Idria.

Idria. a mining-town in the Austrian crown-land of Carniola, celebrated for its quicksilver mines (discovered in 1497), is situated 1093 feet above sea-level in a deep, caldron-shaped valley, on a river of the same name, 23 miles W. by S. of Laibach. Upwards of 230 tons of quicksilver are produced annually, and about 20 tons of cinnabar (red sulphuret of mercury). Pop. 4984. The miners number 1300; about 1000 of the women are employed in lace-making.