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Sulphur Springs Mountain facts for kids

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Sulphur Springs Mountain
Sulphur Springs Mountain is located in California
Sulphur Springs Mountain
Sulphur Springs Mountain
Location in California
Highest point
Elevation 1,112 ft (339 m)  NGVD 29
Geography
Location Solano County, California, U.S.
Topo map USGS Cordelia
Climbing
Easiest route Trail hike

Sulphur Springs Mountain (also called Sulfur Springs Mountain) is a mountain located in Solano County, California. It's a great place to explore! You can reach its slopes by hiking on trails that start from Blue Rock Springs Park in the city of Vallejo.

Long ago, in the early 1900s, people mined a mineral called Cinnabar here. Cinnabar is important because it contains mercury. The mines were named Hastings Mine and St. John's Mine. The highest point on Sulphur Springs Mountain is about 1,112 feet (339 m) tall. From the top, you can see amazing views of the northern San Francisco Bay and the Napa River. The rocks you'll find here are mostly basaltic lava. There are also areas with serpentine rock. The soil from serpentine rocks is special because it helps many rare and endangered species of plants grow in Northern California.

Water on Sulphur Springs Mountain

This mountain has interesting water features. A long time ago, in 1927, a main sulfur spring on the mountain produced a lot of water every day. But by the 1940s, this water flow almost stopped. This happened because of all the tunnels and shafts dug for mining.

Streams that flow down the mountain include Rindler Creek and Blue Rock Springs Creek. Scientists have tested Blue Rock Springs Creek for a harmful chemical called diazinon. Diazinon is a toxic pesticide sometimes used on golf courses. Studies have also looked at how water flows in both Rindler Creek and Blue Rock Springs Creek. These studies help understand if there's a risk of flooding. They also help when planning new buildings on the lower parts of the mountain.

Mines and Water Quality

The Hastings Mine is one of the old mines on the mountain. It is watched by environmental groups to make sure it doesn't cause too much harm to nature. In 1997, during an inspection, scientists found some interesting things. The dirt and mud in a stream below the mine had small amounts of mercury. Also, the spring water flowing below the mine had more mercury than allowed by California's rules for clean water. Miners dug many miles of underground tunnels to get the quicksilver (mercury) from the ground.

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