New Almaden Quicksilver Chimney - New Almaden, CA
Posted by: DougK
N 37° 10.322 W 121° 49.731
10S E 603971 N 4114598
The Almaden Quicksilver Chimney is between 54 and 50 feet high. it is located about 850 feet above sea level and about 330 feet above the Hacienda parking lot of Quicksilver Park.
Waymark Code: WM65XF
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/08/2009
Views: 3
Almaden Quicksilver Chimney sits on a hill southwest of the Hacienda entrance of
Almaden Quicksilver Park. It was built in the 1870's during the heyday of mercury mining. Flumes carried the sulfur gases from the reduction furnaces below at the the Hacienda Reduction Works up the hill to the chimney. The chimney was designed to vent sulfur fumes from the reduction works high into the air, where it could be blown away. An unfortunate side effect of this release, was acid rain falling on this part of the South Bay.
The chimney is cracked and in danger of falling during an earthquake. Caution should be used when approaching this waymark. Additional waypoint is for a side trail leading to the chimney.
From high up where this chimney sits, is a view of Almaden Dam and reservoir.