Minonk Quadrangle

Mining in the Minonk Quadrangle

Mining had begun as early as 1873 in this area at the Minonk Mine (mine index 410), which was also the last to close. This mine was abandoned in March 1951.

The majority of the coal mined in this quadrangle was the Colchester Coal. It averaged about 3 feet in thickness, and was at a depth of 500 to 550 feet in most places. The preferred method of mining the Colchester Coal in this northeastern part of the state was the longwall method. The Danville Coal was also mined at Toluca and Rutland, but this seam was of poor quality at Minonk and was not mined there. Unfortunately, no maps were located depicting the mining in the Danville Coal.