Annabel Lee Mine
Harris Creek Mining Sub-District, Hardin County, Illinois, USA
Key Information
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The Annabel Lee Mine is located in Hardin County, Illinois, near Cave-in-Rock, a village known for its historical cave and state park.
It primarily produced fluorspar, with associated minerals like sphalerite and celestine, some of which are less common and appealing to collectors.
The mine operated from the late 1970s to 1995 under the Ozark-Mahoning Company and is now closed.
The geological setting involves sedimentary limestone, influenced by igneous activity from the Hicks Dome, forming unique mineral deposits.
The area has a rich history of outlaws and cultural events like Frontier Day, with the mine's name possibly linked to Edgar Allan Poe's poem.
Geographic Location
The Annabel Lee Mine sits in the Harris Creek Mining Sub-District, Hardin County, Illinois, in the southern part of the state, near the Kentucky border. This region, known as Little Egypt, is close to the village of Cave-in-Rock, famous for its cave and state park along the Ohio River. Nearby, the Denton Mine is another notable mineral locality, adding to the area's geological interest.
Minerals Produced
The mine is renowned for fluorspar (calcium fluoride), essential for industrial uses like steel and glass production. It also yielded associated minerals such as sphalerite, galena, pyrite, quartz, calcite, barite, celestine, dolomite, marcasite, muscovite, pyrolusite, rhodochrosite, and witherite. Celestine and rhodochrosite stand out as less common, potentially attracting collectors for their rarity.
Geological Structure and Mining History
Geologically, the mine is hosted in the St. Louis Limestone, a sedimentary rock, with fluorspar deposits formed through bedded-replacement processes. The Hicks Dome, an igneous feature, likely contributed fluorine, enhancing mineralization. Historically, the Ozark-Mahoning Company operated the mine from the late 1970s to 1995, using underground methods, and it has since closed, leaving a legacy in the region's mining history.
Local Culture and Climate
Culturally, the area around Cave-in-Rock is steeped in history, once a hideout for outlaws and pirates, now celebrated with events like the annual Frontier Day festival. The mine's name, "Annabel Lee," may reference Edgar Allan Poe's poem, adding a literary touch. Climatically, Hardin County has a humid subtropical climate, with cold winters (averaging 23°F) and hot summers (up to 88°F), and annual precipitation of about 36.9 inches, part of the diverse Shawnee National Forest ecosystem.