David K
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Sulfur Mine
Tunaeater sent me a couple pics he recently took at the El Apache sulfur mine... 23 miles south of San Felipe, 5 miles west of Nuevo Mazatlan, on the
old Puertecitos road.
Here is the site of the ore crushing mill:
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David K
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and, here is the foundation of one of the buildings in the mining valley...
There are more photos from when the Matomi gang of 2001 visited the area at http://vivabaja.com/shell
[Edited on 4-28-2005 by David K]
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Bruce R Leech
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what date did they shut down that mine?
Bruce R Leech
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David K
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It was abandoned when I first saw it in 1965, on our way to Gonzaga Bay. No building was standing then, but the metal ore crusher was still affixed to
the concrete mounts, shown in Tunaeater's photo...
There was some activity in the 1950's, as there are dates in the cement, plus I once saw old photos of the building still standing from that decade. I
highly suspect this mine was mostly operated during World War II, for one of the 3 main ingrediants in gun powder.... Potassium nitrate and charcoal
being the other two.
[Edited on 4-29-2005 by David K]
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David K
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Sulfur ore crusher/loader equipment
Here's how I saw it, in the 1960's... Photo from Cliff Cross' Baja Guide of 1970.
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bajalou
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David, I believe your formula for black powder hasn't been used for military amunition for quite some time.
In "Rockhounding in Baja" bu W.R.C.Shedenhelm, La Siesta Press, 1980 he mentions that sulphur crystals seen at rock shows and displays showing Mex or
BajaCalif as origin came from these mines.
No Bad Days
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Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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David K
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Well, I read that sulfur was in gun powder, and I would guess that was used a lot in the 1940's?
I know that sulfur is also use in matches, fertilizer, medicines, etc.
I believe it is such an abundant byproduct of pertoleum refinement, that sulfur mines don't have much business anymore? The one near Mexicali is still
being worked, however... but on a small scale.
Here's photos of it: http://vivabaja.com/baja_2001/page5.html
[Edited on 4-29-2005 by David K]
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tunaeater
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David
Thanks for posting. We were wondering what that foundation was used for. I figured we would ask you and the board to comment on...Paul
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