New Idria, California
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New Idria is an inoperative quicksilver (cinnabar) mine in San Benito County, California. It was named in honor of the world's second largest quicksilver mine in Idrija, Slovenia. Pronunciation: ĭdria or īdria; locally pronounced īdria with a with a long vowel.
New Idria also refers to the historic name of the company mining town that grew to support the mining operations.
[edit] History
The New Idria Mining Company was formed soon after the discovery of cinnabar (quicksilver ore) in southern Diablo Range of central California in 1854. The town of New Idria began around 1857 and about 300 men were employed at the mine by 1861. The first school opened in 1867 and the New Idria Post Office opened in 1867. In 1894, the New Idria Post Office dropped the word "New" and the town become known as Idria. The New Idria Quicksilver Mining Company closed 1974 and the town has since become a ghost town.
New Idria is a California Historical Landmark (#324) and home of the world’s first Gould Rotary Furnace. The Gould Rotary Furnace revolutionized ore processing technology worldwide.
