County: Cherokee

Date: 1980s

Photographer: Jim McCauley/KGS

Place Name:

Short description: Collapsed bridge over a mineshaft at Galena in Cherokee County. The discovery of zinc ore near Galena in 1870 marked the beginning of a century of lead and zinc mining in the area. In the early 1980s, studies identified nearly 600 open shafts and collapsed mines in and around the town. In 1994 and 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local citizens filled in the hazards.

Hi-Resolution Version

Credit: This photo may be reproduced for non-commercial and educational purposes. When using this photo in a publication, website, or presentation, please credit Kansas Geological Survey. For information about use for commercial purposes, please contact the KGS editor.