Modeling a sulfur mine

Neat idea, and a colorful (it messy) load for hoppers, etc., at the mine.  No, I have never seen one modeled, but good luck with it!

Post pictures if you build it.

Where would they mine sulphur in the U.S.?....Oklahoma?  Or was that lead mines?

That was my thought. Search out sulfur geographically then search for mines there.

I was thinking about Ardennes yesterday. The 16th-26th of Dec., is a time to remember, and be thankful! Especially for this ******* of Bastogne's grandson.

He was a 101st paratrooper.

Edit: So disappointed at the auto-censor I could cry.  

Most sulfur mined in the U.S. is found in salt domes along the Gulf coast from Louisiana, Texas, and also into Mexico.  My interest is in the Palangana salt dome in South Texas.  The mine was depleted of sulfur and the mine and railroad abandoned and gone by 1939.  That area is now all oil and gas production(and at one time uranium).  Any traces of the sulfur operation are virtually all gone.

The use of the name Ardennes comes from my interest in WWII history.  My dad and uncles all served.  One uncle was in the 23rd Armored Engineer Battalion, part of the 3rd Armored, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge on the northern shoulder. 

Jim

Jim,

That looks like a really cool project. What it looks like you found is a process detail and coupled with the picture you have, you should be able to figure it out. If you want help on this and a sketch to help you along, send me an e-mail.

Alan Graziano

So I wonder if there are still any operating sulphur mines in the US.?  Uranium is interesting, and seems to be found in odd places...a walk along the south rim of the Grand Canyon will lead you past an abandoned uranium mine just below the rim, which is, I think, a very odd place to find one.

Note that the shaft uranium mine on the South Rim was removed, at least the above ground pieces that remained, and the whole surface area de-contaminated via the 2008 Federal stimulus package, of which the National Parks got their fair share to address their (parks')  extended/not done, projects on their maintenance list.  I'm not sure how the clean-up effected Pike's Creek radioactive contamination.  

Surface area along Hermit's Rest drive, near the mine site, was still restricted, fenced, though cleaned-up, the last time I was in that area, which probably dates to 2010. Last summer's trip to the Canyon, I was not in that area.  The bike/walking trail is closer to the site than the road.  There are signs that explain the site.   Mike CT

A quick search of my pictures, I did find a photo of the above ground structure at the mine taken from Plateau Point, 2008 Canyon hike.  Picture center.

Look at this yet? Contacts there might help you. They seem to be all about image, Id think modeling a site would be good publicity. They send you info, you sent them some photos when done? This is a link to railcar handling at sulfur facilities But the Sulfur Institute looks like a decent bet.

http://sulphurinstitute.org/pu...d9-0719-f70d7916b0be

Alan,

I sent you an email regarding my planned configuration.  Many thanks for your offer to help.

Adriatic,

Yes I have been to the Sulfur Institute website.  It was of some help but it is related to more modern mining practices, which typically means keeping the sulfur heated and molten, even in the tank cars. The Frasch process is still being used but the equipment technology is much too modern for my purposes.   I'm more interested in old school technology where the liquid sulfur, once pumped from the ground, went into open pits and allowed to cool and solidify.

Attached is one image I found that shows a well head.  Not dated, but the wooden derrick signifies how old it probably is.

Thanks once again for the help.

Jim

Not sure what year, it was some time ago, I made that walk along the south rim, but

I remember a sign, and a look over the edge showed what looked like the remnants

of a shaft.  I probably took a photo I could not now quickly find.  I guess we can hope

to see wooden structures and vats of a yellow material.  Good luck with your research.