1860 - New Idria has five furnaces operating and about 200 men employed under the superintendence of William Neely Thompson. Thomas Edwards and Henry Pitts discover a "rich cinnabar" claim near Picacho on the San Benito River. The town of Picacho grows to a population of 300 people. The stage begins running between San Juan and New Idria. Supplies for New Idria are now shipped to the Salinas slough, then carried by wagon to San Juan and on to New Idria.
1861 – William H. Brewer, a member of the California Geological Survey, draft the first known description of New Idria when he visits the area with other members of the survey team. Brewer noted that between 250 to 300 men, employed in various occupations, work at the mines. Although their daily income ranges to as high as twenty-five dollars, the average wage was only three dollars. The wide variance in daily income results from the miners being paid by the job.
1862 - Congress establishes a post road between San Juan and New Idria and open the New Idria Post Office. William Gibbs, co-owner of New Idria Mining Company dies in Scotland during a business trip. William Thompson the other co-owner sues the Gibbs estate for settlement of a debt owed him. New Idria Quicksilver Mine shuts down and is put into receivership; the injunction is remove a year later but the company struggles until 1864 before operations commence again.
1864 - New Idria Quicksilver Mining Company resumes operation. The Gibbs interest are replaced by Forbes Bros. & Co.
1865 - The "Henry Mason Gang" is hiding out in the area of New Idria.
1867 - School opens at New Idria
1868 - With 450 men working the mine, production peaks at 12,180 flasks, valued at $559,062, a record that will hold until World War II. Some Mexican miners at New Idria form the "Union Méxicana" to generate enough money to work the Fresno Quicksilver Mine, now known as the Del Mexico Mine. The union sold one-half of the site to Fidel Castro for his labor to work the mine.
1869 - The mail route from San Juan, by New Idria to Picacho and back, once a week is established.
