Harrisburg Quadrangle

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Mining in the Harrisburg Quadrangle

The earliest mining in Saline County was just south of Harrisburg, by John Riben Norman (mine index 4717), who operated a small drift mine from as early as 1856 until the late 1870s. This mine was leased by John Davenport. David Ingram operated a drift mine two miles east of Norman’s just a few years later. No production was reported after 1882 under the name David Ingram, but several Ingram mines operated through the years (see the unlocated mines). The precise location of this early mine is not known, but it may have been in the NW ¼ of Section 26, T9S-R6E, where Ingram Hill Church is still shown on the USGS 7.5-minute topographic map. This area was later surface-mined (see mine index 4267). The first shipping mine opened in 1873, a slope mine about 3 miles southwest of Harrisburg, near Ledford (shown on the accompanying map as mine index 4708, located from an 1876 atlas). W. H. Howell and John Davenport also opened mines near Ledford in 1880 (see the unlocated mines).

Four seams have been mined in this quadrangle, and all have been mined from the surface as well as underground. Most of the mining took place in the Springfield Coal, which crops out just south of Harrisburg. The Springfield Coal generally ranges from 4.5 to 8.0 feet thick and averages about 5 feet thick over the area. The Springfield Coal was not deposited or is split into two or more seams by shale in the area west of Harrisburg. This is near the Galatia Channel, which was contemporaneous with the deposition of the Springfield Coal. The Dykersburg Shale overlies the seam in this area,generally making a good roof.

The Herrin Coal was also mined, especially west of Harrisburg, in the vicinity of the Galatia Channel. The Herrin Coal is not as thick as the Springfield Coal in this area, generally less than 5 feet thick. The Dekoven and Davis Coals were mined in the southern part of the quadrangle. They are thinner than the Springfield Coal, generally ranging from less than 3 to about 4 feet thick. These seams were more commonly surface mined where both seams could be mined, such as in Peabody Coal Company’s Will Scarlet Mine (mine index 697).

The Cottage Grove Fault System runs through the area, and locally interfered with the mining pattern or prevented expansion in some directions. These faults made mining more expensive in some locations, but did not prevent mining of the areas in which they occur.

Map and Directory PDF Download

Coal Mines In Illinois Harrisburg Quadrangle

Mines that Appear on the Harrisburg-Quadrangle Quadrangle

Unlocated Mines

Saline County

Media in category "Harrisburg Quadrangle"

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