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The original adit entrance to the Sparta Mine in 2007. |
Sparta Mine
The Sparta Mine was discovered in approximately 1820 by the Westchester
Copper Mine Company. The company was officially incorporated later on April
12, 1824 with Edward Kemeys residing as president. A 30 foot deep shaft
was deepened to 80 feet in the fall of 1827 and was met by an adit tunnel
400 feet in from its mouth. Several tons of rich ore were removed from this
shaft, some of it yielding 75% copper. Copper ores consisted of chalcopyrite,
azurite and malachite. Lead was also produced and lead bearing minerals
included galena, pyromorphite, vanadinite, wulfenite, anglesite. The first
discovery of vauquelinite in the United States was made here. This mineral
contains both copper and lead.
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