SOUTH CAROLINA
Gold was discovered in South Carolina in 1827 in placers at the
Kaile mine, which was to become the largest gold producer in the
Southeastern States. Placers were also worked at the site of the
Brewer mine before 1830. The first record of gold production in
South Carolina was in 1829, when a shipment was sent to the mint.
Another major gold-producing property in South Carolina, the Born
mine in McCormick County, became productive in 1852. The early
period of intense activity was terminated by the Civil War, and
though the mines were reopened afterward, the Haile mine was the
only property in South Carolina that prospered. But by the early
1900's production at the Haile also declined, and except for a
brief revival during World War I, the gold mines of South
Carolina were largely dormant from 1900 to 1937. With the
rejuvenation of the Haile mine in 1937, South Carolina became the
leader in gold production in the South-east. The War Production
Board Order L-208 forced the shutdown of the gold mines, and the
State has not produced any gold since 1943. Total gold production
of South Carolina through 1959 was 318,801 ounces.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
The Brewer mine is about 1 1/2 miles west of Jefferson in
northwest Chesterfield County. Gold placers were discovered in
1828 on this property and were worked even after the vein
deposits
were discovered. In the 1880's the surficial deposits were mined
on a fairly large scale by hydraulic
methods; the vein deposits also continued to be worked. By 1894
or 1895 the mine was closed and was operated only during brief
intervals after that time. The most recent activity was in 1939
when 8 ounces of gold was recovered from placers. Production of
the Brewer mine was estimated at about $450,000 in gold (about
21,840 ounces).
LANCASTER COUNTY
The Haile mine, in southern Lancaster County and 31/2 miles
northeast of Kershaw, is the most
productive gold mine in the Southeastern States and is probably
the oldest mine in South Carolina.
In 1827 gold-bearing placers were discovered along one of the
creeks on the property. By 1829 the lode deposits were found and
were quickly developed; lode mining supplanted the placer
activity. The California gold rush and the Civil War curtailed
operations, but by 1880 the Haile was again active and remained
open until 1918. During this period pyrite, useful for
manufacturing sulfuric acid, was an important product in addition
to gold. The mine was opened again in
1935 after the increase in the price of gold, and from 1937
through 1942, it produced a total of 60,013 ounces. During this
period the Haile accounted for most of the gold production of the
southern Appalachian States. The Haile mine was closed at the end
of 1942 and remained idle through 1959. Total gold production of
the Haile mine through 1959 was 278,080 ounces.
McCORMICK COUNTY
The Dorn mine is in the town of McCormick, in central McCormick
County. The first record of gold production from this property
was for a shipment in 1853 worth $300,000. Although little
else could be found concerning its early history, the mine
probably was operated for several years before the Civil War. It
was idle from 1880 to 1932, at which time some development work
was done. No production was reported from this most recent
activity; the mine was apparently closed and remained inactive
through 1959. Total gold production through 1959 is estimated to
be worth
9900,000 (43,700 ounces).
[Oreg.] [Ariz.] [N.M.] [S.D.] [Tenn.] [S.C..] [N.C..] [Penn.]
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