The New Idria story begins in 1851 when a prospector, near the present Aurora Mine location, mistakenly thought that the chromite he found was silver. As a silver mine, his discovery was a dismal failure, but cinnabar was soon discovered nearby and quicksilver mining began. The New Idria claim was filed on March 20, 1854 by four men. They hired an experienced mercury miner named and began working the claim. It took a few years before workers completed construction on the first brick furnace. The New Idria Mining Company was officially born in 1858 and mining operation continued for 114 years.
Flasks of Quicksilver Being Load onto a Train - Copyright - courtesy Ward collection.
