Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Black Diamond Mines
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Antioch, California |
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| NRHP reference No. | 91001425 |
| Added to NRHP | October 02, 1991 |
The Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is a huge park in Contra Costa County, California. It covers about 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares) north of Mount Diablo. The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) has managed this park since 1973.
This special preserve holds clues about old mining towns. You can find remains of former coal and sand mines here. The park even offers tours of an old sand mine. Over 60 miles (97 km) of trails wind through rolling hills. These trails take you through grasslands, oak forests, and chaparral plants.
Contents
Park History and Natural Wonders
Ancient People of the Land
Long before mining began, native people lived in the Bay Area for thousands of years. Three Bay Miwok tribes called this area home. These were the Chupcan, Ompin, and Volvon tribes. The Black Diamond Mines area was a meeting point for these groups.
In the early 1800s, Spanish missions greatly changed their lives. Many tribal members moved to Mission Dolores or Mission San Jose.
How the Land Was Formed
The coal and sandstone in Black Diamond Mines were created by Earth's movements. This happened millions of years ago during the Tertiary period. Back then, the Pacific Ocean covered much of California's central valley.
Over time, the land moved and sea levels changed. This caused layers of ocean mud and sand to build up. The coal found here formed during one of these periods. Shallow marshes appeared, and plants grew thickly in the warm, wet climate. When these plants died, they were buried under more sediment. Over millions of years, the pressure and heat turned them into coal. Later, the Mount Diablo mountains began to rise, shaping the landscape we see today.
The Mount Diablo Coalfield Story
In 1859, William C. Israel found coal on his land. Soon, more coal was discovered nearby. This area became known as the Mount Diablo Coalfield. It was the biggest coalfield in California. It produced over 400 million short tons (357 million long tons) of coal!
The park holds the remains of twelve coal mines. It also has sites of several old mining towns. The biggest town was Nortonville, with about 1,000 people. Other towns included Somersville, Stewartville, West Hartley, and Judsonville.
The coal here was not the best quality, but it was easy to get. For a time in the 1800s, it was California's main source of energy. It powered railroads, ships, and factories. People often called this valuable mineral "black diamond."
Railroads carried the coal to the San Joaquin River. From there, barges shipped it to cities like San Francisco and Sacramento. Coal mining stopped when better coal became cheaper to import. Also, new energy sources like oil became popular. The towns were abandoned, and the land was used for cattle. In 1974, the company that owned the land donated 160 acres to help create the park.
The old coal mines are now closed. This is because they can be dangerous due to unstable ground and natural gases like carbon dioxide and methane. However, some mine entrances are open for visitors to look inside. You can even walk a short distance into "Prospect Tunnel," which is about 200 feet (61 meters) long.
Rose Hill Cemetery: A Quiet Resting Place
Rose Hill Cemetery is on a hillside between the old towns of Somersville and Nortonville. Over 200 people from the coalfield are buried here. After the mines closed, the cemetery was not used much. Many gravestones were lost or damaged.
The land for the cemetery was given by Emma Rose. She was the daughter of the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company president. Sadly, the original records were lost in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
Many graves here are unmarked or had only wooden markers. These were destroyed by fires, insects, or weather. Some stone markers were also taken by vandals.
A few people buried here include:
- William Gething, who died at age 36 in an 1876 explosion.
- Sarah Norton, age 68, who was a midwife. She delivered over 600 babies for miners' wives!
- The earliest stone marker is for Elizabeth Richmond, who died in 1865.
- The youngest known person was a one-day-old baby girl who died in 1880.
- The oldest known person was Ruth French, who died at age 81 in 1874.
- The most recent known burial was William T. Davis in 1954.
The Hazel-Atlas Sandstone Mine
In the 1920s, a new mine opened to dig up high-quality sandstone. This sand was sold to the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company in Oakland. They used it to make glass containers. Another sandstone mine provided sand for making steel.
These two companies dug up over 1.8 million short tons (1.6 million long tons) of sand. The Hazel-Atlas mine is now a special museum. Park staff work to keep it ready for visitors. You can take guided tours to learn about the mining history and geology.
Inside the Greathouse portal, a 950-foot (290-meter) long section has become a museum. The first part has exhibits you can explore on your own. The second, larger part shows what the Hazel-Atlas mine looked like around 1940.
The park district first opened this mine as a museum in the 1970s. But storm damage in 2007 caused it to close for five years for repairs.
Fun Things to Do at the Preserve
The trails at Black Diamond Mines offer amazing views. You can see Mount Diablo, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and even the Sierra Nevada mountains on clear days.
In spring, the preserve is full of beautiful wildflowers. You might spot rare ones like the Mount Diablo fairy lantern or the Mount Diablo sunflower. The park is also home to many animals. You could see deer, mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and golden eagles. Endangered animals like the San Joaquin kit fox and threatened California red-legged frog also live here.
The park is open all year for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. You can visit from 8 AM until dusk. There are also camps where you can stay overnight. Some people even say there's a ghost in the park!
New Land for the Park
In 2016, the park grew even bigger! Antioch Holdings LLC donated 50 acres (20 hectares) of land to the EBRPD. This land was originally planned for houses. But the owner decided to give it to the park instead. This generous gift was valued at about $3.5 million. It helped make the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve even larger for everyone to enjoy.
Images for kids
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Rose Hill Cemetery, Black Diamond Mines
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Rose Hill Cemetery, Black Diamond Mines
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Trail to a mine, Black Diamond Mines
See also
In Spanish: Reserva Regional Minas Diamante Negro para niños
