Mine Index 0209   Sparta Coal and Mining Company,   Sparta No. 4 Mine

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INTERPRETING A MINE SUMMARY SHEET
Unlocated Mines In: Randolph unlocated
County: Randolph
Quadrangle: Steeleville
County Coal Data: Randolph
Shown On Map: Yes
Unlocated: No
MSHA ID:

Mine Index Number: 0209

Company Name: Sparta Coal and Mining Company
Mine Name: Sparta No. 4 Mine
Start Date: 1901 End Date: March 1929
Type of Mine: Underground
Total acres shown: 553
Acres after map date: 45 General Area of mining acres shown:

Shaft, Slope, Drift or Tipple Location(s)

Type County Township-Range Section Part Section
Main shaft (7 x 14 ft) Randolph 5S 5W 16 NE NE NW
Air shaft Randolph 5S 5W 9 SW SE SW

Geology

Thickness (ft)
Seam Depth (ft) Min Max Ave Mining Method
Herrin 80 4.5 6.5 5.0 MRP

Geological Problems Reported

The cap rock was limestone that averaged 5 feet thick. The limestone was reported to range up to 20 feet thick, but pinched out in the northern and eastern parts of the mine. The immediate roof above the coal was generally 1.5 to 4 feet of shale, with lenses of draw slate up to 1 foot thick between the shale and coal. In one part of the mine, concretions were numerous and were usually taken down. Some slips were noted, but they did not contribute to roof problems. On the eastern side of the mine, a pre-glacial valley was encountered, where the coal was eroded or not deposited. The blue band was persistent throughout the mine. Other impurities in the coal included pyrite, clay, and charcoal. The underclay averaged 18 inches thick and heaved readily, even in newly opened parts of the mine.

Production

Company Mine Name Date Production (tons)
Illinois Fuel Company Illinois Fuel No. 4 1901-1924 2,693,209
Wall Coal and Mining Company Wall No. 4 1924-1926 485,843
Sparta Coal and Mining Company Sparta No. 4 1927-1929 244,395 [1]
Total Production: 3,423,447

Production Notes

Coal Report production (if available)

Sources of Data

Source Map Map Date Original Scale Digitized Scale Map Type
State archive, IL_1031 4-1927 1:2400 1:1800 Not final

Annotated Bibliography (Data source - brief description of information)

Coal Reports - Production, ownership, years of operation.
Directory of Illinois Coal Mines (Randolph County) - Mine names, mine index, ownership, years of operation.
Mine notes (Randolph County) - Mine type, shaft location and size, seam, depth, thickness, geologic problems.
State archive, IL_1031, courtesy of Robert Gibson, IDNR - Shaft locations, mine outline, mining method.

Mine Notes

Mine Images

Photographs

Notes

  1. Production after map date