If you have old Ohio underground coal or mineral resource mine maps you would be willing to loan or donate, please contact the ODNR Division of Geological Survey:
Background
A mine void found beneath the
eastbound lanes of Ohio Route 32
in Jackson County. Photo courtesy
of the Ohio Department
of Transportation.
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Ohio's history of underground mining dates to 1800 (pre-Statehood). Commodities mined underground have included coal, clay, limestone, gypsum, conglomerate and, in one unusual instance, even sand and gravel. While underground mining has occurred across the state, the vast majority of underground mining has occurred in the coal- and clay-producing regions of eastern Ohio. The heyday of underground mining activity occurred in the late 1800s through early 1900s, when more than 1,110 underground mines were in operation and more than 50,000 Ohioans were employed in underground mining operations.
An unfortunate consequence of more than two-hundred years of mining underground is mine subsidence—a geologic hazard that can strike with little or no warning and can result in very costly property damage (see GeoFacts No.12—Mine Subsidence).
Subsidence, in the context of underground mining, is the lowering of Earth's surface due to collapse of bedrock and unconsolidated materials (sand, gravel, silt, and clay) into underground mine voids. Mine subsidence can damage the foundations of homes, buildings and roads, disrupt underground utilities, and can be a potential risk to human life. Consequently, in 1985 the State of Ohio enacted the Ohio Mine Subsidence Insurance Law, which mandates mine subsidence coverage for all basic homeowner insurance policies in 26 Ohio counties, primarily in the coal-bearing regions of the state.
Use the links below to submit AUM map data to ODNR and for helpful information about mine subsidence, the ODNR Division of Geological Survey's AUM mapping efforts, mine subsidence insurance coverage, and more.
This home in Tuscarawas County was severely damaged
by the collapse of an underground mine in 2009.
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Finding AUMs & Maps
A coal miner shovels gob
(waste). Note the roof
support system of timbers
and wooden wedges.
Date and location are
unknown. Photo courtesy
of the former Ohio
Division of Mines.
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- Submit AUM information to the ODNR:
- Maps:
Further Reading
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