Rosiclare Subdistrict

By far, the richest vein subdistrict in the IKFD is the Rosiclare Subdistrict. The Rosiclare Subdistrict is located in Hardin County, in southeastern Illinois, and extends from the Ohio River northward through the village of Rosiclare to just north of Illinois Route 146. The Rosiclare Mine, which operated for more than a century, was at one time the largest fluorspar mine in the United States and possibly the world. Several adjacent mines, notably the Argo, Blue Diggings, Daisy, Eureka, and Hillside, were also major producers. The veins are aligned along a set of north-trending normal faults of slight to moderate displacement (Figure 6). Mineralization is predominantly fluorite, along with calcite and lesser amounts of quartz, galena, and sphalerite. Barite in the Rosiclare Subdistrict is not common, in contrast to some other parts of the IKFD. The widest veins in the Rosiclare Subdistrict typically lay where one or both walls of the fault were composed of limestone or highly calcareous units. Fluorspar also replaced an earlier-phase calcite already present within the faults and fractures (Ladoo 1927). Both the fault and vein were usually named the same; thus, the Rosiclare Vein lay along the Rosiclare Fault. From east to west, the major veins are named the Hillside, Rosiclare, Daisy, Blue Diggings, Argo, and Knight. The biggest problem in the Rosiclare Subdistrict was flooding, which forced a number of mines (including the Rosiclare) to shut down temporarily or permanently. In mines at the southern end of this subdistrict, fissures may have channeled water directly from the Ohio River into underground workings.

The veins in the Rosiclare Subdistrict were developed along an intricate system of faults that bound the southeast side of the Rock Creek Graben. Specifically, veins of unusual width and richness coincide with an approximately 3-mile segment of the fault zone where the strike changes from its usual N40°–50°E to N0°–20°E. We are not aware of any authors who have addressed the structural implications of this bend in the fault system, but correlation of the rich mineralization with the bend is inescapable. We speculate that the Rosiclare Subdistrict represents a discrete area of transtensional or pull-apart action along a system that probably had a small strike-slip component. The nearly vertical attitude of the richest vein, the Rosiclare Vein, is suggestive of strike-slip. Transtensional, pull-apart grabens have been documented along elements of the Fluorspar Area Fault Complex in far southern Illinois (Nelson et al. 1997, 1999). This style of deformation creates large, open fissures that facilitate the movement of ore-bearing fluids. The propensity for flooding and the occurrence of mud pockets at considerable depth also imply wide-open fissures along the veins.

Some faults bifurcate, split, or merge with other faults; thus, tracing the individual faults becomes difficult. The mining companies generally chose the names of the faults and mines, sometimes after property owners or mine operators. Changing ownership and different companies mining extensions of the same vein further complicated the names applied to the veins and faults. Near the southern end of the Hillside Mine, the Hillside Fault splits into two main segments. The easternmost extension is named the Hillside, but the western segment is called the Rosiclare Fault. The Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company controlled production on the northern end of the Rosiclare Vein, whereas the Fairview Fluorspar and Lead Company, Franklin Fluorspar Company, and Aluminum Ore Company controlled the southern portion of the Rosiclare Vein (Bastin 1931). Some historical documents refer to the southern portion of the Rosiclare Vein as the Rosiclare-Fairview Vein (Weller et al. 1952). This is confusing because a Fairview Shaft is located west of the Rosiclare Vein, along the southern extension of the Blue Diggings Vein. The Hillside Fluorspar Mines were sold to the Inland Steel Company in June of 1945. The Mahoning Mining Company was renamed the Ozark-Mahoning Company, Mahoning Mining Division in December of 1946, and the Aluminum Ore Company was renamed the ALCOA Mining Company in 1948 (Weller et al. 1952). The extension of the Rosiclare Vein to the south in places has been called the Rosiclare, Fairview, Good Hope, Extension, and Annex Vein. The extension of the Daisy Vein southward has been called the Blue Diggings. The ore bodies along the Rosiclare Vein were more persistent in width and length, whereas the widths of the Daisy and Blue Diggings Veins were erratic (Cronk 1930). The average width of the economic veins varied considerably, but mined thicknesses ranged from a few feet to 40 feet wide (Currier 1920).

A few mines operating in the Rosiclare District were described in pre-1900 newspapers and journals, but the precise locations of most of these mines were not certain (Parker 1891). William Pell was reported to have mined fluorspar along a vein near the Rosiclare Mine in 1842(Bain 1905). The Pell operations seem to have been followed by Mullins and Argyle. The Pell Fluorspar and Lead Company was actively operating along a vein 10 to 30 feet wide in 1889 (General Mining News—Illinois 1889a). In 1889 and 1890, the Mullins Fluorspar and Lead Company was installing a concentrating plant for the recovery of lead and fluorspar, reorganizing mining, and constructing a mile-long tramway to connect the mines and mill (General Mining News—Illinois 1889b). Other pre-1900 documents indicate that the Illinois Lead and Fluorspar Company may have succeeded the Mullins Fluorspar and Lead Company. In 1894, the Argyle Mine was reported to be operating and installing new equipment (Hardin County Independent 1894). The individual mines within the Rosiclare District are discussed below in a general north-to-south order.

Mines in the Rosiclare Subdistrict

Clement Mine (Clement-Dyspeck Prospects) and Stewart Mine

The Clement Mine, also called the Clement-Dyspeck Prospects, was operated by the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company. The prospects were located northeast of Illinois Route 34 about 2 miles north of Rosiclare (Bastin 1931). A.H. Worthen described a prospect called the McAllen Diggings, present around 1860, in the general vicinity of the Clement Mine (Weller et al. 1952). These pits constitute the northern prospects along the Rosiclare-Hillside Fault Zone (Bastin 1931). Several small pits were developed and at least one shaft was sunk to 40 feet deep (Bastin 1931). By 1928, this mine had produced 1,600 tons of finished spar from a vein 4 feet wide (Bastin 1931). The vein trended N 45°–50° E and the dip was nearly vertical (Bastin 1931). Gravel spar was also reported as being mined in this area. Bain (1905) indicated that other prospects were located farther to the northeast, but little documentation of these prospects could be obtained. The locations of these prospects are also depicted on a geologic map produced by Weller et al. (1952). Weller et al. mapped two shafts labeled Stewart, which were located between the Dyspeck property and the Eureka No. 1 Mine. Very little information is available concerning this prospect, and the Stewart Mine present in the Rosiclare Subdistrict should not be confused with the Stewart Subdistrict several miles to the west. More Information: 10082963

Eureka Mines, Shoecraft Mine, and Cowsert Shaft

As mapped and described by Weller (1943g), the Eureka Mines were developed near the northern end of the Rosiclare Subdistrict and were considerably less productive than mines farther south. In places, the vein was well developed, with 4 to 6 feet of nearly pure purple fluorspar, but in one place, a 2- to 3-inch band of galena paralleled a 6-inch vein of fluorspar (Bastin 1931). The Eureka Mines exploited a vein or narrow zone of veins that gradually changed strike from N 10° E to N 40° E. Although the vein locally attained a width of 12 feet, Weller (1943g) estimated an average width of 3 feet, and many segments of the vein were barren. The vein(s) followed west-dipping high-angle normal faults having throws in the range of 50 to 100 feet. The productive interval extended from lower Paoli Limestone near the surface to lower Ste. Genevieve Limestone at a depth of about 300 feet. The first Eureka shaft was sunk in 1916, but mining did not begin in earnest until 1925. During the late 1920s and 1930s, five more production shafts were developed. Underground drifts and stopes partially connect, but wide areas barren of ore partition the workings along about 4,000 linear feet. In several cases, workings had to be abandoned because of flooding, cave-ins, and the occurrence of mud pockets as deep as 250 feet below the surface. The Eureka No. 2 Shaft, also called the Cowsert Shaft, lies about 850 feet west of Illinois Route 34 (Bastin 1931). In 1928, the No. 2 Shaft was about 310 feet deep, with working levels of 80, 200, and 300 feet (Bastin 1931). Several additional Eureka shafts were sunk, and Davis (1943) reported that the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company was still producing ore from the Eureka No. 4 and Eureka No. 5 Shafts in 1942. By 1943, only the Eureka No. 4 Shaft was producing ore. With wartime and early postwar fluorite prices high, the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company continued operations intermittently through 1950 (Davis 1949, 1953). Weller (1943g) estimated total production of all the Eureka shafts at 35,000 tons of finished fluorspar, about the same as annual production from the Rosiclare Mine during its heyday. More Information: 10106417

Dimmick (Dimick) Mine

The Dimmick property was situated in the northern part of the Rosiclare Subdistrict, north of the Daisy Mine and southwest of the Eureka Mine (Baxter and Desborough 1965). Dimmick is also spelled “Dimick” (Weller et al. 1952). Prospecting commenced circa 1918 via open pits, shallow exploration shafts, and diamond core drilling. The property passed through several hands before W.E. Dimmick sank a shaft 200 feet deep and began drift development sometime in the 1930s. Veins more than 5 feet wide were encountered in Dimmick’s mine, but little stoping was conducted. After Dimmick’s death circa 1938, the mine passed to the Hillside Fluorspar Mines Company, which cleaned out old workings, sank a second shaft, and resumed production in 1942 (Davis 1943). The Dimmick No. 2 Shaft was sunk to 65 feet deep and a drift was driven 80 feet along a fault, but no mineralization was encountered (Bastin 1931). The workings encompassed two subparallel veins striking slightly east of north, dipping almost vertically, and merging toward the south (Weller 1942b). Illinois Coal Reports indicate that approximately 5,000 tons of ore was produced by Dimmick during the 1920s to 1930s. More Information: 10106416

Hawkins Mine
The Hawkins Mine was located about one mile north of Rosiclare and was in operation from 1943 through 1950. The mine was owned and operated by the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company (Davis 1943, 1953). In 1943, good ore was mined at the 100-foot level (Davis 1945). The mine was still producing ore in 1945. Weller et al. (1952) stated that the Hawkins Fault was an extension of the Dimick Fault.

McClusky-Byrd Prospect
This prospect is located near the Hawkins Mine and was identified by Weller et al. (1952) on a geologic map. It is near the northernmost portion and is probably a northward extension of the Argo Fault.

Decker Prospect
This prospect is located south of the Hawkins Mine, near the junction of the West Dimmick and Argo Faults. Very little information is available concerning this prospect.

Hillside Mine

The Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Mining Company conducted diamond drilling in 1917–1919 from its Daisy Mine property. In 1919, the landowners of the Hillside property sold their property to G.H. Jones, who then organized the Hillside Fluorspar Mines Company (Muir 1947, p. 3). This company sunk a shaft in 1921, erected a mill, and commenced mining in 1922 (Muir 1947, p. 3). The Hillside Fluorspar Mines Company was later absorbed by Inland Steel Company (Muir 1947, p. 3). In 1948, Inland Steel discontinued all mining and milling operations in Rosiclare and sold the Hillside properties to the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company (Davis 1950). Inland Steel suspended its fluorspar operation in June 1954 (McDougal and Roberts 1958a). A lead circuit in the mill produced a lead concentrate that was shipped to the National Lead Company in Collinsville, Illinois. The lead concentrate yielded 65% lead and 5 ounces of silver per ton (Bastin 1931). The Hillside Mine worked a north-trending vein contiguous with that of the adjoining Rosiclare Mine on the south. The vein was reported to be nearly vertical, 5 to 34 feet wide, and trending generally north–south (Bastin 1931). Considerable gravel spar was mined in the upper 200 feet of the vein (Muir 1947). The ore was primarily from fluorite and calcite veins, but a considerable amount of galena was recovered (Muir 1947). The Hillside Vein contained a greater amount of calcite than was usual in the subdistrict. In places, the vein was largely calcite, crosscut by sheets of fluorite (Weller 1943h). The richest segment of the Hillside Vein was about 1,300 feet long and averaged more than 10 feet wide, locally exceeding 30 feet. The vein follows a narrow fault zone that strikes slightly east of north and dips very steeply to the west, having a throw of 200 to 250 feet down to the west. Bastin (1931) reported that postmineralization normal faulting was present and that the west side of the fault was downthrown. The fault is noticeably sinuous in the dip direction and bifurcates in several places. Grooves or slickensides along the fault pitching 20° to 30° to the south from horizontal indicate that a lateral component was also involved in the movement of the fault (Bastin 1931). The mine complex consisted of the main plant shaft to the 450-foot level (extended to 600 feet), a south air shaft sunk to the 250-foot level, and a north air shaft, approximately 900 feet north of the main shaft, sunk to the 450-foot level. Working levels were 170, 250, 350, and 450 feet (Bastin 1931). Later, this mine worked deeper levels at the 550- and 650-foot levels (Muir 1947). The vein was mined continuously for more than 1,600 feet at the 350-foot level. Ore was produced from 1922 through 1937 until the 550- and 650-foot levels were worked out (Weller et al. 1952). The ore was a few feet thick to more than 34 feet wide at the 350-foot level (Muir 1947). Deep drilling by the USGS cut this vein at depths of 790 to 1,360 feet, where it was barren except for a few traces of fluorspar (Weller et al. 1952). Discovery of a parallel vein in 1937 extended production for a few more years, but by 1942, the company was reduced to removing the arches below the stopes and backfilling the mined area with waste from the mill. Cumulative production through the end of 1941 was approximately 310,000 tons of finished fluorspar, as well as several thousand tons of lead concentrate (Weller 1943h). More Information: 10082992

Daisy Mine

The Daisy Vein was located about 600 feet west of the Rosiclare and Hillside Veins along the northern end of the Blue Diggings Vein System (Figure 7). An early shaft about 40 feet deep was developed on this vein around 1891 (Emmons 1893). A shaft was dug along the Daisy Vein by the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Mining Company in 1915 (Muir 1947, p. 3). Production from this mine was extensive from 1917 through 1943 (Muir 1947). As of 1942, the Daisy Mine may have been the largest producer in the entire IKFD, second only to the Rosiclare Mine. Production from the Daisy Mine was primarily along the Daisy Vein, but Muir (1947) stipulated that ore from the Blue Diggings Vein was also transported through the Daisy Mine workings. Muir (1947, p. 4) stated that through 1945, approximately 335,000 tons of fluorspar was produced at the Daisy Mine, with 218,000 tons coming from the Daisy Vein and 117,000 tons from the Blue Diggings Vein. The Daisy Vein was approximately 8 feet wide but in places swelled to more than 25 feet wide. The vein was mined for more than 2,800 feet along strike to depths below 700 feet (Muir 1947, p. 7). The mine worked the 150-, 180-, 300-, 412-, 528-, 600-, 700-, and 800-foot levels (Figures 7 and 8). The 412-foot level was the main haulage level, and it extended for 2,000 feet southerly from the main shaft, where a crosscut was driven westerly to the Blue Diggings Vein (Cronk 1930). The vein showed postmineralization movement, with the west side being downthrown (Bastin 1931). The pitch on slickensides showed bidirectional movement, with one set pitching 10° S and a second set 80° N. In 1934, a “winze,” which is a sloped entry or passageway between working levels, was driven along the Daisy Vein to connect the 600- to 700-foot working levels (Davis 1935). In 1936, drifting on the 600-foot level followed ore for 1,300 feet in length (Davis 1938). In 1938, a drift was driven from the 800-foot level of the Daisy Vein to intersect with the Blue Diggings Vein (Davis and Trought 1941). Development work to the 800-foot level began in 1939 in both the Daisy and Blue Diggings Veins. Considerable tonnage of acid-grade fluorspar was mined in 1936 and 1937; it was brought directly from the stopes to the surface, dumped into trucks, and hauled to the mine yard (Davis 1938). This vein was mainly worked out by 1941, with small production only in the northern portions of the vein (Weller et al. 1952). As of 1942, the lower two levels of the Daisy were flooded and many other passageways were blocked by rockfalls (Weller 1942a). In 1945 and 1946, the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a drilling program to depths of 1,010 to 1,260 feet, which was below the lowest workings in the Daisy Mine. No fluorspar mineralization was found at these levels, but the fault zone was 5 to 45 feet wide (Muir 1947; Weller et al. 1952). Additional borings by the U.S. Bureau of Mines detected abundant calcite but no fluorspar at deeper levels (Figure 8). More Information: 10265989

Argo Vein

This vein was about 450 feet west of the Blue Diggings Vein, trending N 25° E and dipping steeply to the west (Bastin 1931). The vein in the north drift averaged 3 feet wide but pinched out a short distance into the south drift (Davis and Trought 1939). The vein followed a normal fault, with the west hanging wall being downthrown more than 100 feet (Figure 9). The displacement along the fault decreased to the north, and it merged with the Blue Diggings Fault to the south (Weller et al. 1952). The Franklin Fluorspar Company commenced operations on the Argo Vein, sinking a shaft in 1922. In 1923, a crosscut from the 500-foot level of the Blue Diggings Mine was driven into the Argo Vein. In 1938, the 500-foot level of the Argo Vein was driven 380 feet north and 400 feet south. In 1940, the Aluminum Ore Company operated the mine and drove crosscuts at the 500-foot level (Davis and Trought 1941). Igneous dikes 6 inches to 2 feet wide were encountered on the 500- and 240-foot levels (Weller et al. 1952). Drifting and raising were conducted in 1942 to extend working levels to 700 feet (Davis and Trought 1941). A new 700-foot shaft was completed in 1943 (Davis 1943). More development was conducted on the 600- and 700-foot levels in 1945 and 1946 (Davis and Greenspoon 1948). In 1953, the Argo Vein was still producing ore for ALCOA (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). In later years, some of the mines were interconnected, and ore from the Argo Vein was transported through crosscuts into the Blue Diggings workings and from there hoisted to the surface. More Information: 10082957

Blue Diggings Mine

This mine was located along a vein about 900 feet west and parallel to the Rosiclare Vein (Figures 6–9). The mine was named for the pure white to light blue color of the fluorite extracted from this vein (Weller et al. 1920). The Blue Diggings Vein was narrow, between 3 and 8 feet wide, but was reported to have large, cavernous openings sometimes lined with pyrite (Bastin 1931). The Fairview Fluorspar and Lead Company operated the Blue Diggings Mine from 1910 to 1920 (Bastin 1931). The main shaft was driven on the hanging wall and passed through the vein on the 200-foot level. Weller et al. (1920) reported that this mine contained zones of intense fracturing and that the strike and dip of the vein varied considerably. The mine was worked extensively until 1924, when it was considered worked out (Weller et al. 1952). The Aluminum Ore Company, later known as ALCOA, discovered significant orebodies mainly south of the original workings (Weller et al. 1952). In 1937, the shaft was deepened to 720 feet. Development work began in 1939 to the 800-foot level in both the Daisy and Blue Diggings Veins. The two veins were reported to be only 30 to 40 feet apart at this level. In 1943, the Aluminum Ore Company was producing ore at this mine (Davis 1945), and through1953, the mine was producing ore for ALCOA (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). The Blue Diggings Fault is inclined less than the rest of the faults in the Rosiclare area and has been studied by several geologists (Weller et al. 1952). The fault is normal and generally strikes N 30°–50° E and dips to the east between 55° and 65° (Bastin 1931). Muir (1947) stated that the fault in this area dips 45°–83° E and that the vertical displacement varies between 75 and 150 feet. Core drilling by the U.S. Bureau of Mines indicated that the Blue Diggings and Daisy Veins merged about 50 feet below the 800-foot level. Igneous dikes were encountered in a crosscut west of the Middle Shaft on the 300-foot level and on the 600- and 700-foot levels (Weller et al. 1952). More Information: 10082959

Fairview Mine

In September of 1941, drilling successfully located additional ore reserves along the southern part of the Blue Diggings Vein, where the Fairview Shaft and three smaller shafts were sunk (Weller et al. 1952). A crosscut was driven from the vein at the 800-foot level to the bottom of the Fairview Shaft, and a 7,500-gallon-per-minute sump and pumping station was installed in 1949 (Davis 1951). Work began in 1951 to drive a crosscut from the Fairview Shaft to the Good Hope Vein, which had not been mined for 30 years (Davis 1953). In 1953, the mine was producing ore for ALCOA (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). In later years, small locomotives were used to move the ore cars through the drifts, and in 1947, signal lights to control traffic flow were installed in the Fairview-Blue Diggings workings (Davis 1950). More Information: 10082979

Rosiclare Mine

Initial mining along this property began around 1842–1843 (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). Weller (1943f ) wrote of the Rosiclare Mine, This mine has been the most important fluorspar producer in the United States, if not in the entire world. The Pell Mine, now part of the Rosiclare Mine, was opened in 1842. It and several other small mines nearby were subsequently worked principally for lead until about 1870, when the first shipments of fluorspar appear to have been made. Fluorspar mining, however, did not become important until about 1900, and until 1909, production from the Rosiclare property was small and probably never exceeded 25 tons per day. Thereafter, the development of the mine was rapid, and from 1909 to 1915, an average of about 40,000 tons of finished fluorspar was produced each year. Maximum yearly production of about 100,000 tons was attained in 1917. The Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company operated the mine (Bastin 1931). Mineralization at the Rosiclare Mine continued deeper than any of the mines in the Rosiclare area (Weller et al. 1952). The vein consisted of fluorspar and calcite, with minor amounts of lead and zinc (Bain 1905). This vein was 30 to 35 feet wide near the Rosiclare Main and Plant Shafts, but Bain (1905) reported that the vein averaged about 10 to 12 feet wide. Developed within an intricate fault zone, the Rosiclare Vein trends slightly east of north and is slightly sinuous along strike. Faults and veins are nearly vertical, and throw varies from about 200 to 300 feet down to the west (Weller 1943f ). Ste. Genevieve Limestone and older units on the east side are faulted against the Cypress Formation and older units on the west side of the fault. The main shaft was sunk to a depth of 720 feet (Bastin 1931). During the period of greatest productivity, the Rosiclare Mine had working levels at 235, 320, 420, 520, 620, and 720 feet (Weller et al. 1920). As the deeper levels were advanced to the north, water became a significant problem (Weller et al. 1952). In January of 1924, water was being pumped from this mine at a rate of 3,500 gallons per minute, which was too much water and the mine closed (Weller et al. 1952). In 1938, additional pumps were installed in the Rosiclare Shaft. By 1940, the mine had been dewatered down to the 600-foot level and underground cleanup operations were ongoing (Davis and Trought 1941). Development work was undertaken on the 600- and 700-foot levels in 1941, and new ore production began in 1942. In 1943, a new 1,800 gallon per minute pump was installed, which raised the total pumping capacity of the mine to 8,800 gallons per minute (Davis 1945). High water from the Ohio River idled the mine in the spring of 1945, but production resumed by May. In 1948, water was coming into this mine at a rate of 7,000 gallons per minute. Because of the water influx, pressure grouting was planned to reduce the flow rate (Davis 1951). Production of ore was ongoing through the North and South Boundary Shafts in 1953 (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). Production continued until 1954, when the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Company pulled the pumps and allowed the water to flood the mine to the 220-foot level (Holtzinger and Roberts 1956). In 1958, exploration activities were conducted, but no further mine development is on record (McDougal and Foley 1959). The American Fluorite Museum now occupies the office at this mine site. The headframe is still standing over a shaft on this property. More Information: 10106427

Good Hope Shaft

The Good Hope Vein was discovered in 1842 (Bain 1905) and is considered a southern extension of the Rosiclare Vein (Weller et al. 1952). Weller et al. (1952) stated that mining began on the Good Hope Vein in 1844 and continued until 1851 through a series of shallow shafts. Galena was present along with the fluorspar, which became more abundant at depth (Weller et al. 1952). Emmons (1893) suggested that the Good Hope Shaft was sunk by Mullins in 1847 on the Anderson property. In the early years, lead was smelted on the property, and later a milling plant was built at this location (Weller et al. 1952). Weed (1922, p. 821) stated that the mill could process 50 tons per hour. The vein was 25 feet wide (Weller et al. 1920), striking N 21° E and dipping 80° NW (Bain 1905). By 1851, several shafts from 40 to 80 feet deep and one shaft to 130 feet deep were dug on the Good Hope Vein (Weller et al. 1952). The early shaft extended to a depth of 213 feet below the surface, and drifts were run in both directions (north and south) at depths of 30, 60, 135, 160, and 210 feet (Bain 1905). An additional shaft was sunk on this vein in 1862, which allowed the mine to run until 1874. From 1891 to 1895, the owners of the Rosiclare Mine (Bain 1905) leased this mine. Production from the Good Hope Shaft continued from 1905 to 1913 until the original Good Hope Shaft began to cave. In 1909, the Fairview Fluorspar and Lead Company reopened an old shaft 1,700 feet north of the Good Hope Shaft (Weller et al. 1952). Weed (1922, p. 821) reported that this mine produced 47,604 tons in 1919 and 47,334 tons in 1920. Mining ceased in this area around 1924, when drifts apparently encountered water from the Ohio River. More than 3,400 gallons per minute was being pumped from these mines before the pumps were shut down (Bastin 1931). In 1943, the Aluminum Ore Company was producing ore at this location (Davis 1945). More Information: 10106424

Buzzard’s Roost Shaft
The Buzzard’s Roost Shaft, owned by ALCOA, was located east of the main fault on a smaller, northeast-trending subsidiary fault. Little information is available concerning this shaft.

Annex Mine

The Annex and Extension Shafts were sunk in 1911 (Weller et al. 1920). The Franklin Fluorspar Company controlled the Annex property (Bastin 1931), and in November of 1923, the Annex workings were flooded (Bastin 1931). The Annex Vein was 7 to 8 feet wide, but near the surface, it widened to about 20 feet (Bastin 1931). The vein narrowed to the south but widened northward to form the Good Hope orebody (Bastin 1931). More Information: 10082978

Extension Mine

This vein was operated by the Franklin Fluorspar Company and was extended for about 800 feet under the Ohio River (Bastin 1931; Weller et al. 1952). The vein was productive to about 300 feet, but below 300 feet, calcite was dominant (Bastin 1931). The vein was narrow near the Ohio River, but it widened to the north at the Extension and Annex Shafts to form good ore (Bastin 1931). On the 200-foot level of this mine and about 1,900 feet south of the Extension Shaft, the vein was about 3.5 feet wide (Bastin 1931). Water was encountered in this mine while driving a raise from the 200-foot level in November of 1923 (Bastin 1931). The water flooded the Good Hope, Extension, and Annex Mines, and 3,000 gallons per minute was being pumped when the workings were abandoned (Bastin 1931). In 1956, additional reserves were discovered along the Extension Vein (McDougal and Roberts 1958a). More Information: 10082978

Knight Mine

Ozark-Mahoning operated this mine around 1973 (Wood 1975; Malhotra and Smith 1976; Lamar and Bradbury 1979). The Knight Mine was located at the western edge of the Rosiclare District. Ozark-Mahoning files from 1982 indicate that 426,641 tons of refined ore was extracted from this mine. The Knight Vein widened considerably in rich areas. In 1980, Ozark-Mahoning geologists Ross Lillie and Eric Livingston examined active workings in a stope where the vein measured 42 feet across and consisted of virtually pure acid-grade spar. Massive, white, lightly translucent spar filled the vein from wall to wall. The Knight Vein persisted and widened at depth, with a coincidental disappearance of spar. Core drill records proved that vein widths exceeded 60 feet at depths below working levels, where the vein was composed mainly of massive calcite. More Information: 10083003

References

Bain, H.F., 1905, The fluorspar deposits of southern Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey, Bulletin 255, 75 p

Bastin, E.S., 1931, The fluorspar deposits of Hardin and Pope Counties, Illinois: Illinois Geological Survey, Bulletin 58, 116 p.

Baxter, J.W., and G.A. Desborough, 1965, Areal geology of the Illinois Fluorspar District: Part 2—Karbers Ridge and Rosiclare Quadrangles: Illinois State Geological Survey, Circular 385, 40 p.

Cronk, A.H., 1930, Mining methods of the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Mining Company, Rosiclare, Illinois: U.S. Bureau of Mines, Information Circular 6384, 13 p.

Currier, L.W., 1920, The structure, genesis, and paragenesis of the fluorspar deposits of southern Illinois: Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University, MS thesis, 83 p.

Davis, H.W., 1935, Fluorspar and cryolite, in O.E. Kiessling, ed., Minerals yearbook 1935 [year 1934]: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Mineral Resources and Economics Division, p. 1083–1105.

Davis, H.W., 1938, Fluorspar and cryolite, in H.H. Hughes, ed., Minerals yearbook 1938 [year 1937]: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Economics and Statistics Branch, p. 1195–1210.

Davis, H.W., 1943, Fluorspar and cryolite, in F.M. Shore, ed., Minerals yearbook 1941: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Economics and Statistics Service, p. 1399–1416.

Davis, H.W., 1945, Fluorspar and cryolite, in E.W. Pehrson, ed., Minerals yearbook 1943: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Economics and Statistics Branch, p. 1411–1462.

Davis, H.W., 1949, Fluorspar and cryolite, in E.W. Pehrson and A.F. Matthews, eds., Minerals yearbook 1947: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Economics and Statistics Division, p. 497–515.

Davis, H.W., 1950, Fluorspar and cryolite, in E.W. Pehrson and A.F. Matthews, eds., Minerals yearbook 1948: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Economics and Statistics Division, p. 525–544.

Davis, H.W., 1951, Fluorspar and cryolite, in A.F. Matthews and J. Hozik, eds., Minerals yearbook 1949: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, p. 511–530.

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