > New%252525252525252BAlmaden > New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, New Almaden Quicksilver Mine County Park, New Almaden, Santa Clara County, CA
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Item Title
New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, New Almaden Quicksilver Mine County Park, New Almaden, Santa Clara County, CA
LocationNew Almaden Quicksilver Mine County Park,
New%252525252525252BAlmaden, CA
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Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1933.
Notes
Survey number HABS CA-114
Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-74).
Building/structure dates:
185 initial construction
Significance: The New Almaden mine is the site of the first mercury deposit discovered on the American continent and has yielded metal of greater value than that of any other mine in the State, producing nearly one-third of the country's supply of mercury. The ore deposit was discovered in 1824 but not recognized as a mercury deposit until 1846. At that time, the town was renamed New Almaden after the Almaden mine in Spain, the world's greatest mercury producer. Until the discovery of the cyanide process in 1887, quicksilver was the chief reduction agent used in processing gold and silver. The metal extracted from the New Almaden mine thus made possible the rapid development of gold and silver quartz mining in California and the Comstock Lode in Nevada during the 1850s and 1860s. Since then, production has fluctuated with the opening and exhausting of ore deposits. In 1927 mining activity was terminated for the first time since 1849. Mining was resumed during World War II. The mine is inactive today. A few of the 1850s wooden and adobe structures, offices, mine structures and old furnace buildings remain. The site became a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and part of Santa Clara County's park district in 1975.
Related Names
Castillero, Andres
Forbes, J. Alexander
Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. Historic American Buildings Survey Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer May 11, 1936 VIEW FROM NORTHEAST
2. Historic American Buildings Survey Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer May 11, 1936 VIEW FROM NORTHWEST
3. Historic American Buildings Survey Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer May 11, 1936 VIEW FROM NORTH
4. Historic American Buildings Survey Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer May 11, 1936 VIEW FROM EAST
5. Historic American Buildings Survey Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer May 11, 1936 VIEW FROM SOUTHEAST
6. Historic American Buildings Survey Robt. Kerrigan, Photographer Sept. 24, 1936 WINDOW AND DOOR DETAIL
7. Historic American Buildings Survey Robt. Kerrigan, Photographer Sept. 24, 1936 DETAIL OF FIREPLACE
CHIMNEY
Photocopy of stereograph (original print in New Almaden Museum, 21570 Almaden Rd., New Almaden, CA) March 1876, photographer unknown VIEW OF SPANISHTOWN
Photocopy of photograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) C. E. Watkins, Photographer November 1877 THE WORKS AND THE MINE
Photocopy of stereograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) 1878, photographer unknown INTERIOR OF SANTA ISABEL PUMPING EQUIPMENT
Photocopy of stereograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) June 1878, photographer unknown HUTTNER-SCOTT TYPE TIERRA #5 FURNACE BEFORE EXTENSION
Photocopy of photograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) Circa 1885, photographer unknown BUENA VISTA PUMP
Photocopy of photograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) Circa 1885, photographer unknown INTERIOR OF RANDOL SHAFT
Photocopy of photograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) Circa 1885, photographer unknown VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST OF HACIENDA, SHOWING REDUCTION WORKS
Photocopy of photograph (original print in New Almaden Museum) Circa 1886, photographer unknown VIEW OF ENGLISHTOWN, LOOKING EAST FROM MINE HILL SCHOOL
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