Reisler's Placer Quarry

Location: Lower Chrome Barrens, Elk township.

The area known as the White Barrens, drained by Little Elk Creek and its tributaries, has provided a large quantity of the sand chrome production from the State Line District. At least 3 properties were investigated for sand chrome during WWI: the Reisler, Collum, and Grier farms. An area of 20 acres of meadow adjoining the Oxford road on the west branch of Little Elk Creek, owned by James Reisler and leased to the National Minerals Company, was developed with 16 test pits to bedrock, each 10 feet square, and 2 large open cuts. The chromite-bearing gravel was found to be 2 to 4 feet thick, covered by 3 to 5 feet of overburden. The compnay produced 15 tons of concentrate, assaying 53.9 percent Cr₂O₃, which they sold as a sample for $101 per ton. Preparations for larger scale production were underway when the armistice was declared. This placer chromite has the highest chromic acid content reported in the district. (Pearre & Heyl).

Newspaper Clippings

Oxford Press
9th August 1918
(Reprinted 8/4/1943)

Messrs. Pyle and Adair, Wilmington, representing the National Mineral Co., have opened Chrome operations in James S. Reishers meadow, Elk Township.

They have located a considerable bed of sand chrome.  The work is in charge of J. George Stewart, who is making his headquarters at Oxford Hotel, and advertises this issue for help.

Daily Local News
27th September 1918

Chrome Mining Brisk

The chrome miners on J. C. Campbell’s farm, West Nottingham, are busy, some expensive machinery being installed. In Reisler’s meadow, Elk township, machinery is also being put in. A number of men have been engaged on each operation.

Oxford Press
November 1918

(Reprinted 11/21/1943) The Wilmington Mineral Company loaded a car of chrome in Oxford on Wednesday. They have taken out about 16 tons from James Reisler’s meadow, Elk Township. Owing to approach of winter the operation will be suspended until spring.

References

http://mrdata.usgs.gov/nicrpge/show-nicrpge.php?site_id=12159868