Sunflower Mine, Arizona

A real structure to see, not just a pile of mine tailings. The Sunflower Mine (a.k.a. National Mine) produced mercury. Inside the processing building which still stands, you’ll find a large pipe used to tumble a reddish-brown ore called cinnabar. The fine particles were burned in vertical furnaces with coke to produce mercury gas. The gas liquefied after being cooled in U-shaped tubes.

Rating
Difficult. Stock SUVs can reach Sunflower Mine. Difficult portion of the trail begins later. It becomes rocky and narrow with tight brush in places. One narrow shelf road with loose rock. Slippery when wet.

This trail is featured in this book:
(Along with 74 other trails.)

Click here to Purchase.

How does this work?