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Posted on @rawstates
New Almaden, the mercury that made the Gold Rush
1845
Santa Clara County, California
Cristiano Tomás · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
New Almaden, the mercury that made the Gold Rush is the largest mercury mine in North America, worked by Mexican, Chinese, and Cornish labourers whose furnaces poisoned the valley. Its quicksilver made the Gold Rush possible. The mercury is still in the creek beds.
That was 1 of the hidden places.
Location: documented spot
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