Pre 1850 - The region is extremely remote, yet several Spanish descendant families already live in the area. These include Hernandez, Larios, Castro, Lopez, Tridado, Cantua, Amaro and Murieta. The quicksilver mine financed by Forbes was discovered in Santa Clara in 1847 by Moraga, Richard, Blackburn, Snyder, Christie, Pitts, Belden and Cook.
1851 - Discovery of the Aurora Mine. Smith, Salgado and the Hunter brothers discover what they believed is silver ore at the Aurora and Picacho claims. They form the Aurora Mining Company the following year. However, instead of silver ore, they had discovered chromite ore and their mine is a dismal failure.
1853 - Joaquin Murieta is killed by California Rangers at Arroyo Cantua near New Idria. Yellow Bird publishes the story "The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta the following year.
 |
 |
1854 - Cinnabar is discovered near the Aurora Mine. Claim filed for "New Idria" by Henry F. Pitts, Rafael Ripa, José Dolores Molina, and William Norrlin. Norrlin takes word of the discover to San Francisco to arrange sale of the claim to Thompson and Gibbs.
1855 - New Idria Mine partner, Peter Collins is murdered while returning to the mine from San Juan Bautista.
1857– - Workers construct the first brick furnace to roast the cinnabar ore into mercury. The first run of the new furnace yields 400 pounds of quicksilver, the second run yields 900 pounds.
