Quicksilver Rush facts for kids

The Quicksilver Rush was a time in the early 1930s when many people went to southwest Arkansas to look for a special mineral called cinnabar. Cinnabar is important because it's the main source of quicksilver, also known as mercury. This rush happened during the Great Depression, a difficult time when many people needed jobs.

The rush mainly took place in Pike and Clark counties, especially near the towns of Amity, Murfreesboro, and Graysonia.

What Was the Quicksilver Rush?

The Quicksilver Rush was a period when people searched for cinnabar, a red mineral. Cinnabar contains mercury, which is a liquid metal. This rush started around 1931. It was a time when many people were looking for work.

Why Was Cinnabar Important?

Cinnabar was valuable because it was used to get mercury. Mercury has many uses, even today. For example, it was used in thermometers and other tools. Finding cinnabar meant there was a chance for jobs and money.

How the Rush Helped Towns

The discovery of cinnabar created many jobs very quickly. This was a big help for towns like Amity, Murfreesboro, and Graysonia.

Graysonia's New Hope

Graysonia was a "boomtown" that was slowing down. It used to be a busy "mill town" where wood was processed. But its mills were closing, and over a thousand people had lost their jobs. For a short time, it seemed like the cinnabar discovery would save Graysonia and bring back jobs.

People and Companies Involved

The rush brought about a thousand new people to the area. These new people helped the local economy. They needed supplies and other goods. Miners quickly claimed land to dig for cinnabar. Most of this mining happened in a hilly area about five miles south of Amity. This area was in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.

Main Employers

Two main companies hired miners during the rush. These were the "Southwestern Quicksilver Company" and the "Arkansas Quicksilver Company." They provided many of the jobs.

End of the Rush

The Quicksilver Rush did not last very long. However, it did provide jobs in the area for almost ten years. Over time, it became easier to get cinnabar from other places. This meant the mines in Arkansas were no longer as profitable.

Mines Close Down

Eventually, the mines in Arkansas began to close. By the start of World War II, which began in 1939, most of the important mining had stopped. The Quicksilver Rush itself had ended several years before that.