Title:
Calcite Mine Area sign in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, CA
Creator:
Eloise Perkins
Subject:
Calcite Mine Area sign
Anza Valley Region (Calif.)--History--Pictorial works, Calcite—California, Calcite Mine, World War II
Description:
The Calcite Mines are no longer in operation, but were once a vital part of the war effort during the Second World War.
The calcite mineral mined at the site was used to make gunsights and with calcite importation from Turkey suspended by the
war this desert site provided for the entire war effort. Originally only two men, one of them John Hilton who owned the prospecting
rights to the area, worked the mine. They trudged 1 ½ miles everyday to the mine site where the temperature sometimes reached
140 degrees. When it became clear that two men could not mine enough for the war effort a company was formed and Hilton sold
his rights to them at a very low price. He then remained on at the site to supervise the mining effort which was run entirely
by volunteers. At the close of the war the mines were also closed and the site is now open to visitors to the Anza—Borrego
Desert State Park, but the calcite mineral and all wildlife in the area remain protected.
Publisher:
Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room
Contributor:
Perkins, Eloise
Date:
undated: circa 1970s
Type:
Image
Format:
8X10 B/W Photograph
Identifier:
CESC_028
20
Coverage:
Anza Valley Region (Calif.)--History--Pictorial works, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Calif.),
Rights:
Copyrighted
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requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without
permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. If you wish to use this image
please contact the Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room.
Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room
247 S. Kalmia Street, Escondido, CA 92025 Phone: 760-839-4315