Introduction

During an Archaeological Survey of the Coal Mining Heritage Park, Tom Klatka, the State Archaeologist for the southwest region of Virginia, noted the existence of subsidence on both sides of the park, and, especially to the east of the Merrimac Mine entrance. The Merrimac Mine used a "room and pillar" method of mining, a method particularly susceptible to pit subsidence for tunnels close to the surface.

Rather than take unnecessary risks during the development of the park, Montgomery County decided that they needed more information about the location of the mine workings than were currently available.As Tom Klatka's report indicated, it was clear that some of the areas in the park were showing clear signs of subsidence. On the recommendation of Dr. Mary LaLone, an Anthropology professor at Radford University, the County contacted Ted Dean at ATS International and Draper Aden Associates to perform a geotechnical study of the park property and a resistivity survey on portions of the park property where subsidence was suspected. The results of Mr. Dean's study are included in this portion of the Coal Mining Heritage Park Science Center.

For more information on mining, subsidence, geotechnical studies, and resistivity studies, please click on the "read all about it" link below.

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