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Abandoned mines › Tennessee
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Van Buren County, Tennessee

Van Buren County, Tennessee has 122 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1954–1983, including 42 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts). OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 93 problems in the county, 34 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 27 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Van Buren 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)
122
Mine openings
42
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
34
MSHA mines marked abandoned
27
0 features carry a name0 prospect pits9 quadrangle maps, published 1954–1983 93 OSMRE problems, 59 reclaimed 2 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    46 21.4%
  2. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    75 34.9%
  3. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    5 2.3%
  4. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    16 7.4%
  5. Mills, tipples and facilities
    processing plants and hazardous structures
    1 0.5%
  6. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    72 33.5%
OSMRE abandoned mine land problems93 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Big Branch P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Big Branch P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Big Branch P2 Hazardous Water Bodies In Reclamation
Big Branch P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Big Branch P3 Spoil Area In Reclamation
Camps Gulf P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Camps Gulf P2 Dangerous Highwalls In Reclamation
Camps Gulf P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Camps Gulf P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Camps Gulf P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Camps Gulf P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Camps Gulf P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Chalybeate P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Chalybeate P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Chalybeate P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Chalybeate P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Chalybeate P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Completed
Dry Fork P1 Dangerous Highwalls In Reclamation
Dry Fork P2 Dangerous Highwalls In Reclamation
Dry Fork P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Dry Fork P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments In Reclamation
Dry Fork P2 Hazardous Water Bodies In Reclamation
Dry Fork P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Dry Fork P3 High Wall In Reclamation
Dry Fork P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Dry Fork P3 Pits In Reclamation
Dry Fork P3 Spoil Area In Reclamation
Glade Creek West P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Glade Creek West P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Glade Creek West P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Pending
Glade Creek West P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Glade Creek West P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Glade Creek West P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Glade Creek West P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Glade Creek West P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Glade Creek West P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Glade Creek West P3 Pits Reclamation Pending
Green Sea P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P2 Dangerous Highwalls In Reclamation
Green Sea P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P2 Hazardous Water Bodies In Reclamation
Green Sea P2 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P2 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P3 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Green Sea P3 Spoil Area In Reclamation
Green Sea P3 Spoil Area In Reclamation
Green Sea P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Completed
Highway 30 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Highway 8 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Highway 8 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Highway 8 P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Highway 8 P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Highway 8 P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Mount Pleasant Branch P3 Pits Reclamation Pending
Mount Pleasant Branch P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending
Piney Creek P2 Dangerous Highwalls In Reclamation
Piney Creek P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Piney Creek P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Piney Creek P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Piney Creek P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities In Reclamation
Piney Creek P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Piney Creek P2 Hazardous Water Bodies In Reclamation
Piney Creek P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Piney Creek P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Piney Creek P2 Industrial/Residential Waste In Reclamation
Piney Creek P3 High Wall In Reclamation
Piney Creek P3 Pits In Reclamation
Piney Creek P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Pre 87 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Pending
Samples Fork P3 Equipment Facility Reclamation Pending
Samples Fork P3 High Wall In Reclamation
Samples Fork P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P3 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P3 Pits In Reclamation
Samples Fork P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Completed
Samples Fork P3 Spoil Area In Reclamation
Samples Fork P3 Water Problems Reclamation Completed
Smith Cove P1 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Spring Creek P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Spring Creek P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Spring Creek P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Whetstone Branch P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Pending
Whetstone Branch P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption Reclamation Pending

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.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned27 on register
  1. #1 Mine
    Underground coal · Dunwoody Coal Company · MSHA ID 4000694
    Abandoned
  2. Area No 4
    Surface coal · Hitchcock Coal Company · MSHA ID 4002895
    Abandoned
  3. Bickford Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · R3M Quarries · MSHA ID 4003448
    Abandoned
  4. Big Fork Mining Area #11
    Surface coal · Big Fork Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 4002805
    Abandoned
  5. Big Fork Mining Area No 12
    Surface coal · Big Fork Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 4002815
    Abandoned
  6. Brown's Stone
    Surface metal/non-metal · Brown's Stone · MSHA ID 4003278
    Abandoned
  7. C B Stone
    Surface metal/non-metal · C B Stone · MSHA ID 4003378
    Abandoned
  8. COUNTY QUARRY
    Surface metal/non-metal · Van Buren County Highway Department · MSHA ID 4001467
    Abandoned
  9. Gomez Mountain Stone
    Surface metal/non-metal · Gomez Mountain Stone · MSHA ID 4003520
    Abandoned
  10. J W Pit No 1
    Surface coal · J W Coal Company · MSHA ID 4002754
    Abandoned
  11. No 1
    Underground coal · Stockwell Brothers Mining · MSHA ID 4002632
    Abandoned and Sealed
  12. No 1 Strip
    Surface coal · Clear Spring Farm Inc · MSHA ID 4002092
    Abandoned
  13. No 1 Strip Mine
    Surface coal · Walden Ridge Coal Company · MSHA ID 4000508
    Abandoned
  14. No 1 Surface
    Surface coal · Van Buren Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 4002020
    Abandoned
  15. No 1 Surface
    Surface coal · Dunlap Coal Company · MSHA ID 4002190
    Abandoned
  16. No 1 Surface
    Surface coal · Cumberland Mining Inc · MSHA ID 4002330
    Abandoned
  17. No 3
    Underground coal · Skiles Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 4002813
    Abandoned and Sealed
  18. No 3 Strip
    Surface coal · Paul Cole Coal Company · MSHA ID 4000676
    Abandoned
  19. No 3 Surface
    Surface coal · O & B Mining Company · MSHA ID 4001970
    Abandoned
  20. No 6-B Strip
    Surface coal · Waters Coal & Construction Company · MSHA ID 4000501
    Abandoned
  21. No 6a Mine Strip
    Surface coal · Waters Coal & Construction Company · MSHA ID 4000509
    Abandoned
  22. P-800 Strip
    Surface coal · Tenn-Anderson Mining Company · MSHA ID 4001966
    Abandoned
  23. ROCKY RIVER PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · White County Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4003044
    Abandoned
  24. SR 111, Van Buren County
    Surface metal/non-metal · Jones Bros., Inc · MSHA ID 4003456
    Abandoned
  25. Van Buren Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · R3M Quarries, LLC · MSHA ID 4003377
    Abandoned
  26. Van Buren Quarry And Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Van Buren Stone Company · MSHA ID 4002096
    Abandoned
  27. Walden Ridge No 3 Strip Mine
    Surface coal · Walden Ridge Coal Company · MSHA ID 4000673
    Abandoned

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms
Feature type Features
Strip Mine 64
Adit 42
P2 Hazardous Water Bodies 19
P2 Dangerous Highwalls 18
P3 Pits 15
P3 High Wall 10
P3 Spoil Area 9
P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments 7
Disturbed Surface 7
Strip Mine 4
P2 Industrial/Residential Waste 3
Quarry 3
P2 Portals 3
P3 Industrial/Residential Waste 2
Quarry - Rock 2
P1 Dangerous Highwalls 2
P3 Equipment Facility 1
P3 Water Problems 1
P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption 1
P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities 1
P2 Vertical Openings 1
Other counties in TennesseeAll counties →
How to read these numbers

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.

Sources
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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).
  8. 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.