Pahaquarry Copper Mine
Encyclopedia
The Pahaquarry Copper Mine is a historic, legendary, abandoned copper mine near the Delaware River
in the former Pahaquarry Township, New Jersey
.
Active mining was attempted in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, but was never successful, even with more modern technology. It is now part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
and has several mining ruins, hiking trails and waterfalls.
.
One legend claims that the Lenape
worked the mine even before European settlers arrived. However, archeological and scientific testing show that the copper artifacts from the area originated from major native copper
mines in Isle Royale
and the Keweenaw Peninsula
Michigan.
Another legend claims that early Dutch
settlers of New Netherland
in the 1650s discovered and worked the mine in Lenape territory. This then leads to the legend that the Dutch built the Old Mine Road
104 miles to Esopus, New York
to transport the ore. While the nearby roadside historical marker
repeats these claims, no hard evidence has been found to support either one.
Unfortunately, many references to this mining area continue to repeat these old legends as fact.
that still exist. The venture quickly proved unsuccessful and ended in 1760.
The next attempt began with the formation of the Alleghany Mining Company in 1847 by a group of men from Flemington, New Jersey
. New mining activity began, but quickly ended in 1848, due to the poor quality of the ore.
New management of the company restarted operations in 1861, but again mining quickly stopped the next year.
In 1867, Aaron Keyser bought the property for bark and timber. This soon ended when the land was transferred back to the Alleghany Mining Company in the 1890s.
The last mining attempt began in 1901 when the Montgomery Gold Leaf Mining Company, founded by the brothers, Henry and Oliver Deshler of Belvidere, New Jersey
, purchased the assets of the Alleghany Mining Company.
After unsuccessful operations, the company reorganized as the Pahaquarry Copper Company in 1904.
During the next years, a large ore processing mill, adjoining buildings and infrastructure were constructed at the area. The mill underwent many changes as the technology developed by Nathaniel S. Keith
was new and untested. New ore was not dug until 1911, and stopped after three months, producing perhaps only three ingots of refined copper.
The last of the mining equipment was removed in 1928, ending copper mining in the area.
From 1925 to 1972, the area was a camp for the George Washington Council (now merged and part of Central New Jersey Council) of the Boy Scouts of America
.
The land was then purchased by the United States Army Corps of Engineering in preparation for the building of
the Tocks Island Dam
.
(copper sulfide) embedded in a hard gray sandstone
band of the Bloomsburg Red Beds
. The similar color and low ore yield make visual identification difficult. Secondary minerals that can be seen include green malachite
and blue-green chrysocolla
.
Between 1903 and 1906, Dr. Keith reported an average yield of 3.25% copper using 100 samples.
In 1943, the United States Geological Survey
reported yields of 0.11% to 0.38% copper and recommended that no more work be done at Pahaquarry.
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in the former Pahaquarry Township, New Jersey
Pahaquarry Township, New Jersey
Pahaquarry Township is a now-defunct Township that was located in Warren County, New Jersey.Pahaquarry Township was formed on December 27, 1824, from portions of Walpack Township in Sussex County and set off to Warren County....
.
Active mining was attempted in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, but was never successful, even with more modern technology. It is now part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, administered by the National Park Service, preserves almost of land along the Delaware River's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores, stretching from the Delaware Water Gap northward almost to the New York state line...
and has several mining ruins, hiking trails and waterfalls.
Legends
There are several legends associated with this mine that have been discredited by historians and archaeologists, notably Herbert C. KraftHerbert C. Kraft
Herbert Clemens Kraft was an archaeologist from New Jersey, specializing in prehistory. Kraft was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1927...
.
One legend claims that the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
worked the mine even before European settlers arrived. However, archeological and scientific testing show that the copper artifacts from the area originated from major native copper
Native copper
Copper, as native copper, is one of the few metallic elements to occur in uncombined form as a natural mineral, although most commonly occurs in oxidized states and mixed with other elements...
mines in Isle Royale
Isle Royale
Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes, located in the northwest of Lake Superior, and part of the state of Michigan. The island and the 450 surrounding smaller islands and waters make up Isle Royale National Park....
and the Keweenaw Peninsula
Keweenaw Peninsula
The Keweenaw Peninsula is the northern-most part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It projects into Lake Superior and was the site of the first copper boom in the United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was roughly 43,200...
Michigan.
Another legend claims that early Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
settlers of New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
in the 1650s discovered and worked the mine in Lenape territory. This then leads to the legend that the Dutch built the Old Mine Road
Old Mine Road
Old Mine Road is a road in New Jersey and New York said to be one of the oldest continuously-used roads in the United States of America. At a length of 104 miles, it stretches from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the vicinity of Kingston, New York.Among the theories regarding the...
104 miles to Esopus, New York
Esopus, New York
Esopus is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,331 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the local Indian tribe and means "high banks."...
to transport the ore. While the nearby roadside historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
repeats these claims, no hard evidence has been found to support either one.
Unfortunately, many references to this mining area continue to repeat these old legends as fact.
History
The area had three periods of active copper mining. The earliest documented reports are from the 1750s when John Reading, Jr. and partners purchased the land. Among the mining operations were two aditsAdit
An adit is an entrance to an underground mine which is horizontal or nearly horizontal, by which the mine can be entered, drained of water, and ventilated.-Construction:...
that still exist. The venture quickly proved unsuccessful and ended in 1760.
The next attempt began with the formation of the Alleghany Mining Company in 1847 by a group of men from Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
. New mining activity began, but quickly ended in 1848, due to the poor quality of the ore.
New management of the company restarted operations in 1861, but again mining quickly stopped the next year.
In 1867, Aaron Keyser bought the property for bark and timber. This soon ended when the land was transferred back to the Alleghany Mining Company in the 1890s.
The last mining attempt began in 1901 when the Montgomery Gold Leaf Mining Company, founded by the brothers, Henry and Oliver Deshler of Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere is a Town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 2,681. It is the county seat of Warren County....
, purchased the assets of the Alleghany Mining Company.
After unsuccessful operations, the company reorganized as the Pahaquarry Copper Company in 1904.
During the next years, a large ore processing mill, adjoining buildings and infrastructure were constructed at the area. The mill underwent many changes as the technology developed by Nathaniel S. Keith
Nathaniel S. Keith
Nathaniel Shepard Keith was an American manufacturer, chemist, inventor, writer, and electrical engineer. Keith was born in Boston, Massachusetts and worked in his fathers laboratory. He was instrumental in designing, manufacturing, and installing the original electric lighting and power system ...
was new and untested. New ore was not dug until 1911, and stopped after three months, producing perhaps only three ingots of refined copper.
The last of the mining equipment was removed in 1928, ending copper mining in the area.
From 1925 to 1972, the area was a camp for the George Washington Council (now merged and part of Central New Jersey Council) of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
The land was then purchased by the United States Army Corps of Engineering in preparation for the building of
the Tocks Island Dam
Tocks Island
Tocks Island, located upstream from Delaware Water Gap in the Delaware River was the controversial site of a dam, proposed in the 1950s, which would have created a 37-mile long lake between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with depths of up to 140 feet...
.
Geology
The copper ore deposit found here is the grayish mineral chalcociteChalcocite
Chalcocite, copper sulfide , is an important copper ore mineral. It is opaque, being colored dark-gray to black with a metallic luster. It has a hardness of 2½ - 3. It is a sulfide with an orthorhombic crystal system....
(copper sulfide) embedded in a hard gray sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
band of the Bloomsburg Red Beds
Bloomsburg Formation
The Silurian Bloomsburg Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Maryland. It is named for the Town of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania for which it was first described. The Bloomsburg marked the first occurrence of red sedimentary rocks in the Appalachian Basin...
. The similar color and low ore yield make visual identification difficult. Secondary minerals that can be seen include green malachite
Malachite
Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral, with the formula Cu2CO32. This green-colored mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. Individual crystals are rare but do occur as slender to acicular prisms...
and blue-green chrysocolla
Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla is a hydrated copper silicate mineral with formula 2H2Si2O54·nH2O.-Properties:Chrysocolla has a blue-green color and is a minor ore of copper, having a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5.-Name and discovery:...
.
Between 1903 and 1906, Dr. Keith reported an average yield of 3.25% copper using 100 samples.
In 1943, the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
reported yields of 0.11% to 0.38% copper and recommended that no more work be done at Pahaquarry.