THE TRADE EN QUICKSILVER. 



stoppage, by injunction, of the great New Almaden Mines, at San Jt^ 

 about sixty miles from Sau Francisco, which produced 80,000 iron flasks 

 of 76^1bs. each annually, the price of quicksilver has greatly advanced 

 throughout the world. Abundant supplies were formerly to be had at 

 two shillings the pound, now it is difficult to obtain, and small lots only 

 can be had at nearly double the former price. 



There is a large consumption in California, where it is indispensable in 

 separating the gold from the pounded quartz rock. The consumption in 

 that State is estimated at 3,000 flasks per annum, which is about equal to 

 the present production of the Santa Clara Mines, which adjoin the New 

 Almaden Mines, and have been vigorously worked for about three years by 

 a Baltimore company. This mine is increasing in richness, and it is expected 

 will soon be able to double its production. The cinnabar, or ore of mercury, 

 is reduced at the Santa Clara Mine in cast-iron retorts, which, experience 

 has demonstrated to be better adapted to the purpose than the old-fashioned 

 brick furnaces, where a large part of the mercury was lost by absorption 

 and evaporation. Until the New Almaden Mines are re-worked, the supply 

 of quicksilver must be less than the demand, and higher prices will no 

 doubt continue. Some descriptive details of the quicksilver mines of 

 Old and New Almaden will be found in Yol. XIV. of the Pharmaceutical 

 Journal, p. 373. 



The exports of quicksilver from California have amounted to the follow- 

 ing number of flasks : — 



1854 20,963 



1855 29,917 



1856 23,024 



1857 25,400 



1858 24,132 



1859 3,399 



The New Almaden Mine was closed by an injunction issued from the 

 United States District Court, atthe instance of the Government, in October, 

 1858 ; and there is little probability of its being again worked until the 

 question of title is settled. The Guadaloupe Mine, in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the New Almaden, yielded, in 1858, 1,892 flasks. Anew 

 mine was also opened in that year, about 130 miles to the south-east of 

 San Francisco ; and it is probable from these two mines enough quicksilver 

 will be extracted to supply the wants of the State. 



The following have been the imports and re-exports of quicksilver into 

 the United Kingdom for the last fourteen years : — 



Imports, lbs. Exports, lbs. 



1846 1,841,280 1,597,120 



1847 2,542,400 1,518,164 



1848 1,568,000 895,650 



1849 2,682,592 1,252,608 



1850 355,079 1,014,492 



1851 27,370 876,631 



