Aurora Mine

 mine, production

The Aurora Mine was a cinnabar mine active from 1853, as part of the New Almaden mining operation. Claims were filed in 1854 along with claims for the San Carlos Mine and Molina Mine. The original claims were filed by Rafael Rippa, William Norrlin, Jose Maria Molina and H.F. Pitts as part of the New Almaden mining operations. Operations continued into the 1950´s.

The prospectors of the Aurora Mine thought they discovered silver, which turned out to be chromite. However, they also discovered a good quantity of cinnabar and continued operations as a cinnabar mine. This mine was also sometimes known as the Morning Star Mine.

The entire mine consisted of surface benches, 5 adits, 4 shafts with a total of 1600´ of underground workings. Historic photographs of the mine showed that several structures were erected to house workers. Site restoration began in 2000 and very little evidence remains of this mine.

www.picacho.org/place%20names/aurora-mine.html