Abandoned mine sites appear attractive to explore, but are unsafe to walk, climb or ride in. What appears to be solid ground may only have a thin veneer of cover hiding an abandoned shaft, which could collapse under the weight of a person walking.
- Use the Abandoned Mine Lands viewer to find locations that have been the subject of reclamation of coal mining activities in Missouri.
- Visit our Missouri Mine Map Repository and download the database, which is an inventory of more than 1,000 former and abandoned mines in Missouri. Maps also may be downloaded from the site.
- Information about mines also is available in the Inventory of Mines, Occurrences and Prospects (IMOP) layer in our Geosciences Technical Resource Assessment Tool (GeoSTRAT) ArcGIS web application.
Surface and underground mines in Missouri continue to produce a variety of metallic, industrial and energy minerals. Mines provided raw materials that helped build Missouri and the nation, and continue to do so today. Some abandoned mines date back to the original French settlers in the 1700s and are a major part of Missouri’s history.
Geologic Mapping for Natural Disasters
The department partnered with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to create two series of maps to assist Missourians in their planning and response to a disaster. The Geologic Hazards Map Series highlights the potential for geologic and natural hazards, while the Debris Management Map Series helps to provide guidance for the management of waste debris following a disaster. Mapping potential geologic hazards and determining preliminary site suitability for disposal of debris provide emergency planners and responders with vital information needed in the response of a disaster. The maps are available for viewing and downloading from SEMA’s website.