Mine Index Number: 0217
| Company Name:
|
Erie Sootless Coal Company
|
| Mine Name:
|
Moweaqua Mine
|
| Start Date:
|
1892
|
End Date:
|
1935
|
| Type of Mine:
|
Underground
|
| Total acres shown:
|
676
|
| Production Indicated Acres:
|
5 acres mined after map date
|
General Area of mining acres shown:
|
|
|
|
Shaft, Slope, Drift or Tipple Location(s)
| Type
|
County
|
Township-Range
|
Section
|
Part Section
|
| Main shaft
|
Shelby
|
14N 2E
|
31
|
NW SW NE
|
| Air shaft
|
Shelby
|
14N 2E
|
31
|
NE SW NE
|
Geology
| Springfield
|
618-625
|
5.0
|
5.83
|
5.33
|
RPP
|
Geological Problems Reported
On Christmas Eve in 1932, the barometric pressure dropped dramatically, which forced methane gas into voids in the abandoned works. Some roof falls had weakened the seals between the abandoned and active areas, and open flame lights used by the miners ignited the methane. The resulting explosion killed 54 men, everyone who was in the mine at the time. The roof was 2 feet of black shale overlain by 4 inches of limestone and over 6 feet of gray shale. The shale contained many slips and slickenslides, and required timbering. Horsebacks were common. The top 33 inches of coal was brittle and had the greatest amount of pyrite.
Production
| Company
|
Mine Name
|
Date
|
Production (tons)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Production: 2,456,334
|
Production Notes
Coal Report production (if available)
Sources of Data
| Company, 4102 i5.1-17
|
12-1932
|
1:2400
|
1:2400
|
Not final
|
Annotated Bibliography (Data source - brief description of information)
| Coal Reports - Production, ownership, years of operation, seam, geologic problems.
|
| Directory of Illinois Coal Mines (Shelby County) - Mine names, mine index, ownership, years of operation.
|
| Mine notes (Shelby County) - Mine type, shaft location, depth, thickness, geologic problems.
|
| Company map, ISGS map library, 4102 i5.1-17 - Shaft locations, mine outline, mining method.
|
Mine Notes
Mine Images
Map library: 4102 i5.1-17
Map Date: 12-1932
Coal Co.: Mowequa Mining & Mfg. Co.
Mine Name: Moweaqua Mine
Image Credit: Illinois State Geological Survey
Full Res Download
Photographs
