Hog Creek Mine

The Hog Creek Corundum Mine is one of several corundum mines that were operated in our area in the 1800s. Other major local operations were the Bell Creek Mine (now filled in), Behr Mine (covered by the lake), and Track Rock Mine (destroyed when road was re-routed). William R. McConnell originally prospected this property in 1890. The mine consisted of a 190 foot long trench, two pits, a short inclined shaft, and a vertical shaft over 50 feet deep. During WWII, the mine was among numerous corundum deposits investigated by the Bureau of Mines to develop domestic reserves of that critical mineral. Initial examination showed that the workings were caved in. The BoM cleaned out the pits, cleared the vertical shaft to a depth of 45 feet (without reaching bottom), and cleared a cross-shaft at the 40 foot level. 75 years later, the mine is in considerably worse condition than when the Bureau of Mines first saw it in the 1940s. I had horrible lighting conditions, with tree shadows over everything; I'll have to return to get some better photos.

Mine layout From the BoM's report on their WWII corundum surveys.

Hog Creek Mine - main pit

Main pit from another angle

One more view of the main pit, looking south

Section of the 190 foot trench

View across the trench, pit at rear.

Hog Creek Mine trench - 1890.
I made a return visit on an overcast day later in the week. While the clouds eliminated the tree shadows, they also flattened the camera contrast, making it difficult to discern the contours of the landscape covered in brown leaves.

West end of the trench

Trench, facing southeast from the west end.

Further east, in the trench

Looking across the trench toward the pit

Boulders (mine spoils) outside NW edge of pit

Main pit

Main pit

Hole to ?

Boulders east of the pit

Towns-Union Mining Index	NW Towns - NE Union Index
N GA - NC - SC Index	"Other Historical" Index