Off-road to El Mármol & Arroyo el Volcan, Baja California, Mexico

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El Marmol is an abandoned onyx quarry and mine town south of El Rosario and north of Cataviña along Hwy 1. Mining the stone began soon after the deposit was discovered around 1900. The site is famous as being the location of the world's only onyx schoolhouse. Turn off is near near Km. 148/149. The road to El Marmol is 9.3 miles and should not required 4WD. As you approach El Marmol, you will see the graveyard on the right, and then pass the road left to El Volcan and La Olvidada. The remains of the schoolhouse are just beyond. The mine ruins ae a little later after taking the right fork. The left for goes to Arroyo el Volcan where soda springs and a rare cold-water geyser are making future onyx deposits. Reset the odometer at the schoolhouse anf take the northeast road for 2 miles and turn right at the fork. The drop then drop steeply down to the bottom at mile 4.0. The geyser site is up the arroyo to the south, less than half a mile. It may be possible to drive half the distance in the arroyo and walk the remainder. The soda-powered geyser is reported to spew a 60-foot fountain for several minutes! The road east of Arroyo el Volcan goes through a mineral stained slope of tiny springs at Mile 4.2 from El Marmol and once continued to the La Olvidada barite mine at Mile 10.3. The road has been washed out before reaching the mine, but offers some great view of the Sea of Cortez.

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