Magnesite Mine, Goat Hill

From the information, which I obtained from Mr. W. Wallace Wiley, an old resident of the neighborhood, who had been employed at the mine since thye were first opened in 1835, I learn that between 1835 and 1840, about 150 tons per annum were shipped to Messrs. Handy and John Ellicott, of Baltimore; between 1840 and 1850, to Messrs. Samuel and Philip Ellicott. The mines were then dormant for 4 years, when they were reopended in 1854, and worked until 1871, by Messrs. Powers and Weightman (see William Weightman’s Wikipedia biography) , producing annually 500 tons of carbonate of magnesia. They are not in operation at present.

This quantity of carbonate of magneia was used in the manufacture of epsom salt, 1 ton yielding 2¾ tons of epsom salt.

The discontinuation of the mining operations at the magnesia quarries was caused by the discovery of large masses of kieserite (a sulfate of magnesia) in the rock salt mines of Stassfurt in Prussia, which on boiling takes up a large quantity of water and is converted into epsom salt (Genth, 1874).

Total production at Goat Hill was estimated to be over 10,000 tons. The mines were re-opened in 1921 for a short period (see Sloto for photos of the 1921 operation).

Magnesite was used to make Epsom salts. The salt was mainly used for medical purposes.

Click on a photo to see a higher resolution version above here.

Shaft (same as in image to the left) and old trench on magnesite vein, Max Junghandel in foreground. Looking west along state line.