Abandoned mines in Barton County, Missouri
Barton County, Missouri has 112 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1948–1981, including 1 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts). OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 118 problems in the county, 48 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 6 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.
Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Barton County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.
- Mapped mine features (USGS)
- 112
- Mine openings
- 1
- OSMRE problems unreclaimed
- 48
- MSHA mines marked abandoned
- 6
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10 4.3%Mine openingsshafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
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104 45.2%Mines and surface workingslabelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
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4 1.7%Quarries, gravel and borrow pitsconstruction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
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35 15.2%Dumps, tailings, spoil and gobwhat mining left above ground
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1 0.4%Mills, tipples and facilitiesprocessing plants and hazardous structures
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76 33.0%Other reclamation problemshighwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
| Problem area | Problem | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson Gob | P2 Clogged Stream Lands | Reclamation Completed |
| Anderson Gob | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Anderson Gob | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Ardath | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | In Reclamation |
| Ardath | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Completed |
| Ardath | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Ardath | P3 Pits | Reclamation Completed |
| Ardath | P3 Slurry | Reclamation Completed |
| Ardath | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Completed |
| Bison | P2 Clogged Stream Lands | Reclamation Completed |
| Bison | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Bison | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Completed |
| Bison | P2 Vertical Openings | Reclamation Completed |
| Bison | P3 High Wall | Reclamation Pending |
| Brock Farms | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Brock Farms | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | Reclamation Completed |
| Brock Farms | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Clemons Gob Pile | P2 Clogged Stream Lands | Reclamation Completed |
| Clemons Gob Pile | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Clemons Gob Pile | P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities | Reclamation Completed |
| Clemons Gob Pile | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Completed |
| Clemons Gob Pile | P3 Pits | Reclamation Completed |
| Clemons Gob Pile | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Completed |
| Correll Coal | P3 Equipment Facility | Reclamation Pending |
| Correll Coal | P3 Gobs | Reclamation Pending |
| Correll Coal | P3 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Pending |
| Correll Coal | P3 Other | Reclamation Pending |
| Correll Coal | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Daugherty Gob Pile | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Daugherty Gob Pile | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Completed |
| Daugherty Gob Pile | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Daugherty Gob Pile | P3 Pits | Reclamation Completed |
| Daugherty Gob Pile | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Completed |
| Decker Farm | P1 Subsidence | Reclamation Completed |
| Decker Farm | P1 Vertical Openings | Reclamation Completed |
| Decker Farm | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Decker Farm | P2 Subsidence | Reclamation Pending |
| Decker Farm | P2 Vertical Openings | Reclamation Completed |
| Decker Farm | P3 Spoil Area | In Reclamation |
| Decker Farm | P3 Water Problems | Reclamation Pending |
| Gary Peterson | P3 Gobs | Reclamation Pending |
| Gary Peterson | P3 High Wall | Reclamation Pending |
| Gary Peterson | P3 Other | Reclamation Pending |
| Gary Peterson | P3 Pits | Reclamation Pending |
| Gary Peterson | P3 Slurry | Reclamation Pending |
| Gary Peterson | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 126 | P2 Clogged Streams | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 126 | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 126 | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 126 | P3 High Wall | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 126 | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 126 | P3 Water Problems | Reclamation Pending |
| Highway 160 | P1 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Highway 160 | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Lester Davis | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | In Reclamation |
| Lester Davis | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Completed |
| Lester Davis | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | Reclamation Completed |
| Lester Davis | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Pending |
| Lester Davis | P3 Spoil Area | In Reclamation |
| Liberal Shaft | P2 Portals | Reclamation Completed |
| Liberal Shaft | P2 Vertical Openings | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P3 Equipment Facility | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P3 Gobs | Reclamation Completed |
| Massa | P3 Spoil Area | In Reclamation |
| Max Rose | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Milford | P3 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Pending |
| Milford | P3 Pits | Reclamation Pending |
| Milford | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Mindenmines | P1 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Mindenmines | P1 Subsidence | Reclamation Completed |
| Mindenmines | P2 Vertical Openings | In Reclamation |
| Mindenmines | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Completed |
| Moore | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Pending |
| Moore | P3 Gobs | Reclamation Pending |
| Parry | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Parry | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Pending |
| Parry | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | In Reclamation |
| Parry | P3 Gobs | Reclamation Pending |
| Parry | P3 Spoil Area | In Reclamation |
| Prairie State Park | P2 Clogged Stream Lands | Reclamation Completed |
| Prairie State Park | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Prairie State Park | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Completed |
| Pre 87 - Anderson | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Completed |
| Pre 87 - Anderson | P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption | Reclamation Completed |
| Pre 87 - Anderson | P2 Vertical Openings | Reclamation Completed |
| Reclaimed | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Pending |
| Reclaimed | P3 Pits | Reclamation Pending |
| Shawnee Trail | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Shawnee Trail | P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | Reclamation Completed |
| Shawnee Trail | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | Reclamation Completed |
| Shawnee Trail | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Shawnee Trail | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Subsidence Prone | P1 Subsidence | Reclamation Completed |
| Subsidence Prone | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Subsidence Prone | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | Reclamation Completed |
| Subsidence Prone | P2 Subsidence | Reclamation Pending |
| Subsidence Prone | P2 Vertical Openings | Reclamation Pending |
| Subsidence Prone | P3 High Wall | Reclamation Pending |
| Subsidence Prone | P3 Slump | Reclamation Pending |
| Subsidence Prone | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Pending |
| Swimming Pit | P2 Clogged Stream Lands | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P3 Gobs | Reclamation Completed |
| Swimming Pit | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Completed |
| Turner | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | Reclamation Completed |
| Turner | P2 Portals | Reclamation Completed |
| Turner | P3 Spoil Area | Reclamation Completed |
| Tusconia | P2 Dangerous Highwalls | In Reclamation |
| Tusconia | P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | In Reclamation |
Problem types carry OSMRE's priority prefix: P1 and P2 are threats to health, safety and property, P3 is environmental. A problem area is a cluster of problems reclaimed as one project; several rows can share one location.
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Bar Co RocAbandoned 1982-12-20Surface metal/non-metal · Barton County Rock Asphalt Company Inc · MSHA ID 2300537
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Blue Mound Mine No 1Abandoned 2000-10-02Surface coal · Alternate Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 2302023
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Empire MineAbandoned 1991-08-29Surface coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 2300462
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Jasper #15Abandoned 1990-04-27Surface metal/non-metal · Midwest Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 2300199
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Sunpyre-Minden MineAbandoned 1991-07-18Facility coal · Sunpyre Mining Inc · MSHA ID 2301912
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Taylor Quarries, Inc.Abandoned 2014-10-01Surface metal/non-metal · Taylor Quarries, Inc. · MSHA ID 2300748
Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.
| Feature type | Features |
|---|---|
| Strip Mine | 104 |
| P3 Spoil Area | 18 |
| P2 Dangerous Highwalls | 16 |
| P2 Hazardous Water Bodies | 8 |
| P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial | 8 |
| P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments | 8 |
| P2 Industrial/Residential Waste | 7 |
| P2 Vertical Openings | 6 |
| P3 Gobs | 6 |
| P3 Pits | 6 |
| P2 Clogged Stream Lands | 5 |
| P3 High Wall | 4 |
| Tailings - Undifferentiated | 3 |
| P1 Subsidence | 3 |
| P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption | 3 |
| P1 Dangerous Highwalls | 2 |
| P3 Equipment Facility | 2 |
| P2 Subsidence | 2 |
| P2 Portals | 2 |
| P3 Industrial/Residential Waste | 2 |
| P3 Slurry | 2 |
| Quarry | 2 |
| P3 Water Problems | 2 |
| P3 Other | 2 |
| Adit | 1 |
| Gravel Pit | 1 |
| Gravel Pit | 1 |
| P1 Vertical Openings | 1 |
| P2 Clogged Streams | 1 |
| P3 Slump | 1 |
| P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities | 1 |
A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.
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USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
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USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
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OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
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MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
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US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
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GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
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Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
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IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.