copperhill

8 photos tagged copperhill, from 1 member of Flickr Commons.

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8
1939

 

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Copper mining section between Ducktown and Copperhill], Tennessee. Fumes from smelting copper for sulfuric acid have destroyed all vegetation and eroded the land (LOC)

from The Library of Congress

  • ADrawingADay said:
    How awful.
  • judyinktown said:
    Is there a picture of Ducktown today? The last time we rode through that area it seemed that most of that land had been reclaimed, and looked nothing like this picture.
  • Red Necks know stuff said:
    This is the caption that Marion Post Walcott included with her photo from 1939 but the actual damage to the vegetation occurred in the late 1800's. The smelting technology of that time did not allow the sulfur dioxide generated by the heating of the ore to be captured. By 1909 the mining companies developed new practices which let them recover the sulfur dioxide and use it in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. Reclamation in the Basin began in the 1930's with varying degrees of success initially. By the 1970's new techniques were developed and today most of the Basin has been revegetated.
  • Pat Henson said:
    Not really. The Basin remained denuded until the acid plant and mining operation went out of business in the late '80's. I grew up there, and it looked just like this till I was out of college in the '80's.
  • David Voorhies said:
    I rode thru there yesterday, 10/13/2013. The Copper Basin is now very green, and the forest is coming back. It's going to take generations for the trees to mature, however. Just don't drink the water.

Copper mining and sulfuric acid plant, Copperhill], Tenn. (LOC)

from The Library of Congress

  • 1 older comment, and then…
  • Jim Grey said:
    I love how there are no stripes on the road.
  • Howard33 said:
    In 1939, this is what rush hour looked like.
  • freeblue2009 said:
    WHAT is being done at Copperhill TODAY? The railroad is still there but looks as if it needs repairs; but, is any sulphuric acid coming from there today?
  • Red Necks know stuff said:
    Acid production stopped in 2001 at Copperhill. The company is still in operation today selling iron calcine that was produced in the 1970's - 80's and stockpiled. The rail yard and line belong to a Heritage tourism group who run passenger excursion over the "Old Line" and lease the yard for rail car storage.
  • Roy Osborn said:
    Come visit Copperhill, TN. The scenic wonder of the south.

Copper mining section between Ducktown and Copperhill], Tennessee. Fumes from smelting copper for sulfuric acid have destroyed all vegetation and eroded the land (LOC)

from The Library of Congress

  • Wandering Lizard said:
    Wherever they're walking, its pretty far away. And very post-apocalypticy.
  • rednecks unite said:
    This is the caption that Marion Post Walcott included with her photo from 1939 but the actual damage to the vegetation occurred in the late 1800's. The smelting technology of that time did not allow the sulfur dioxide generated by the heating of the ore to be captured. By 1909 the mining companies developed new practices which let them recover the sulfur dioxide and use it in the manufacture of sulfuric acid.