(18) Mapping Historic Coal Mines within the Sewanee Domain using LIDAR Data

The Bon Air coal seam, found on the slopes in the Raccoon Mountain Formation throughout the Sewanee Region, was once supposed to be the center of early coal mining operations in South Tennessee. Miners dug prospects and adits... [ view full abstract ]

The Bon Air coal seam, found on the slopes in the Raccoon Mountain Formation throughout the Sewanee Region, was once supposed to be the center of early coal mining operations in South Tennessee. Miners dug prospects and adits to mine this coal from approximately 1874 until 1922. Although it was not profitable enough to continue to the present, the remnants of the mines remain scattered across the Domain. This project looks at observing and mapping all of the historic mines and adits within the Sewanee Domain. This was accomplished using LIDAR data in combination with historical information (namely the Mineral Resources Summary of Sewanee by the Tennessee Department of Conservation “Division of Geology” in 1983). Most of the adits date back to 1856 and are now collapsed and appear as artificial trenches on hillsides. The only existing intact adits are located in Shakerag Hollow as well as a strip mine located south of Lake Dimmick. The purpose of this project was to provide a complete collection of mine data with on ground information and photos that can be later used for future research in Biology, Archaeology, Hydrology, and Geology.