Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict

The Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict is the largest bedding replacement district within the IKFD. It trends in a northeast–southwest direction and lies southeast of the Rock Creek Graben and Peters Creek Fault Zone (Figure 19). Bastin (1931), Weller et al. (1952), and Brecke (1962) provided historical information on the individual mines. The map and report by Baxter et al. (1963) located numerous mines but contained little historical information. Data from the files of the Ozark-Mahoning and Minerva Oil Company were instrumental in determining the location and details of some of the properties.

Ore bodies in the Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict are typically 3 to 15 feet thick and 50 to 150 feet wide and extend for more than 2,000 feet along strike (Weller et al. 1952). Banded-texture or coontail ore is common in bedding replacement deposits and has been observed along the periphery of some of the veins. Banded ore is not exclusive to the Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict and has been reported as associated with vein ore in the Empire District, Redd Mine, Oscar Crabb Prospect, Slapout Mine, Sheldon Property, Seinor Prospects, Stewart Mine, Compton Mine, and others (Weller et al. 1952). Some of the mines at the southern end of this district dug gravel spar, but most in the district were underground operations employing a modified room-and-pillar mining method. The rooms were up to 150 feet wide and commonly trend in a northeasterly direction. Pillars were left in random configurations to extract as much fluorspar as possible without causing roof failures.

Mines worked multiple stratigraphic levels, including the Ste. Genevieve Limestone (oldest) and the Levias, Shetlerville, and Downeys Bluff Members of the Paoli Limestone. The levels were named for the unit overlying the mineralized strata. Thus, mineralization in the “Bethel Level” occurred within the underlying Downeys Bluff Limestone beneath the thin, shaly sandstone and indurated gray sandstone of the Bethel. The top of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone, just below the Aux Vases Sandstone, was called the “Rosiclare Level.” The lithology of the strata occurring at the contact between the Aux Vases and Ste. Genevieve is variable. Brecke (1962) described the roof in the Rosiclare Level as green plastic shale, silty shale, and limestone interbedded with sandy limestone. The “sub-Rosiclare Level” occurs in the Ste. Genevieve below the Rosiclare Level, and the Spar Mountain Level occurs below the Sub-Rosiclare Level approximately 60 feet below the base of the Aux Vases Sandstone. At this level, calcareous sandstone overlies oolitic to dense limestone (Brecke 1962). The Spar Mountain Sandstone is lenticular, being 0 to 3 feet thick in the Hill Mine and absent in some places at the Davis-Deardorff Mine. Although impermeable roof rock such as shale halted the upward movement of ore-bearing fluids, Weller et al. (1952) pointed out that some ore bodies in the Cave-in-Rock area lacked an impermeable “cap rock” (i.e., barrier to gas or fluid movement). Finally, a working level near the base of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone has been named the Cadiz Level.

Mahoning Mines or Ozark-Mahoning Group of Mines

Mines in the Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict

Lead Hill Mines

These mines were located along the southwestern edge of the Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict. Lead Hill is a 3,000-foot-long north–south-trending topographic high that is located north of Illinois Route 146, northwest of Cave-in-Rock, Illinois (Figures 19 and 20). Early mining at Lead Hill was confined to adits and pits along the hillsides. The early mines produced lead but wasted or stockpiled the fluorite because the market for fluorite had not yet developed. The deposits on Lead Hill were known by the late 1800s but probably did not come into important commercial production until a few years before 1917, when ownership passed into the hands of the Basic Minerals Company (Weller et al. 1952). Currier (1944) stated that the Pittsburgh Fluorspar Products Company operated several adits and short irregular drifts along the south side of Lead Hill (Figure 20). In 1934, Pittsburgh Fluorspar Products was succeeded by the Fluorspar Products Corporation and later by the Fluorspar Products Company (Weller et al. 1952). The Fluorspar Products Company was operating at Lead Hill in 1942 and 1943 (Davis 1945). Myers and Chenoweth (2009) listed the mines at Lead Hill as the E.W. Frazer Mine (Fluorspar Products Company) and the Robinson Lead and Fluorspar Mine. Weller et al. (1952) listed all the pits at the southwest end of Lead Hill as the Fluorspar Products Mines–Lead Hill Group, and the adjacent mines to the north end of Lead Hill as the Grischy Lead Hill Mine. Other mines in the area were owned by the Basic Minerals Company (Currier 1944). More Information: 10106443

Pittsburgh Fluorspar Products Mines

This company operated several mines along the south and east sides of Lead Hill (Currier 1944). The mines extracted banded ore from the Rosiclare Level, as well as from some additional exploratory drifts about 40 feet below the Rosiclare (Aux Vases). The ore on the south end of Lead Hill was relatively pure and quartz free, but on the north end, quartz was fairly abundant. The mushroom-shaped structures observed in some of the mines suggest that ore-bearing solutions traveled upward along fractures until they encountered an impermeable stratum, such as shale or dense limestone. More Information: 10106425

Robinson Mine

The Robinson Mine began operation before 1931 and was operated by George Robinson (Bastin 1931). Weller et al. (1952) reported that open pits and adits or drifts into the hillside owned by the Fluorspar Products Mines (Figure 20) and the Grischy Mines were working in the same area. Two to three feet of bedding replacement ore was mined below the Aux Vases (Rosiclare) Sandstone at the top of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone or on the Rosiclare Level, along with a 6-inch-wide vein of fluorite striking N 45° E and dipping 80° NW (Bastin 1931). More Information: 10083022

Miller Mine

The Basic Minerals Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last worked this mine, which was located 500 feet northwest of the No. 1 adit of the Pittsburgh Fluorspar Products Company (Currier 1944). Fluorite, galena, and sphalerite along with quartz and the alteration minerals cerussite and smithsonite were identified in this mine (Bastin 1931). At several small pits and drifts in the hillside, 6-foot-thick white and purple bedding replacement ore was mined. Clear optical-grade fluorite of high purity was reported in some of these mines (Bastin 1931). The ore was located below the Aux Vases Sandstone at the top of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone. More Information: 10082960

Lead Hill Mine; Wolf Mine; Oxford Mine; Miller, Shipp, and Convert Mines; and Fluorspar Products Company Mines

Myers and Chenoweth (2009) listed mines by these names in the southern area of Lead Hill. Most of these mines were small operations owned by the Fluorspar Products Company or the Pittsburgh Fluorspar Products Company (Currier 1944). Some of these mines were also named the Grischy Lead Hill Group (Baxter et al. 1963). The majority of production occurred after 1934 at Lead Hill (Weller et al. 1952). Currently, the Hastie Mining Company is quarrying this area, and its quarry operations occasionally reveal abandoned underground workings. Weathered bedding replacement ore below the Aux Vases (Rosiclare) and lower in the sub-Rosiclare Level was exposed in the new Lead Hill Pit at the Hastie Quarry in 2019.

Magazine Mines

Using a map from the ISGS library, Myers and Chenoweth (2009) identified the Magazine Mines north of Lead Hill and west of Spar Mountain. Several pits, drifts, and shafts relate to this poorly documented operation. Baxter et al. (1963) located the Grischy Mines–Cave-in-Rock Group in this area. Plan maps (Grogan and Ellingwood 1943) place the Magazine Mines in the “Cave-in-Rock 40,” about 400 feet west of the Cave-in-Rock Mine under ownership of the Grischy Mining Company.

Cave-in-Rock Group

This mine was located along the southwest slope of Spar Mountain about 1,200 feet northwest of the Oxford Pits (Currier 1944). The Cave-in-Rock Mine comprised a series of drifts driven into the hillside at both the Rosiclare (Aux Vases) Level and about 40 feet lower in the sub-Rosiclare Level (Currier 1944). Considerable amounts of galena were extracted. The primary orebody lay at the top of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone, where several adits were driven into the hillside. Currier (1944) noted a small fault trending north-northwest near the adits, with ore 1 to 4 feet thick. Fieldwork in 1934 and 1935 reported this mine as inactive (Currier 1944). Development work was ongoing at this site in 1939 (Davis and Trought 1940). Myers and Chenoweth (2009) and Weller et al. (1952) listed this mine as operated by the Grischy Mining Company. In 1980, Ross Lillie examined underground workings on the sub-Rosiclare Level of the Cave-in-Rock Mine. Quartz pseudomorphs after fluorite cubes to 10 centimeters were collected from mud-filled pockets approximately 35 × 60 centimeters across and 25 centimeters deep. A particular pseudomorph specimen, 12 × 22 centimeters across and 13 centimeters high, was covered with colorless quartz crystals to 1 centimeter over a massive quartz core with remnant purple fluorite in the center. Other pockets produced dark purple fluorite crystals to 3 centimeters, which were associated with both clear and smoky gray quartz crystals to 3 millimeters. More Information: 10082962

Tems Mines

R.S. Tems excavated several open pits or trenches 15 to 40 feet deep along the western edge of Spar Mountain north of the Cave-in-Rock (Grischy) Group. These operations were known as the Tems Prospects. Although veins of fluorspar were exposed, production is unknown (Weller et al. 1952). Currier (1944) listed the Grischy Mines–Cave-in-Rock Group in the same general area. In 1981, Ross Lillie examined the underground workings on the Rosiclare Level of the Tems Prospects. Workings consisted of narrow northeast-trending drifts with a solid sandstone back and no pillars. Deep purple fluorite cubes to 1.2 centimeters isolated on a silicified limestone matrix covered with 1 mm of smoky quartz and lilac-purple, zoned, transparent cubes to 0.6 centimeter on altered limestone were collected. Specimens were found in open seams and vuggy areas immediately below the base of the Rosiclare. More Information: 10083035

Little and Walnut Mines, Walnut Drift
These mines were located west of the Cave-in-Rock Mine, as identified by Myers and Chenoweth (2009). No further data are available.

Blue Valley Fluorspar Mine
Owned by the Austin Company (Myers and Chenoweth 2009), this is probably the Austin Mines–Blue Valley Shaft identified by Baxter et al. (1963). The Blue Valley Mining Company, which is probably the source of the name Blue Valley, was operating and producing fluorspar in 1949 and 1950 (Davis 1951, 1953).

Spar Mountain Group, Austin Mines, and Benzon Mines

These mines were located northeast of Lead Hill along an east–west-trending hill, which locally is called Spar Mountain (Figure 19). Numerous adits were driven into the hillside, and later, vertical shafts were constructed along the top of the hill to hoist ore from underground workings to the surface. Galena was mined at Spar Mountain around 1900 (Weller et al. 1952). The Cleveland-Illinois Fluorspar Company developed the early mines. This company sold the galena and discarded the fluorspar (Bastin 1931). By 1919, with fluorspar in demand by steelmakers, the Spar Mountain Mining Company was operating the mines. Large-scale mining of these deposits began when the Spar Mountain Mining Company purchased mineral rights to the area (Weller et al. 1952). Fluorite was very pure in these early mines, and galena and sphalerite were present in restricted areas (Weller et al. 1952). The earliest mining methods were open pit and shallow drift mines into the hillside. In 1925, the Benzon Fluorspar Company assumed control of these operations (Bastin 1931). Currier (1944) stated that the Benzon Fluorspar Company properties extended along the east- and south-facing slopes of Spar Mountain from 1925 through 1939. The Austin Company, also called the Austin Mines Group, operated mines in the same area, including the West Morrison and Oxford Pits, the Lead Adit Mine or Lead Mine, the Cleveland and 32-Cut Mines, the Keeling Mine, and the Green-Defender Mine or Adit (Weller et al. 1952). Myers and Chenoweth (2009) indicated that the Austin Lead & Fluorspar Mine, Blue Valley Fluorspar Mine, Cleveland Lead & Fluorspar Mine, Defender Fluorspar Mine, East Green Fluorspar Mine, Green Fluorspar Mine, and Hillside Lead & Fluorspar Mines were all owned by the Austin Company. More details concerning the individual mines of the Spar Mountain area are discussed below.

Hastie Quarry

The Hastie family began mining fluorspar before 1969 and is currently the only company mining fluorspar in the IKFD. Hastie Quarry is producing limestone from open pits throughout the Spar Mountain and Lead Hill area. These quarries occasionally encounter abandoned underground fluorspar workings, enabling the recovery of fluorite left in underground pillars and sidewalls of the abandoned underground mines. In 1979, Hastie Mining and Trucking signed an agreement with Allied Chemical to mine a limited amount of ore in the old Victory Mine workings (Kostick and DeFilippo 1980). A highwall at Hastie Quarry revealed underground drifts that might be extensions of the Lead Mine workings. A small fault with a few inches of offset has been observed in the floor of the quarry, fracturing the Aux Vases Sandstone and apparently serving as a pathway for mineralizing fluids. Fluorite can be observed along this fracture between the breccia clasts. Tracing this small fracture into the highwall is difficult, but it appears to project into the edge of a small V-shaped syncline at the base of the Paoli Limestone (Renault Member). More Information: 10169305

Oxford Pits

The Oxford Open Pits were located to the southwest of the Morrison Open Pits (1,100 feet south and 300 feet east) of Hillside Shaft (Figure 21). These pits worked fluorite found in residual clays extending from the base of the Aux Vases Sandstone down about 40 feet deep (Bastin 1931). Weller et al. (1952) listed these pits as part of the Austin Mines Group. Baxter et al. (1963) listed this mine as the Oxford-Morrison Open Pit. More Information: 10083016

West Morrison Pits and Adit
These mines were located northeast of the Oxford Pits and worked residual ore similar to that at the Oxford. The West Morrison Pits also recovered fluorite from weathered ore in the Ste. Genevieve Limestone (Bastin 1931). Weller et al. (1952) listed these pits as part of the Austin Company mines. More Information: 10083043

Lead Mine

Also listed as the Austin Mines Lead Mine, this mine was located northeast of the West Morrison Pits. The Lead Mine worked fluorite and galena from below the Rosiclare (Aux Vases) Sandstone (Weller et al. 1952; Baxter et al. 1963). The bedding replacement ore in this mine trended west-northwest, which is perpendicular to the northeast trend of most of the ore shoots in this district. The Lead Mine appears to be part of the Cleveland Complex, and an adit trending westerly is called the Lead Adit. The Lead Adit workings extend for about 1,000 feet and are less than 350 feet wide, and they trend in a west-northwest direction (Currier 1944). More Information: 10106423

Cleveland Mine and 32-Cut

The Cleveland Mine was opened in 1903 by the Cleveland-Illinois Fluorspar Company (Figure 21). The ore ranged from 1.5 to 6 feet thick and thinned easterly (Bain 1905). The Keeling Mine was also located in this general area and was operated by the Austin Mining Company. Later, these pits became part of the Austin Mines Group and were locally called the Benzon Mines (Weller et al. 1952). More Information: 10106412

Green Mine

Active before 1930, the Green Mine worked ore similar to that of the adjacent Cleveland Mine, but the ore was thinner and less productive (Figure 21). Weller et al. (1952) listed the Green Mine as part of the Austin Mines Group. Baxter et al. (1963) listed the property as Green-Defender. The Green Mine was first operated through the Defender Shaft, but adits were later used (Currier 1944). The ore was located at the base of the Rosiclare (Aux Vases) Sandstone and was 3 to 7 feet thick (Currier 1944). An East Green Mine was also operated by the Austin Company (Baxter et al. 1963). The East Green Mine was listed by Currier (1944) as located about 2,500 to 2,000 feet east of the Green-Defender workings and about 750 feet west of sec. 2 (Figure 19). The East Green was reported to be working at the sub-Rosiclare Level. More Information: 10082986

Defender Mine
The Defender Mine was about 400 feet north of the Green Mine (Figure 21) and worked ore similar to that in the Green Mine. The mine apparently worked small adits in the hillside (Bastin 1931). Weller et al. (1952) listed this mine as part of the Austin Mines Group. Exactly where the Defender Mine–Victory Mine property boundary is located is unclear. More Information: 10106415

Victory Fluorspar Mine

This mine opened in 1926 as the Victory Fluorspar Company (Figure 22). In 1948, the Victory Mining Company was owned by the partnership of Outwater, Schwerin, and Barnett (Bishop and Swanson 1948). The ore from the Victory Mine was extracted through shafts located along the top of Spar Mountain (Currier 1944). The Carlos Shaft was sunk in 1927, and shortly thereafter, a washing plant was erected and production began in 1928 (Bishop and Swanson 1948). The Addison Shaft was developed in 1930, but excessive water influx prohibited ore production from this shaft until 1931. The old washing plant at the Carlos Shaft was replaced in 1936 by a jig mill capable of handling 45 tons per 8-hour shift (Bishop and Swanson 1948). The No. 1 (Carlos) Shaft was on the east end of the property, whereas the No. 2 (Addison) was about 1,100 feet southwest (Currier 1944). As of 1937, the two shafts allowed access to more than 4,000 feet of drifts and crosscuts in this mine (Currier 1944). The Victory Fluorspar Mining Company was still operating this mine in 1941 and 1942 (Davis 1943). By 1944, about 95,000 tons of concentrate had been produced at the Victory Mine (Bishop and Swanson 1948). In 1952, the Victory Fluorspar Mine, mill, and all equipment were sold to A.H. Stacey and Sons (Holtzinger and Arundale 1955). In 1954, this mine was closed (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). In 1955, the Minerva Oil Company purchased the mine from A.H. Stacy and Sons (McDougal and Roberts 1958a). In 1965, the Minerva Oil Company hired Conn-Joiner to rob pillars from underground workings at this mine (Biggs 1966). The ore zone was a single blanket up to 17 feet thick that split into two ore horizons in portions of the mine (Bastin 1931). Brecke (1962) indicated that the two primary working levels were the Rosiclare and 20 feet below the Rosiclare. The ore-bodies attained 12 feet in thickness, but the individual mineralized beds ranged from a few inches to 4 feet thick (Bishop and Swanson 1948). The ore was localized at the top of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone beneath a shale layer in the basal Rosiclare (Aux Vases) Sandstone (Bishop and Swanson 1948; Weller et al. 1952). Other shaley layers commonly separated the high-grade or pure fluorspar beds and the banded ore, commonly called coontail ore. The ore in this mine followed three separate trends or directions: (1) N 40°–60° E, (2) N 30°–55° W, and (3) due east–west (Bishop and Swanson 1948). Brecke (1962) indicated that the Victory Mine lay along a fracture that was the primary conduit for the ascending mineralizing solutions, which spread laterally for 70 feet on the upper level and were 50 feet wide on the lower level. Strong mineral enrichment was present along the structure such that the orebodies merged along the primary conduit (Brecke 1962). More Information: 10083038

Crystal Fluorspar Mine

The Crystal Fluorspar Mine, located to the northeast of the Green and Defender workings (Figure 19), began operations around 1930. Its entrance was an incline at the base of the eastern slope of Spar Mountain. This incline led to two main drifts 40 to 70 feet apart, striking N 35° E and N 45° E (Currier 1944). A shaft was later added at the top of the hill to extract ore, and a prospect shaft called the Lackey was dug to the northeast (Currier 1944). Baxter et al. (1963) listed this mine as Minerva Mines, Crystal Adits and Shafts. Weller et al. (1952) reported that seven shafts were present within this mine complex. Most orebodies were on the Rosiclare Level, but Weller et al. (1952) reported that an ore pod was present in the upper portion of the Renault. In 1942 and 1943, James W. Patton and Sons milled mine tailings (Davis 1943). The mine was owned by the Crystal Fluorspar Company and was producing ore in 1941 and 1942 (Davis 1943). In 1950, this mine was flooded because of high water and was not in production until the last half of the year (Davis 1953). In 1953, the mine was operated by the Minerva Oil Company and was producing ore (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). In 1967, pillars were being robbed, and the mine was temporarily abandoned (Barton 1968). Wood (1974) reported that the flotation mill at this site was shut down by the Minerva Oil Company in 1972 and that only the heavy media circuit was run occasionally. More Information: 10069407

Wall and Simmons Properties

Several open pits were located along the northern edge of the “Big Sink” (the region’s largest sinkhole) southeast of the Crystal Mines. Weller et al. (1952) reported that highly weathered deposits of fluorite in a clay matrix were mined along the northern rim of the Big Sink. The precise location of these workings is difficult to determine, but they are plotted based on information provided by Weller et al. (1952). Baxter et al. (1963) listed this property as the Frayser Wall property. An article from the Hardin County Independent (1940b) newspaper reported that fluorspar was found by the Big Creek Mining Company on the Norman Simmons property along the northeast corner of the Big Sink (p. 1). The newspaper account described about 125 tons of high-grade acid spar being produced at very shallow depths by men using handpicks and hoisting with a hand-operated windlass. Three weeks later, a crane and shovel were brought to the mine to work the deposits along the Big Sink (Hardin County Independent 1940a, p. 6). In 1943, a small amount of ore was being produced at the Wall Mine (Davis 1945). Davis (1949) reported that in 1947, Inland Steel was milling crude ore from this site. More Information: 10083030 10083039

Mahoning Mines or Ozark-Mahoning Group of Mines

The Ozark-Mahoning Company was the largest producer of fluorite and was the last major producer to operate in the region. This company operated a group of mines primarily northeast of Spar Mountain, but workings were connected to the older adjacent Spar Mountain Mines, making it difficult to identify individual mine boundaries (Figure 19). These Mahoning Mines had several shafts, four of which (No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5) were active in 1950 (Davis 1953). The Penwalt Company purchased the Ozark-Mahoning Company in 1974, which then merged with Atochem North America in 1989 before finally ceasing mining operations in this district in 1995. A heavy media mill was also erected at this location. More Information: 10069407

Davis Mines (W.L. Davis, A.L. Davis, Edgar Davis, Davis-Deardorff, and Davis-Oxford Mines)

In 1937, a fluorspar–zinc–lead ore deposit was first discovered north of the Crystal Mines. The Mahoning Mining Company leased 2,000 acres, and by 1939, Ozark Mining had proven resources and dug shafts for the A.L. Davis and W.L. Davis-Deardorff. The Davis Mines were located north of the Victory Mine and were owned by the Mahoning Mining Company. The Edgar Davis Mine was located northeast of the Davis Mines. Baxter et al. (1963) and Myers and Chenoweth (2009) listed the mine as E. Davis and as part of the Mahoning Mines. Several shafts are associated with this complex, which Baxter et al. (1963) identified as the Deardorff Mine, W.L. Davis Mine, W.L. Davis No. 2, and W.L. Davis No. 16 (Figure 19). The W.L. Davis Mine began production in about 1939. The A.L. Davis Mine was located southeast of the Davis-Deardorff Mine and mined a continuation of the ore adjacent to the W.L. Davis No. 2. The shaft at the A.L. Davis is labeled Mahoning Mine on the USGS Saline Mines topographic map. The A.L. Davis Mine was opened in 1941 (Davis 1943). The A.L Davis, W.L. Davis, and Deardorff Mines were all active in 1942 (Davis 1943). The Deardorff Mine was in production in 1953 (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). The W.L. Davis and Deardorff Mines closed for 4 months in 1954 because of market conditions (Holtzinger and Roberts 1957). The A.L. Davis orebody averaged 7 feet thick and produced high-grade fluorspar ore averaging 50.8% CaF2 (Brecke 1962). Weller et al. (1952) reported that the W.L. Davis-Deardorff Mine was one of the richest mines in the Cave-in-Rock Subdistrict, with mine-run ore averaging 50% to 60% fluorite, 12% to 14% zinc, and 3% to 5% lead. Cumulative production tonnage estimates from Ozark-Mahoning files indicate that by 1967, about 287,000 tons, at 40% CaF2, 12% zinc, and 3% lead, was mined from the sub-Rosiclare Level and 135,177 tons of 50% CaF2 was mined from the Bethel Level on the W.L. Davis 167-acre tract. Brecke (1962) reported that the W.L. Davis-Deardorff Mine contained abundant quartz associated with the fluorite bodies, which was unusual for this district. Brecke (1962) described a few small northwest-trending cross faults with vertical offsets of less than 1 foot. Enrichment of the ore to acid-grade fluorspar was present where the north-east- and northwest-trending structures coincided. Cross-sectional views of the enriched acid-grade zones showed a V- and U-shaped structure. Perry (1973) discussed a northeast–southwest extension of the M.F. Oxford ore pod to the Davis orebody, which he called the Davis-Oxford orebody. The ore in the Davis-Oxford ore pod was on the Bethel Level, but Rosiclare and sub-Rosiclare ore was mined in many of these mines. These mines were tremendously productive, and Ozark-Mahoning files indicate that approximately 2.8 million raw tons was extracted from these mines. More Information: 10069407

Green Mines

The Ozark-Mahoning Company owned the West Green Mine, North Green Mine, and East Green Mine (Figures 19 and 23). Another mine, named the W.C. Green, was active in 1941 (Davis 1943). In 1942, the shaft at the East Green Mine was completed and the West Green orebody was producing ore (Davis 1943). The East Green and West Green Mines were active from 1946 to 1949 (Davis and Greenspoon 1948; Davis 1951). The North and East Green Mines were active in 1953 (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). Ore was being extracted from the North Green Mine in 1972 (Wood 1974). Ore in this area occurred at several horizons, including the sub-Rosiclare, Rosiclare, and Bethel. The North Green Mine contains a N 60° E structure and a small thrust fault that uplifts the Renault (Downeys Bluff ) Limestone over the Bethel Sandstone (Brecke 1962). This structure is minor and is probably a relief or accommodation structure associated with the Rock Creek Graben. Brecke (1962) observed no displacement along the northeast-trending structures, and the northwest-trending structures had only minor displacement. A pipelike solution feature is located just east of the North Green Mine Shaft, which probably served as a primary conduit for ascending ore solutions. Structure contours on the overlying Bethel Sandstone indicate that the unit has slumped downward approximately 100 feet and that the Rosiclare is slumping down about 60 feet (Brecke 1962). Brecke (1962) envisioned the ore fluids upwelling from the pipes and noted, “The solutions that moved up-dip to the southwest moved upward and in the direction of diminishing pressure. Therefore, the major part of the solution moved up-dip and most of the deposition took place in this area” (p. 512).The ore zone extended along this trend for 4,500 feet to the southwest and 1,500 feet to the northeast, and the collapse feature and stratigraphy of the host rock controlled mineralization (Brecke 1962). The East Green and North Green ore pods formed in a fracture zone extending away from the collapse feature, which contained up to 7% sphalerite, with mineralization on both the Bethel and Rosiclare Levels (Brecke 1962). In 1980, Ross Lillie examined the underground workings on the Bethel Level just east of the North Green Shaft and viewed an enormous open area, hemisphere shaped in cross section, approximately 80 feet in diameter and 30 to 40 feet high. More Information: 10069407

Oxford, S.E. Oxford, and M.F. Oxford Mines

These mines were operated by Ozark-Mahoning, which began sinking the 365-foot Ida Oxford Shaft in 1949 (Davis 1951). The mines apparently extended along northeast–southwest-trending fractures, which were traced to the southwest into the southeast portion of sec. 26. Baxter et al. (1973) stated that this ore-body connected with the Davis workings, so this ore pod was sometimes called the Oxford-Davis orebody. The Oxford-Davis ore was primarily confined to the Bethel Level and consisted of purple replacement fluorite along with yellow high-grade zones (Perry 1973). Barite was concentrated along the periphery of the ore zones, and sphalerite was concentrated along minor faults or fractures (Perry 1973). Brecke (1962) speculated that the U- or V-shaped structure over the top of ore zones was a result of volume reduction resulting from replacement of the limestone host rock by fluorite. Ozark-Mahoning files indicate that 883,807 raw tons was extracted from these mines. More Information: 10069407

Hill-Ledford Mine

The Hill Mine was located north of the Oxford Mine along the west side of Illinois Route 1 (Seid et al. 2013a). The mine operated from the late 1950s until the 1970s. This mine was located west of the Minerva Mine and is commonly called the Hill-Ledford Mine. Sinking of the C.N. Hill Shaft began in July of 1953, and the bottom was reached in November of 1956. Further development activities continued until March of 1957 (Bailie et al. 1960). The shaft was lined with concrete down to 110 feet. Below 110 feet, the shaft was timbered to the bottom of the 724-foot shaft (Bailie et al. 1960). Two parallel orebodies trend northeast–southwest. Ore is present in the upper portion of the Downeys Bluff Limestone (Bethel Level) and in the Ste. Genevieve Limestone (Rosiclare and sub-Rosiclare Levels). Brecke (1962) based his map of a collapse structure or oval depression with a vertical offset approaching 75 feet on structure contours of the Rosiclare (Aux Vases) Sandstone. This brecciated collapse structure was located along a small fault adjacent to the ore zone. Brecke (1962) suggested that this depression was a collapse feature over a feeder pipe for the mineralizing fluids and was similar to the breccia pipe seen in the North Green Mine. The breccia pipe at this mine was at the northeast end of the mineralized area, and Brecke (1962) theorized that the ore fluids moved up-dip to the southwest. These structures are very local and extend for less than 400 feet across the mineralized zone. Drilling in the mine floor indicated that sphalerite–fluorite mineralization extended down into this feature for more than 170 feet. The downward position of the brecciated strata indicated the breccia was created by solution slumping, which created open space for the mineralizing solutions (Pinckney 1976). Ozark-Mahoning closed this mine in 1971 in compliance with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Health and Safety–Illinois Division (Wood 1973). More Information: 10106420 10069407

Eureka Lead Mine

The prospect lies along the Peters Creek Fault Zone, which strikes N 55° E and dips to the northwest (Weller et al. 1952). Operated by the Eureka Lead Company of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, the Eureka Lead Mine had two shafts (Weller et al. 1952). The east shaft was sunk by W.J. Rogers in 1905 to a depth of 55 feet, where a crosscut was driven 28 feet to the northwest (Bastin 1931). John E. Hanson sank the west shaft to a depth of 80 feet (Bastin 1931). The only production occurred in the east shaft, which hoisted lead and zinc ore (Bastin 1931). More Information: 10082977

F.E. Martin Prospect
Little is known of the F.E. Martin Prospect beyond the presence of a single vertical shaft sunk to a depth of 38 feet (Bastin 1931). Quartz, calcite, galena, and fluorspar were found in the mine dump around the shaft (Bastin 1931). More Information: 10083008 10069407

Minerva Mine

The Minerva No. 1 Mine, locally called the Minerva, was operational (with several gaps) from 1944 through 1995. The mine produced some of the finest crystals for mineral collectors. This mine was renowned for fluorite, sphalerite, barite, witherite, strontianite, alstonite, and benstonite crystals. Following an exploratory drilling program, the Minerva Oil Company constructed a shaft 645 feet deep and erected a differential flotation mill. Mining commenced in 1944 in what was at the time the deepest mine in the IKFD. A second shaft, approximately 590 feet deep, was completed in 1949 as a service and emergency escape route (Figure 24). As the mine progressed, several additional shafts, raises, and declines were driven. The widths of the orebodies ranged from 50 to 300 feet, and the bodies were irregular and ranged from 3 to 20 feet thick (Nackowski 1949). Working levels were the Upper Renault or Downeys Bluff (Bethel), Levias, Rosiclare, and sub-Rosiclare (Nackowski 1949). The ore at the Minerva Mine averaged 4.2% zinc, and the zinc concentrate obtained through processing was 63% (Weller et al. 1952). The mill was reported to be a 250-ton selective flotation plant that produced both hydrofluoric acid and ceramic concentrates. Diesel-driven underground haulage trucks and loaders were first introduced at the Minerva Mine in 1951 (Davis 1953). In 1964, the Minerva Oil Company placed into operation a new mill designed to make fluorspar pellets for steel manufacturers (Peterson 1965). In 1965, new and larger underground loading and hauling equipment was put into service, and a heavy media preconditioner was installed in the mill (Biggs 1966). In 1969, a 600-foot truck incline was being driven from the Renault Level to the Fredonia Level (Readling 1971). Barite was being recovered in 1973 at Mine No. 1, which allowed ore grades as low as 28% CaF2 to be milled (Wood 1975). In 1974, this mine was producing steady amounts of barite to be utilized in drilling muds and paint pigments (Wood 1975). Inverness Mining Company mined the Minerva No. 1 from 1980 to April 1982, when it ceased production. Inverness kept the pumps running and maintained the mine until shutting down in 1984. Thereafter, it removed the equipment and flooded the mine. Inverness continued to operate in the district by purchasing foreign spar and drying the product at the Minerva No. 1 mill. Inverness ultimately sold the property to Ozark-Mahoning in December 1988. After extensive dewatering, Ozark-Mahoning began mining in early 1990 and continued until November 29, 1995 (Elf Atochem Company 1995). Ozark-Mahoning then removed equipment and abandoned and sealed the mine. Historical files indicate that several million raw tons of ore were extracted from this mine. More Information: 10083011 10069407

References

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