Geology and quicksilver deposits of the Terlingua district, Texas

The Terlingua quicksilver district, which has produced more than 150,000 flasks of quicksilver, is in the southern part of the Big Bend region of southwestern Texas. It is a narrow, eastwest area about 20 miles long and lies mainly in southwestern Brewster County. The district is connected by graded road with the nearest railroad, 84 miles north of its center. Quicksilver minerals were first discovered in the district in the latter part of the 19th century, but there was no substantial production until 1900. Although there are about 20 mines and many prospects, more than 90 percent of the quicksilver came from the Chisos-Rainbow, Mariposa, and Study Butte mines. The most productive years were during World War I; since 1946 the district has been idle. Future production depends upon the discovery of new ore bodies-which will be costly-and the working of deposits now considered of too low grade to be profitable.

Suggested Citation

Yates, R., Thompson, G.A., 1959, Geology and quicksilver deposits of the Terlingua district, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 312, Report: v, 114 p.; 14 Plates: 51.43 x 14.70 inches or smaller, https://doi.org/10.3133/pp312.

ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)

Study Area

Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Geology and quicksilver deposits of the Terlingua district, Texas
Series title	Professional Paper
Series number	312
DOI	10.3133/pp312
Year Published	1959
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Government Printing Office
Description	Report: v, 114 p.; 14 Plates: 51.43 x 14.70 inches or smaller
Country	United States
State	Texas
Other Geospatial	Terlingua District
Scale	31680