OF NEW ALMADEN. 61 
nual product of the Spanish mine at Almaden is about 
three millions of pounds. 
April 4th. After breakfast we set out on foot for 
the mine, which is situated near the top of a mountain 
immediately adjoining the works. ‘The ascent begins 
directly in the rear of the store-houses, by a well con- 
also been found in China and Japan: and though the amount of the 
produce is unknown, itis believed to be considerable. 
Le Play, a French geologist, who visited Almaden in 1833, describes 
the mines as being richer than at any former period, furnishing anually 
nearly 2,244,000 pounds of mercury. About seven hundred workmen 
are employed under ground, and two hundred in the operations con- 
nected with extraction of the metal from the ore at the surface. 
According to Dumas, the following mines yield annually, the annex- 
ed number of quintals of mercury (a quintal is 108 lbs. avoirdupois, 
nearly) : 
Almaden (Spain) 25,000 to 32,000. 
Idria 6,000 ‘ 10,000. 
Leia FOE ies ac 
ransylvania 
~ Deux Ponts | 400 gt 500. 
Palatinate 180 $f 200. 
Huancavelica 3,000 cs 3,000. 
At present, it is understood that Messrs. Rothschild, of London, have 
the control of the Almaden mines. 
During the year 1853, the total exports of quicksilver from San Fran- 
cisco, amounted to 18,800 flasks, valued at $683,189. All this, together 
with the large amount used in California, was the produet of the New 
Almaden mine. The following shows to what points the quicksilver was 
exported: ‘“ Hongkong, 5,642 flasks, valued at $180,272; Shanghae, 
812, $31,199; Canton, 366, $14,125 ; Whampoa, 300, $11,500; Cal- 
cutta, 50, $1,875 ; Mazatlan, 2,811, $96,250 ; Mazatlan and San Blas, 
255, $10,000; San Blas, 1,942, $72,463 ; Callao, 1,800, $66,500; Val- 
paraiso, 1,977, $71,875; New-York, 1,845, $77,180 ; Philadelphia, 
1,000, $50,000.” 
