Salisbury Mine (Old Hill Mine; Ore Hill Mine), Salisbury District, Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USA
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| Latitude & Longitude (WGS84): | 41° 57' 23'' North , 73° 28' 19'' West |
|---|---|
| Latitude & Longitude (decimal): | 41.9563888889, -73.4719444444 |
The largest and most important mine in the Salisbury District. While specimens of goethite are often just labeled "Salisbury" and could be from any of the district's mines, they are most likely from the Salisbury mine because it operated into the early 20th century, and the dumps were accessible for decades afterward. According to Hiller (1967), in the 1960s the area was owned by Calvin Flint, who would show collectors the best areas, which were on the west side of the now flooded pit (Ore Hill Pond). The pond is now surrounded by residential development.
Goethite iron ore was discovered on Old Hill (later Ore Hill) in 1732, production was sporadic until 1884, then worked heavily until 1904, with 200 miners pulling out 5,000 tons per year. It was the last goethite mine to close in 1923. This mine became the most important of the several goethite mines in the state, which exploited a metamorphosed lateritic soil horizon that formed on an unconformity between the Cambro-Ordovician Stockbridge Marble and the overlying Ordovician Walloomsac Schist. The ore was typically referred to in contemporary literature as "brown hematite", "brown oxide of iron" or "limonite", none of which is strictly correct. In this area the ore body is 65 feet thick and 0.75 miles long and dips 45 north. Mostly mined as an open pit, but there were inclined shafts down to 800 feet with extensive underground workings.
Hobbs (1907) gives this description:
The "Ore Hill" mines are at present entirely below ground, and are operated by the "caving" method. The older works at the locality, which were formerly known as the “Brook” pit, are a little to the north of the main incline, and, like most of the other mines of the Salisbury district, were operated from the surface by “open“ methods. In the present workings the ore body is largely enclosed in Berkshire or Hudson [Walloomsac] schist, though a narrow layer of dolomite forms the greater part of the hanging wall. The dip of the rock is to the southeast at angles near 25°, and is subject to sudden changes. The incline descends along the foot wall at an angle of about 25°, but meets abrupt upward projections of this wall, which seem to recur at regular intervals approximating forty or fifty feet. About 170 feet vertically below the entrance to the incline, and about thirty feet above the lowest level, this foot wall comes up in a nearly vertical plane so as to cut off the ore. The foot wall wherever examined was found to be graphitic schist like that of the Berkshire formation in the vicinity, and the ore appears to be largely a replacement of this rock, in which are found irregular block-like masses of so-called "white horse." The “white horse” somewhat resembles the dolomite, but has soapy feel and contains 50 per cent or more of ferric oxide. It appears to be a mixture of iron carbonate and talc, and elsewhere in the Salisbury district it has been mined for the iron which it contains. At the surface it weathers to a brown color owing to the hydration of the iron oxide. The interruptions in the foot wall above described appear to be due to faults, along which the throw has been in most cases only a few feet. The hanging wall, which is exposed in the lowest level for a considerable distance, is a hard dolomitic marble, but in some places this is a garnetiferous and staurolitic schist. The peculiar relations at this mine are explained by interstratification of the dolomite and schist near their junction combined with normal faulting.
Mineral List
6 valid minerals. 4 erroneous literature entries.
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References
Shepard, Charles U. (1837), A Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut. Hamlem, New Haven.
Holley. (1877), Notes on the Salisbury Iron Mines and Works. T. A. I. M. E.: 6: 220.
Hobbs, William Herbert. (1907), The Iron Ores of the Salisbury District of Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. Economic Geology: 2: 153-181.
Schairer, J. F. (1931), The Minerals of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 51.
Elwell, Wilbur J. (1936), Mineral Collecting by Hydroplane. Rocks and Minerals: 11(6): 92-3.
Januzzi, Ronald E. (1976), Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State. Taylor Associates Mineralogical Press, Danbury.
Skehan, James W. (2008), Roadside Geology of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Mountain Press, Missuola, Montana: 252.
Holley. (1877), Notes on the Salisbury Iron Mines and Works. T. A. I. M. E.: 6: 220.
Hobbs, William Herbert. (1907), The Iron Ores of the Salisbury District of Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. Economic Geology: 2: 153-181.
Schairer, J. F. (1931), The Minerals of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 51.
Elwell, Wilbur J. (1936), Mineral Collecting by Hydroplane. Rocks and Minerals: 11(6): 92-3.
Januzzi, Ronald E. (1976), Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State. Taylor Associates Mineralogical Press, Danbury.
Skehan, James W. (2008), Roadside Geology of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Mountain Press, Missuola, Montana: 252.
Salisbury Mine, Salisbury District, Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USA