Alchemy Cache III: Liquid Metal Virtual Cache
Alchemy Cache III: Liquid Metal
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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The coordinates to the cache will take you to a sign at the
Mariscal Mine site in Big Bend National Park. Not only is this an
interesting historic site, but it has some of the most beautiful
desert scenery in the park. To claim this cache, send us an e-mail
with the post office box number on the sign.
Mariscal Mine, a National Register Historic District in Big Bend
National Park, is a former mercury mine at the end of Mariscal
Mountain. Click
here for detailed information at the Official Big Bend National
Park website about Mariscal Mine.
Cinnabar, the red ore containing mercury, was discovered here about
1900. The mine and the accompanying processing plant were
particularly active during World War I, when mercury was in high
demand for making blasting caps and bomb detonators. Mercury is
still in use today in thermometers and other scientific equipment,
position sensitive electrical switches, mercury vapor lights, the
production of chlorine, and some dental preparations. At one time,
mercury from this mine and the mines around Terlingua produced the
majority of mercury in the U.S. However, the current price of
mercury is not sufficient to make this mine economically feasible.
Click
here for an overview of mercury mining in Texas.
Mercury has been known since antiquity because it is relatively
easy to produce. The red colored cinnabar produces the familiar
silvery liquid known as mercury or quicksilver when heated. The
tailings from the mine (the large piles of rock at the front of the
site) still look pink as you approach the site. Much of the ruins
at this site are the remains of the furnace to heat the ore and the
structures used to cool the resulting mercury gas. Heating the
cinnabar ore in the furnace released the mercury as a gas. The gas
then passed upward through several of the other brick or concrete
structures (condensers) to cool the gas and turn it into liquid.
The liquid mercury flowed down the sloped surfaces and eventually
dripped into three-quart iron flasks containing 76 pounds of
mercury each. (Mercury is more than 13.5 times more dense than
water. Yes, that means iron bars or billiard balls float in
mercury!)
There are several roads which lead to the Mariscal Mine site.
Easiest access is via River Road East, which begins five miles west
of Rio Grand Village at N29 11.404 W103 00.933. The entrance to the
Mariscal Mine site is approximately N29 05.963 W103 11.021. Parking
is at the trailhead, another 800 feet down the road. It will then
be a short hike on the trail up the side of the mountain to the
coordinates. The trail, which is an old road, is generally in good
shape, although several spots were washed out when we were there.
See the National Park brochure, available from the ranger station,
for a map of the mine site.
The coordinates to the cache will take you to a sign. To claim this
cache, go ahead and log your find, but also email
us with the answer to the following question:
What is the post office box number on the sign?
Things to know before you go:
1. Access to Mariscal Mine is via unpaved roads. High clearance or
four-wheel-drive vehicles are normally recommended. Check with a
ranger about road conditions before you leave. Rain could leave
portions of the road impassable. Click here
for more information about backcountry travel in Big Bend National
Park.
Extra note: We don't know anything about this first hand, but you
might check out this site if you
would like to rent a jeep. We talked to one family in the parking
lot of Marisical Mine that was driving a rental jeep from this
place. They said they come every year and use this rental
company.
2. While talking to the ranger, ask for a free Mariscal Mine
brochure. It has lots of information and a map of the site.
3. Even if passable, this is a long drive. When we visited in
March, 2004, it was one of the best backcountry roads we used in
the park and we never really needed our 4 wheel drive, but it took
us an hour to get there. Most descriptions we saw said to allow 3-4
hours for the entire excursion.
4. Take water. Take lots of water. Take enough for the people in
your party and your vehicle. This is a very deserted part of the
park. If your vehicle breaks down, you could be in for a long
wait.
5. Do not climb on the structures. They are fragile and unsafe. Do
not handle the bricks from the furnace or the condensers. Many that
were known to contain significant amounts of mercury have been
removed, but some may still contain poisonous concentrations of
mercury. Be careful around mine shafts. Most are fenced off, but
they are vertical and deep.
Bonus 1: Proceed along the trail around the top of the hill
to the north. It is an easy scramble to the top of the hill, N29
05.731 W103 11.351. On a clear day, this is a spectacular 360
degree view of the entire southern portion of the park. We were out
of memory for our camera or we would have taken some pictures from
this location. Please post any good shots that you take. We would
love to see them.
Bonus 2: On the return trip to Rio Grande Village, there is
an easy drive to the edge of the Rio Grande River. Turn off River
Road East at N29 03.944 W103 06.852 and proceed to Solis Landing at
N29 02.655 W103 06.327.
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TrussMonkey was the first to find and log this cache and enters
the
Alchemist2000
and Code Poet Ring of Honor!
Be the second to find and log this cache and enter the
Alchemist2000
and Code Poet Bridesmaids' Brigade!
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For the other Alchemy caches see:
Alchemy Cache I: Soluble in Water,
GC8EC0
Alchemy Cache II: Lighter than Air,
GCG4YR
Additional Hints
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Treasures
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