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Kimmswick thru Knob Lick

Kimmswick, Missouri – the Jefferson Stone Company (from Stone: An Illustrated Magazine, February 1897, Vol. XIV, No. 3, pp. 306)

“Kimmswick, Mo. – The Jefferson Stone Company, has been organized, to develop stone quarries in Jefferson County. John Loughran, of Kimmswick, is manager of the plant; G. W. Bigot, president; S. C. Bunn, secretary, and Alfred Berky, treasurer. An extensive plant will be installed.”
Kimmswick, Missouri - Visit Kimmswick
- History of Kimmswick
  
  According to this web site, the area limestone quarries were one of the many local resources.
- Kimmswick Historical Society Museum
- Historic Kimmswick “Where Yesteryear Becomes Today,” by Betty Magrath, SLFP, Photos by Bob Moore, SLFP, 1998, Saint Louis Front Page.
  
  According to this article, limestone quarries located around Kimmswick provided the stone to build the old courthouse in St. Louis. Reportedly many stonemasons settled in the area.
King City, Missouri - the King City Marble Works (from Stone: An Illustrated Magazine, May 1899, Vol. XVIII., No. 6, pp. 338)

Stone Trade Notes: “Hutchinson & Reed have purchased the King City Marble Works and will remove them to Albany, Mo.”
Kirkland, Missouri, St. Louis County, Missouri - Abandoned Limestone Quarry (Limestone) (from Limestones and Dolomites in the St. Louis Area, Report of Investigations No. 5, by Norman S. Hinchey, R. B. Fisher, and W. A. Calhoun, State of Missouri Department of Business and Administration, Division of Geological Survey and Water Resources, Rolla, Missouri, 1947. Used with permission.) (For an explanation of the study of which this section is a part, see: St. Louis Area of Missouri - Limestones and Dolomites in the St. Louis Area (St. Louis County, Jefferson County, and Lincoln County.)

Locality E (Field Descriptions and Analytical Information)

“Remarks. The samples taken at this locality were collected from an abandoned bluff quarry at Osage Hills (formerly Meramec Highlands), Missouri.

“Location: In the NE ¼ SE ¼ sec. 10, T. 45 N., R. 5 E., in St. Louis County, Missouri. This abandoned quarry is approximately one-fourth mile east of the Osage Hills station on the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway. The area which includes the abandoned quarry is within the limits of the city of Kirkland, Missouri. The quarry adjoins the right-of-way of the railroad and lies just south of and below the railroad tracks.

“Transportation. The quarry is accessible to paved roads and to the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway’s main line, which passes the edge of the quarry property.

“Elevation. The base of the section sampled is approximately 492 feet above sea level. The level of the railroad track immediately north of the quarry is approximately 585 feet above sea level. The elevations of the sampled beds noted in the description of the geologic section refer to these two datum points.

“Stratigraphic Position. The approximate contact between the St. Louis and Spergen formations (Mississippian) lies in the quarry faceAz at an elevation of approximately 540 feet. Beds above this level are referred to the St. Louis formation. The strata below 540 feet are referred to the Spergen formation.

“Samples. Fifteen samples E-0 to E-14, inclusive, were collected at this locality.

“Geologic Section. The sequence, from top to bottom, is as follows:

14. Soil and residual material, with a few discontinuous and poorly exposed thin ledges of weathered limestone. Not sampled. Elevation, 580 to 583 feet. - 3 feet.

13. Limestone, dark gray, finely granular to finely crystalline. Somewhat weathered 2-foot bed at approximate top of former quarry face. Elevation, 578 to 580 feet. Not sampled. - 2 feet.

12. Limestone, gray, fine-grained in lower part; upper part finely laminated (algal ?). Elevation, 577 to 578 feet. Not sampled. - 1 foot.

11. Limestone, gray, fine- to medium-grained, some crystalline. Chert in lenses and nodules makes 30 to 60 percent of the bed at places. Elevation, 576 to 577 feet. Not sampled. - 1 foot.

10. Limestone, gray; texture variable; fine- to medium-grained, with some crystalline, even-grained areas. A massive ledge, weathered to thin laminae of ½ to 1 inch thickness. Elevation, 572 to 576 feet. Sample E-14 was taken at an elevation of 574 feet. - 4 feet.

9. Limestone, varied, gray; some lithographic, some finely crystalline areas in brecciated texture; algal (?) limestone in part. Sample does not represent all phases. Elevation, 570 to 572 feet. Sample E-13 was taken at an elevation of 571.

8. Limestone with some chert, gray to buff-gray, compact to coarsely crystalline, fossiliferous. Chert, in flattened nodules distributed along bedding planes, makes up 5 to 10 percent of some beds - others usually contain less than 5 percent. In beds of irregular thickness, varying from 3 inches to 2 feet, here grouped together (St. Louis formation). Elevation, 540 to 570 feet. Samples were taken as follows: Sample E-7 was taken at an elevation of 545 feet; E-8 at 550; E-9 at 555; 3-10 at 560; E-11 at 565; and E-12 at 570 feet. - 30 feet.

7. Limestone, gray, crystalline, medium- to coarse-grained; a massive ledge. Upper part weathered to thin irregular layers ¼ to 1 inch thick; a prominent stylolite at an elevation of 531 feet. Elevation, 526 to 540 feet. Sample E-5 was taken at an elevation of 534 feet; sample E-6 was taken at an elevation of 525 feet. - 14 feet.

6. Limestone, gray, fossiliferous, weathered to ¼-inch layers. Elevation, 534 to 526 feet. Sample E-4 was taken at an elevation of 525 feet. - 2 feet.

5. Covered interval, probably buff shale or impure argillaceous limestone. Not sampled. Elevation, 518 ½ to 524 feet. - 5 ½ feet.

4. Limestone, dolomitic, buff- fine-grained, argillaceous; some secondary calcite in nodules and vugs; somewhat ferruginous. Elevation, 517 to 518 ½ feet. Sample E-3 was taken at an elevation of 518 feet. - 1 ½ feet.

3. Limestone, gray, some crystalline, highly fossiliferous in part, irregularly bedded; massive, but appears to be made up of two 6-foot beds; some cross-bedding. Elevation, 505 to 517 feet. Sample E-1 was taken at an elevation of 508 feet; sample E-2 was taken at an elevation of 514 feet. - 12 feet.

2. Limestone, impure, buff-gray, somewhat argillaceous in upper part, weathered to a dark gray; beds 1 inch to 1 foot. Elevation, 497 to 505 feet. Sample E-1 was taken at an elevation of 500 feet. - 8 feet.

1. Shale and calcareous shale, buff; base covered. Not sampled. Thickness at least 5 feet.

Base of section sampled.

Analytical Information on Limestone Samples of St. Louis and Spergen Formations At Locality E. The chemical analyses of the limestone samples of the St. Louis and Spergen formations at Locality E are as follows:

Analyses of Samples at Locality E
Kirkwood, Missouri - Meramec Highlands Limestone Quarry at Dee KoesteringPark, 1703 Marshall Road, Kirkwood, Missouri.
- Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park, presented by Kirkwood. (Scroll down to entry.)
- Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park Master Plan (Map) (PDF)
- “Ozark Mountain Experience: The Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park proves to be unique preservation of St. Louis history,” by Conor Watkins, April 24, 2003, in The Missouri Miner. (The link to the article from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
  <http://media.www.missouri-miner.com/media/storage/paper426/news/2003/04/24/Features/Ozark.Mountain.Experience-425006.shtml>
- “The Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park,” Missouri Outdoors Columnist Conor Watkins, May 1, 2003, in the Features section, in The Missouri Miner. (The issue published the previous week introduced the Meramec Highlands Quarry and presented the history of Dee Koestering Park. This article describes the quarry after Conor Watkins’ visit to the quarry with Linda Fenton, reportedly “the person who probably did the most to save this resource.” (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
  <http://media.www.missouri-miner.com/media/storage/paper426/news/2003/05/01/Features/The-Meramec.Highlands.Quarry.At.Dee.Koestering.Park-429669.shtml>
  
  (The article included a photograph of the quarry and a detailed account of the quarry and the park.)
  
  According to this article much remains of quarry including quarried blocks of stone still showing drill holes and saw cuts made from wire saws. There are two sections to the quarry, the upper and lower sections. Also located on the site is Watson Cave, “cave unearthed during the quarrying operation.”
  
  The previous landowner’s, Mr. Ernie Koestering, house is located just above the quarry. He and his family lived there and enjoyed the quarry from 1962. According to the article, stone taken from this quarry may have been used in the construction of Mr. Koestering’s house. The city of Kirkland plans to take the house down some day. The park is named in honor of Mr. Koestering’s late wife, Delores “Dee” Koestering, who was “a nature lover and didn’t want to see the area destroyed.”
- Photographs at Meramec Quarry (taken in the 1920s)
Kirkwood, Franklin County, Missouri - the Meramec (Mine) Quarry, (location) (from Brainy Geography)
Kirkwood, Missouri - Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park (photograph), presented in the “Municipal Parks and Plazas” section on waymarking.com.

Former Quarry located near I-270 and Big Bend, contains large block boulder remnants of the quarrying operation.
Kirskville, Missouri - the Baird & Grassie Quarry (listed in The Mine, Quarry and Metallurgical Record of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, The Mine and Quarry News Bureau, Chicago, Ill., 1897)
Kirksville, Missouri - S. L. Eggert’s Monument Shop (from Monumental News: Granite, Marble, Stone, Bronze Sculpture, March 1923, Vol. XXX, No. 3, pp. 146)

Firm Changes and Other News: “Messrs. Stile and Robinson, of Unionville, Mo., have purchased of S. L. Eggert his monument stock and equipment at 404 West Harrison street, Kirksville, Missouri.”

(pp. 162) “The sixth annual convention of the Memorial Craftsmen of Missouri was held at Moberly, Missouri on February 1st and 2nd....”

“On Thursday afternoon the following new members were elected: S. L. Eggert, Kirsksville, Hardin & Son, Columbia; F. L. Stockton, Washburn.”
Kissinger (north of), Missouri - Limestone Quarry at Forgiss Bluff (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“A hurried examination was made of the quarry at Forgiss Bluff, located about half a mile north of Kissinger. This bluff extends for about one-fourth of a mile along the west side of the Burlington tracks. The lowest stratum examined was about forty feet above the level of the railroad. The following beds were noted, beginning at the top of the vertical exposure and extending downward:

20 ft. - Rough, hackly limestone, containing shaly layers.

6 ft. - Limestone. Solid ledge of good stone.

3 ft. - Similar to the bed immediately above.

3 ft. - Limestone which can be capped into two or three layers. Buff colored and has a sandy appearance.

15 ft. - A poor grade of limestone having a heterogeneous texture.

8 ft. - Thick beds of buff colored limestone. Can be capped into two four-foot beds. Contains small particles of iron oxide and a few calcite geodes.

“The major joints in this quarry are vertical or nearly so, and strike N. 55° W. and N. 55° E. They are far enough apart to permit the quarrying of large dimension stone. The quarry face is parallel to the N. 55° W. joints.

“The six and eight-foot beds consist of very solid stone, having a uniform texture and color. The eight-foot bed will work easily and dress nicely. The small particles of iron oxide are not large enough to cause discoloration.

“These two ledges contain stone which is somewhat softer than that occurring at other horizons in this vicinity, but it can be easily cut and carved, reducing very greatly the usual cost of preparing the stone for use.

“The nature of the stone is such, however, that it should be worked without powder or dynamite. Either of these will shatter it to such an extend as to make it unsuitable for heavy constructional work.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Knob Lick Area Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“In addition to the great number of quarries and ‘motions’ in the granite, of which descriptions have already been given, there are numerous others which have been worked and which have afforded and number of paving blocks. Around Syenite and Knob Lick as far west as the eastern edge of section 5 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI W.) much quarrying has been done outside of the places particularly noted. They are perhaps not less important in extent, but not being in operation at the present time no definite information could be obtained regarding them. Many were filled with water and debris. The ‘blue’ granite area, which lies between Knob Lick and Syenite has been worked into on the south as well as the north side of the road by many ‘motions’ but none have taken out dimension stone, and work is now (circa 1896) abandoned at the greater number of them. There are several ‘motions’ in the granite near the center of section 3, west of Syenite.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Granite Quarrying Operations at Knob Lick (Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“Knob Lick.

“The most extensive quarrying operations in the eastern part of the granite district are centered about Knob Lick. There is a greater area of granite here than at Graniteville, and also a greater number of quarries, although none are so large.

“The first quarry in this district was opened at Syenite, in 1874, by Milne and Gordon, and has been operated continuously since that time. In 1881, the Syenite Granite Co. opened a quarry on the south bank of the St. Francois river north of Syenite, which was operated extensively until the company opened a quarry at Graniteville, when it was abandoned. After the Milne and Gordon quarry was opened, many smaller ones were opened on the neighboring hillsides. There are great numbers of these west and northwest of Knob Lick, but from none of them has any considerable amount of stone been quarried.

“The greatest activity was twelve to eighteen years ago, when the manufacture of paving blocks was at its height. It was during this period that the small quarries, referred to above, were opened. Wherever there was a favorable opportunity, openings were made and paving blocks manufactured. Hundreds of block makers were at work and millions of blocks were produced. These small quarries, known as ‘motions,’ were often started by working a large boulder lying on the surface. They seldom extend deeper than the first ledge, which is from two to ten feet in thickness. As a rule, no attempt was made to open any of them on a large scale. When the stripping became excessive or the stone difficult to quarry, operations were transferred to another locality. Both granite and rhyolite were used for making paving blocks, the former more extensively, Practically all of these small quarries were worked on a royalty basis. A person opened a quarry wherever he chose, paying the owner of the land a royalty on every hundred blocks manufactured.

“At Skrainka postoffice, five and one-half miles south of Knob Lick, several quarries were opened in the rhyolite. Considerable quarrying has also been done west of Holladay and Buck Mountains, five miles southwest of Knob Lick. The output from these quarries was hauled by team to the railroad, a distance of from three to five miles.

“The chief product of the quarries in this area has been paving blocks. The lessened demand for this product in St. Louis has resulted in the abandonment of hundreds of small paving block quarries or ‘motions.’ The only ones now being worked are at Bee Knob about four miles west of Knob Lick.

“Considerable monumental and dimensional stock has been produced, chiefly by Milne and Gordon who are the only persons making a specialty of this product.

“As a result of the increasing demand for crushed granite, a number of well equipped crushing plants have been built. At present the output of crushed granite exceeds that of any other product.

“The spalls from the abandoned quarries and small partly decomposed boulders gathered from the surface are shipped to St. Louis to be crushed and used in macadam and concrete work.

“The color and texture of the granite vary considerably, being less uniform than in the Graniteville area. This does not apply to individual quarries, from most of which stone of uniform color can be obtained. The essential constituents of the granite are feldspar, quartz, biotite and an occasional crystal of hornblende. In general, the granite is somewhat finer grained than that at Graniteville.

“The granite varies in color from a gray, through a grayish red, to red. Nowhere is the color of the fresh stone as deep a red as that at Graniteville. It contains more biotite than the Graniteville granite and small black spots are more abundant. In the gray varieties, the biotite gives the stone a bluish color when viewed from a short distance. For this reason, it has come to be known locally as ‘blue granite.’ In the red varieties, the feldspar is not as deeply colored as it is in the granite from Graniteville. This accounts for the more subdued color of the Knob Lick granite.

“Dark spots, known locally as ‘knots,’ occur in many of the quarries, being especially abundant in the gray granite, making it unfit for either monumental or constructional work. These knots vary from a fraction of an inch to a foot or more in cross section and are usually finer grained than the granite. The chief constituent is biotite which makes the spots much darker than the matrix.

“Vertical or inclined veins of fine grained red granite, known as porphyry seams occur in a number of the quarries. They are either vertical or inclined.

“Vertical and inclined joints occur in all the quarries, usually in such a manner as to permit the quarrying of blocks of dimensions suitable for buildings. The granite contains dries, which injure considerable stone, which might otherwise be suitable for dimensional or monumental stock. These seams frequently occur from one to three inches apart and often run in definite zones, either vertically or slightly inclined.

“The chief products of the quarries in this area are monumental and dimensional stock, paving blocks, curbing, crushed granite and spalls. The following quarries were examined: The Asplof quarry, the Hill-O’Mera Construction Co.’s quarry, the Milne and Gordon quarry, the Heman Construction Co.’s quarry, the Missouri Granite Construction Co.’s quarry, the Western Granite Co.’s quarry, the Zeran Gregory Granite Co.’s quarry, and the Alexander and Burks’ quarry. The small quarries known as ‘motions,’ at Bee Knob, should probably be included in this area, although described on another page under a separate heading.”
Knob Lick Area, St. Francois County, Missouri - “Motions” & Quarries in the Knob Lick Area (Syenite, Porphyry, & Sandstone) (from “Notes on The Building Stones, Clays and Sands of Iron, St. Francois and Madison Counties,” by G. E. Ladd, Assistant Geologist, in Bulletin 1, Geological Survey of Missouri, Jefferson City, April 1890.)

“Motions at Knob Lick. In the neighborhood of Knob Lick, west of the railroad, ‘motion work,’ started some thirteen or fourteen years ago, has been extensively carried on, and there are probably not less than three hundred motions now existing (circa 1890), though not all at present worked, within a few miles of the depot. They are most numerous in the syenite outcrops which occur in sections 4 and 9, in township 34 north, range 6 east.

“The motions are mostly on the lands of Messrs. Price, McDowell and Simpson to whom the ‘motion men’ pay a royalty for each paving block made. The total product to date of these syenite motions is about 17,000,000 paving blocks....”

“Motions at Knob Lick. In township 34 north, range 6 east, section 9, on what is known as the ‘Knob,’ are several motions and very small quarries where a porphyritic felsite is worked into paving blocks. The rock is too hard to be dressed, and is so cut up by joint planes that it will probably never be quarried for dimension stone, although it is very handsome and is remarkably durable and strong. The production of paving blocks from this rock has been small.”

“Knob Lick Quarries. Close to the railway, about half a mile north of Knob Lick, are several small quarries in the sandstone which are not at present worked. The sandstone has here, probably, an aggregate thickness of one hundred feet only, and consist of strata which vary from one to twenty inches in thickness. Only a few of these strata have any value for building stone and they disintegrate so rapidly that they are scarcely worth quarrying. Stone from the thickest and most compact strata have been used, to a small extent, for foundations at Knob Lick, but the chief use has been by railway company in the construction of culverts and abutments. An examination of some of the stone in these abutments showed it to be in a badly crumbled condition, and seriously needing replacement by stronger and more durable material.”
Knob Lick, Missouri - the A. F. Abbott Granite Company (from Stone: An Illustrated Magazine, December 1897, Vol. XVI., No. 1, pp. 98)

“St. Louis, Mo. - The St. Louis Quarry and Construction Company filed an application in the United States Circuit Court for a receiver for the A. F. Abbott Granite Company of Knob Lick, Mo. The application was heard by Judge Adams, and the defendant cited to appear on Dec. 3, to show cause why the application should not be granted.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Abbot Openings

See: Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Missouri Granite Quarries below.
Knob Lick Area, St. Francois County, Missouri - the Alexander & Burks’ Granite Quarry (Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“In 1900 Mr. Corbin Alexander of Farmington erected a crushing plant in sec. 29, T. 35, R. 6 E., east of the Hill-O’Mera Construction Company’s quarry. In 1903, Mr. Burks purchased an interest in the plant and it is now operated under the firm name of Alexander & Burks. The entire output is crushed rock, which is used mainly for cement walks and macadam in St. Louis.

“The stone has been quarried from six different openings, two east, one northwest, and one southwest and two south of the crushing plant. They are all shallow, irregular openings, having a vertical face of only a few feet. The stone, in general, is badly decomposed and fit only for crushing. In parts of some of the openings the stone is practically decomposed into a coarse sand. The openings, in general, have from two to six feet of stripping, the stone being quarried where it can be obtained with least expense. The color varies in the different openings from a light to a deep red. The texture is very similar to that in the Hill-O’Mera quarry. It is so badly decomposed that it is worthless for dimensional or monumental purposes. Numerous joints which strike in various directions break the stone into small blocks.

“The crusher is located on the Hill-O’Mera switch and the rock is hauled to it by wagon from the openings. Each quarryman is paid according to the amount of stone which he delivers at the crusher.”
Knob Lick Area, St. Francois County, Missouri - the Alexander and Burks Granite Quarry (Granite), historical quarry (location) (from Brainy Geography)
- Alexander and Burks Granite Quarry - TopoZone Map
Knob Lick, Missouri - the W. R. Allen Quarry (listed in The Mine, Quarry and Metallurgical Record of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, The Mine and Quarry News Bureau, Chicago, Ill., 1897)
Knob Lick, Saint Francois County, Missouri - the Allen & Smith Quarry (Granite) (from Report on The Building Stones of The United States, and Statistics of the Quarry Industry for 1880, by George W. Hawes, Curator of the Department of Mineralogy and Lithology at the National Museum, and by F. W. Sperr and Thomas C. Kelly, Joint production of the Census Office and the National Museum, 1883)

The following information was taken from the table entitled, “Table IV. Tables indicating the Amount and Kinds of Rock in the Different States”: The Allen & Smith Quarry, Knob Lick, Saint Francois County, Granite/Hornblende granite, color: Gray and red; quarry opened in 1872.
Knob Lick (northwest of), Missouri - the Allen & Vieth Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Allen & Vieth Quarry. - The location of the quarry of Allen & Vieth is about four miles northwest of Knob Lick and one-half mile north of Doe Run creek (Tp. 35 N., R. V. E., Sec. 36, SW. qr). The working face is 180 feet long; the depth of the quarry averages twenty feet. Numerous joints, running mainly in a NE-SW direction, are noticeable. They are not, however, so frequent as to prevent getting out blocks of any desired dimensions. The stone has been worked up chiefly into pavers, half a million having been taken out. The stone is of a clear red color and dresses readily. Its composition differs somewhat from that at most of the other quarries, quartz being abundant. A vertical quartz vein traverses the bed. One large steam derrick has been employed and tracks laid to the dumps. It is one of the largest block quarries in the area.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Anderson Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Anderson Quarry. - This place was opened about four years ago (circa 1892) on the hillside seventy-five yards southeast of the Summers quarry. It is now only about thirty by forty feet in areal extent and ten feet deep. It has been idle until recently (circa 1896), but blockmaking has been resumed. The granite is fairly coarse-grained.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Arnold Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Arnold Quarry is on Rock branch in the southwest quarter of section 7. It was opened seven or eight years ago, as were also others on the opposite side of the river at the ‘ Narrows ’ in the northwest quarter of the same section (Tp. 34 N., R. VI E.). Red granite of rather fine grain was worked with little difficulty. The rock is also adaptable to structural purposes. Full 75,000 blocks have been shipped from the several points.”
Knob Lick (west of), Missouri - the Asplof Granite Quarry (Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“This quarry, which is operated by A. J. Asplof, is located about half a mile west of Knob Lick, on land owned by Edward Price. It consists of an irregular opening 150 feet east and west and 100 feet north and south. The face is from fifteen to twenty feet in height and is covered with from three to six feet of stripping.

“The granite is the gray variety and consists essentially of feldspar, quartz and biotite. The quartz is less abundant and the biotite more abundant than in the red varieties. The feldspar is chiefly white, although there is an occasional pinkish colored individual. When viewed at a distance, the granite has a dark bluish tint, on account of which it is known locally as blue granite. It has a finer Texture than the red granite.

“In some places the biotite has segregated into knots which have a much darker color than the body of the granite, destroying its value for monumental or building purpose. It is seldom possible to obtain a large block which is free from these segregations. Yellowish red streaks, due to an increase in the red or pink feldspar, occur parallel to the so-called bedding. Fine block seams are also common.

“In the gray granite, the rift is approximately north and south, while in the red granite it is about east and west. In the gray granite, the lift is the hard way to work the stone, while in the red granite the hard way is at right angles to the rift and lift. The gray granite splits with a smooth fracture and is easier to work into blocks than the red granite. The larger knots sometimes draw the fracture producing an uneven surface. Two-inch cubes of this granite gave a crushing strength of 18,234 pounds per square inch.

“The entire output is cut into paving blocks. The stripping and spalls have been thrown into the quarry, making it difficult to work. When visited in November, 1903, seven paving block cutters were employed.”
Knob Lick (near), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Asplof Granite Quarry - “Knob Lick Mountain: Old Granite Quarry,” field trip presented by Pittsburg State University. (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
<http://www.pittstate.edu/services/scied/Teachers/Field/Camp/Quarry/quarry.htm>

This article indicates that the quarry is located “Along U.S. Highway 67, about 16 km south of Farmington, Missouri we came to an intersection with Canterberry County Road which provides access to the Knob Lick Mountain Towersite (an observation tower is located at the top of the mountain).”
Knob Lick (near), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Asplof Granite Quarry (Granite), historical quarry (location) (from Brainy Geography)
Knob Lick (near), Missouri - the Asplof Granite Quarry(Granite) - Excerpt from Missouri Mining Heritage Guide, by John R. Park, Stonerose Publishing Co., Miami, Florida, March 2005. (The following excerpted quotations are used with the permission of John R. Park, author.)

“...Apparently, the Asplof Granite Quarry is readily accessible, as it is used for teachers’ workshops.

“<http://www.pittstate.edu/services/scied/Teachers/Field/Camp/Quarry/quarry.htm>; Kisvarsanyi, E.B. and A.W.Hebrank, 1987; Knob Lick Mountain Section; Intrusive Contact of Precambrian Granite with Rhyolite in the St. Francois Mountains, Missouri, in D.L. Biggs, (ed.), Geol Soc of Am Centennial Field Guide, 3:155-158.”
Knob Lick (west of), Missouri - Bee Knob - Klondike Hill Granite Quarries(Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“Bee Knob.

“This place, which is known locally as Klondike Hill, is a ‘knob’ of granite, about four miles west of Knob Lick. Small quarries have been developed at many placed on the hill, but no large ones. Quarrying was begun in 1890 and has been continued intermittently up to the present time (circa 1904).

“Very few of the quarries are more than ten feet in depth, being usually confined to the uppermost bed. Whenever quarrying became difficult or expensive, the openings were abandoned for more favorable localities.

“The color of the granite varies from a slightly reddish gray to a light red. It is medium to fine grained, and consists chiefly of feldspar and quartz, with a lesser amount of biotite.

“These quarries, or motions as they are called, are worked on a royalty basis. The land is owned by Wm. Taylor and the Iron Mountain Ore Co., the former charging a royalty of 5¢ per hundred for six inch blocks and 10¢ per hundred for eight inch blocks, and the latter a royalty of ten cents per hundred for all sizes. Two dollars royalty is charged for every thousand linear feet of curbing.

“The only active quarries are located on the southwest side of the hill and are being operated by Alexander Hansan, Wood Bros., and Andrew Raby.....”

(Please Note: Detailed information for these quarries will be listed below as an individual entry for each quarry.)

“Résumé.

“The product of these quarries is hauled by wagon, two miles, to the Turpin switch. The curbing and paving blocks are shipped to St. Louis. At this switch, the Heman Construction Co. operates a crusher which is owned by the Turpin Granite Co. Spalls are sold to this company for 50¢ per ton, delivered. A quarry was formerly operated near where the crusher now stands, but this was abandoned several years ago. It has a vertical face of about 55 feet without bedding planes. The granite has a light red color and is similar in texture to that at the Zeran Gregory quarry. The company finds it cheaper to purchase spalls from the quarries at Bee Knob than to quarry from this ledge.

“The crushing plant is equipped with No. 2 and No. 4 Gates crushers, steam hoist, derricks and other accessories.”
Knob Lick (northwest of), Missouri - the Berry Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Berry Quarry. - Three miles northwest of Knob Lick are several large quarries (Tp. 35 N., R. VI E., Sec. 30, SE. qr). A switch connects them with the Belmont branch of the I.M., St. L.&S. railroad, a little over one mile distant. Until recently it was owned and operated by the St. Louis Granite Company and went by the name of the O’Meara quarry. The quarry was opened up a little more than four years ago on the northeast slope of a hill which is partly covered by sandstone. It has a circular face of about 300 feet in length and averages fifteen feet in depth. Across the center, nearly east and west, a seven-foot channel has been excavated to enable work to be carried on more easily. The quarry as a whole is in excellent working condition. Usually the amount of stripping is slight. On the northeast side the rock is somewhat decomposed and is not utilized, but elsewhere it is very firm. In texture it is of perhaps the coarsest of any within the area. Some pink feldspar crystals are found more than an inch in length. It works readily, especially on the lift, and blocks of any desired dimensions can be taken out. The plant consists of a rack and power shed and a number of dwellings; also a drill, derrick, traveler, and a ‘Jenny Lind’ polisher for flat surfaces; the machinery is worked altogether by steam power. The dimension rock has been used in the construction of the Bissell Point waterworks building, pump house at Chain of Rocks, for tops of piers for the elevated railroad in East St. Louis, Illinois, and for many other structures. In addition half a million blocks for street paving have been taken out.”
Knob Lick Area (?), Missouri - the Bridgeman Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Bridgeman Quarry. There are several small excavations in the granite, located less than one-half mile south of the Phillips. Work was carried on quite extensively for a time and the amount of the output was over 25,000 blocks.”
Knob Lick (south of), Missouri - the Carr Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Four miles south of Knob Lick, on Musco creek, several quarries have been opened in the granite.

“Carr Quarry. - This quarry lies in the southwest quarter of section 26 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI E). Work has been done on both sides of the creek at the railroad bridge. The stone quarried is a dark grayish rock, rather fine-grained. Joint planes are frequent. During the three years it has been in operation, a large number of pavers have been taken out.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Cartee Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Cartee Quarry. - Work at this place has been carried on (Tp. 34 N., R. V E., Sec. 2, NE. qr.) in granite for about eight years. There are several small quarries. Blocks are also obtained from surface ledges. The red granite is coarse in texture. About 60,000 blocks have been hauled to the railroad. At the present time (circa 1896), there are no extensive operations being conducted.”
Knob Lick (northwest of), Missouri - the Chamberlain Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Chamberlain Quarry. - Not very far away, on the Peers land, a granite quarry has been opened, from which about 38,000 blocks for streets have been taken. It now has a vertical face twenty feet high which could be easily extended. The rock is rather fine-grained, but works easily and could be utilized for dimension stone as joint planes are not frequent.

“A dozen or more other openings have been made in the same vicinity. They lie on both sides of the Doe Run creek. A couple of miles farther up the stream (Sections 27 and 28) granite has also been quarried at several points.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the J. Chamberlain Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Chamberlain (J.) Quarry. - This is located on the section line between 17 and 18 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI. E.). It was opened in 1887 and is now (circa 1896) about 150 feet one way by fifty feet in another, and seven feet deep. The stripping amounts usually to less than two feet and in places the hard undecomposed rocks extend to the surface. A quartz vein traverses the quarry in a direction south 65 degrees west. Along this intrusion the granite is very much jointed and of a gray color. There is a dike of diabase also crossing the granite of this quarry. It is the extension of the one shown in the Missouri quarry a short distance to the northeast. Since opened, probably 75,000 blocks have been gotten out. Large dimension stone might be obtained also.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Eaves Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Eaves Quarry. - Northeast of the last mentioned openings is operated a small quarry (Tp. 34 N., R. V E., Sec. 1, NW. qr.) from which several thousand blocks have been removed. The granite is the ordinary light red, medium-grained variety. No heavy blasting has been undertaken, the top ledge of granite alone being utilized, since at the surface the rock is fresh and very durable.”
Knob Lick (northwest of), Missouri - the Eaves & Crawford Granite Quarries (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Eaves & Crawford Quarries. - The principal openings of those last mentioned (the Allen & Vieth Quarry, the Chamberlain Granite Quarry, and the Kirk Granite Quarry) are located on the east side of the creek (Tp. 35 N., R. V E., Sec. 27, SW qr.) The immediate exposure of granite is quite small. Over 3,000 blocks have been taken out.

“Near the mouth of Doe Run creek on the flank of a prominent hill northeast of Wachita mountain considerable stone has been obtained.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Fry Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Fry Quarry. - Paving blocks were obtained until 1893 in the northwest quarter of section 18 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI E.). The rock quarried was the ordinary reddish granite, rather coarse-grained and capable of being worked into blocks with comparatively little effort. Joint planes were not numerous, but sufficiently so to assist in quarrying. The output probably amounted to 10,000 blocks.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Gale Marble Quarry (Marble) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Gale Quarry. - There are two small quarries on the Gale land, the principal one lying in the center of an old grant, corresponding to the south-central part of section 29 (Tp. 33 N., R. VI E.), and the other across the road about half a mile. There are about 160 acres of marble in the deposit. The openings were made fifteen years ago (circa 1881). A considerable amount of stone has been taken out for monuments and samples. The rock in the northern opening is exposed along a branch and in order to quarry it but little stripping is required. The principal ledge is eighteen inches in thickness, has a light grayish pink, clouded color and is quarried in large blocks. Earthy partings of greenish clayey material are occasionally shown, facilitating the getting out of the stone. The ledges are without joints except at wide intervals so that the stone in the ledge may be cut into thin slabs for indoor trimmings, mantles, steps and base-boards. The upper ledge is ten inches thick and of a pinkish gray color. The general texture is fine-grained. Both ledges admit of a fine polish. Small monuments have been prepared from the upper bed. Other layers exist but are not now worked (circ 1896). Only about one car load of these marbles has been shipped.

“In the southern opening only the weathered ledges are shown. The most important layer is several inches thick. It is tolerably tough and takes a high polish.”
Knob Lick (west of), Missouri - the Alexander Hansan Granite Quarry(Granite) (one of the Bee Knob - Klondike Hill Granite Quarries) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“This quarry has a face about 75 feet long which coincides with the major joints. These joints strike N. 48° E. and are from four to twelve feet apart, greatly facilitating the quarrying of the stone. Quarrying has extended down to the first bedding plane, eleven feet below the surface. The granite contains numerous dries which make it unfit for monumental stock. The stone works very well into paving blocks and curbing, which are the principal products of the quarry. The largest blocks are moved by hand derricks.”
Knob Lick (west of), Missouri - the Hill-O’Mera Construction Company’s Granite Quarry(Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“The Hill-O’Mera Construction Company of St. Louis owns a large quarry located in sec. 3, T. 35, R. 6 E. This quarry is not active at present, but at one time it was a large producer. It has been worked 160 feet north and south and 110 feet east and west, and has a vertical face of from ten to thirty feet. Near the middle of the west face a gully at the surface reduces the exposure to about ten feet. Along the west and the south central portions of the east face the granite is flanked by sandstone. Beneath this the granite is decomposed to a depth of from three to five feet.

“The granite has a uniform light red color, very similar to that from portions of the Milne and Gordon quarry. It has the usual texture of the red granite of this district and is composed mainly of feldspar, quartz and mica.

“The major joints strike N. 80 -85° W. and dip 11° N. 10° -15° E. At the north end of the quarry they are the following distances apart: 15 ft. 8 in.; 1 ft; 6 ft. 8 in.; 1 ft. 10 in.; 1 ft. 10 in.; 7 ft.; 13 ft.; 4 ft.

These joints permit the quarrying of blocks of very large dimensions. Occasional inclined joints intercept the quarry face at an angle of about 45°. At the south end the face is solid granite, showing no horizontal joints. At the north end bedding planes occur from two to six feet apart.

“A number of red and brown seams angle through the face, especially at the north end of the quarry, spoiling considerable of the stone for dimensional purposes. A diabase dike, about two inches in thickness, at the bottom, occurs at the south end of the quarry.

“The stone has a well developed lift and rift. The rift is practically parallel to the major joints, N. 80° -85° E., while the lift is nearly horizontal. The head or ‘hardway’ of the stone is at right angles to these....”

“The quarry is connected by a spur with the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern railroad. The equipment consists of a large cutting shed, derrick, steam hoist, engine, boilers and such other implements and tools as are necessary for working the granite.

“The output has consisted of curbing, paving blocks and dimensional stone. During the last few years the quarry has only been worked in a small way.”
Knob Lick (west of), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Hill-O’Mera Construction Company Granite Quarry (Granite), (location & map) (from Brainy Geography)
- Hill-O’Mera Construction Company Granite Quarry - TopoZone Map
Knob Lick (between Knob Lick & Syenite), Missouri - the Kelly Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Kelly Quarry. - At the Kelly quarry about a quarter of a mile north of the J. McGeorge place considerable work has been done. It is in the coarse-grained ‘blue’ granite, upon which rests from four to eight feet of stripping.”
Knob Lick (northwest of), Missouri - the Kirk Granite (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Kirk Quarry. - A short distance from the Allen & Vieth opening is a quarry on the south slope of the hill (Tp. 35 N., R. V E., Sec. 35, SE. qr). Quarring (sic) was done in solid red granite which is of medium grain and dresses readily. The product is pavers, of which 23,000 blocks have been taken out.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Kirkpatrick and Cross Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Kirkpatrick & Cross Quarry. - This small working lies southeast of the center of section 7 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI E.). About 10,000 blocks were made from fine-grained red granite. Very little solid rock was used, as large bowlders were most accessible.”
Knob Lick (south of), Missouri - the Kreitzer Opening (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“There is another quarry, but now abandoned, about one-half mile upstream from the Carr place, the old Kreitzer opening. This is on the west side of the gradually sloping granite hill. The blocks were hauled to Lewis switch a short distance westward. About three years ago the Bridgman quarries furnished paving blocks from red granite along the railroad near the center of section 22 of the same township and range.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Lamb Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Lamb Quarry. - Openings have been made in half a dozen places in the northwest fourth of the southeast quarter of section 25 (Tp. 34 N., R. V E.), the principal one being the Lamb quarry. Only 15,000 blocks have been prepared, and the work has not been carried on continuously.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Lewis Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Lewis Quarry. Some work was done four years ago in several places in the vicinity of the Lamb place and 10,000 blocks manufactured. The rock is well adapted to block-making but is a little difficult to dress.”
Knob Lick (between and Syenite), Missouri - the J. McGeorge Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“McGeorge (J.) Quarry. - The J. McGeorge quarry was opened 11 years ago (circa 1885) and a large quantity of paving blocks have been obtained. The working face is about 20 feet high and 150 feet long. It is opened just north of the road about half-way between Knob Lick and Syenite, in the ‘blue’ granite. Over the hard rock are two to six feet of decomposed granite and residual clays which must be stripped. Joint planes run a little west of south. This has been one of the most important workings. A single hand-power derrick is used in raising the large masses to the surface.”
Knob Lick (between Knob Lick & Syenite), Missouri - the W. McGeorge Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“McGeorge (W.) Quarry. - This opening lies just northwest of the J. McGeorge quarry. Operations were begun 13 years ago (circa 1883) and a large number of blocks made. It is 20 feet in depth and has an average of five feet of stripping. The joints almost invariably lie nearly north and south.”
Knob Lick (near), Missouri - the Milne & Gordon Granite Quarry(Granite)

See: Syenite, Missouri - the Milne & Gordon Granite Quarry(Granite) below.
Knob Lick, Missouri - the Missouri Granite Co. Quarry (listed in The Mine, Quarry and Metallurgical Record of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, The Mine and Quarry News Bureau, Chicago, Ill., 1897)
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Missouri Granite Quarries (formerly called the Abbot Openings) (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Missouri Quarry. - There are several quarries now known under the name which were formerly called the Abbot openings. They lie at the end of a switch extending from Knob Lick, in the western part of section 17 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI E.). Work was begun here several years ago but the quarries have not been developed to any extent except for the manufacture of paving blocks. However, since connections have been made with the Belmont railway the intention is to extend the works and put in equipment primarily for the production of dimension stone. Two large steam derricks are in position. There are two openings; the main one lies at the end of the switch, the other about 125 yards to the north. The latter is in red, rather coarsely crystalline granite, but the joints are hardly sufficiently numerous for easy working. The other is a small quarry now about twenty feet square and twelve feet deep. At the large excavation the rock is of a grayish red color and very compact. In the southwestern part of the quarry there is a dike of fine-grained diabase traversing the granite in a nearly north and south direction. Its width is from twelve to eighteen inches and there are branches running off from the main mass. It is nearly vertical. About twenty car loads of grout have been taken out recently (circa 1896). The output thus far has been almost wholly paving blocks.”
Knob Lick, Missouri - the Missouri Granite Construction Company’s Granite Quarry (Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“This quarry is located in the N.W. ¼ of sec. 17, T. 34, R. 6 E., about three miles from the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern railroad, with which it is connected by a spur. It was opened about six years ago and consists of two openings, one northwest and the other southeast of the crushing plant.

“The following are the officers of this company: Mr. Leo. Schmaltz, president; Mr. M. Sullivan, secretary, and Mr. J. R. Quinley, superintendent. The general officers are in St. Louis.

“Most of the stone has been quarried from the southeast opening, which has an irregular triangular shape about 100 feet on a side and thirty to thirty-five feet in depth.

“One horizontal joint occurs from ten to twenty feet below the surface of this opening. The joints strike in various directions. They are quite abundant in some parts of the quarry, breaking the stone into comparatively small blocks. A number of these joints strike N. 45° E., east and west, N. 30° W. and N. 35° E. Along these seams the stone usually has a black color.

“The granite was first quarried along a five-foot diabase dike, striking N. 48° E. West of this dike, the face is intercepted by frequent horizontal joints.

“The east face contains a twelve-inch dike of very red, fine grained granite, in which feldspar predominates. A number of similar, smaller streaks occur at the west end of the quarry. They injure the stone for monumental or building purposes.

“The stone also contains occasional series of short, tight seams which injure it for monumental or building purposes. These are most abundant in the southeastern part of the quarry where there are very few major joints.

“The opening northwest of the crushing plant had not been worked along when the quarry was inspected. It will have a 200-foot face and it is intended to connect it with another small opening which was worked several years ago. The granite is very similar in color and texture to that in the southeast opening.

“The major joints strike N. 55° E. and N. 45°. The latter are from two to ten feet apart. Close to the crushing plant, where the opening had been worked to a depth of twenty feet, it shows bedding planes 4 ½, 6 and 8 feet apart. Dark seams and dries occur as in the southeast opening.

“A large part of the stone is crushed, only the best being used for building or monumental purposes. Some paving blocks are manufactured.

“The equipment consists, in part, of one railroad locomotive, two steam hoists, two derricks, three steam drills, stationary engine, boiler and three crushers, Nos. 1, 3, and 5.

“This is one of the largest granite crushing plants in the State. After crushing, the stone is screened into several different sizes which go directly to large storage bins of about 1,000 tons capacity. The crushed stone is loaded, by means of chutes, directly from the bins into the cars.”
Knob Lick, St. Francois County, Missouri - the Missouri Granite Construction Company Quarry (Granite), (historical quarry) (location & map) (from Brainy Geography)
Knob Lick Area (?), Missouri - the Phillips Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Phillips Quarry. - Several small workings have been developed in the northeast fourth of the southeast quarter of section 25 (Tp. 34 N., R. V E.). They are known as the Phillips ‘motions.’ Reddish granite of rather coarse texture was quarried and 10,000 paving blocks sent out.”
Knob Lick (west of), Missouri - the Andrew Raby Granite Quarry (Granite) (one of the Bee Knob - Klondike Hill Granite Quarries) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“This quarry has been opened for a considerable distance along the west crest of the hill. A three-foot ledge of granite is being worked, chiefly into paving blocks.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Simpson & Thurley Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Simpson & Thurley Quarry. - What is known as the main Simpson quarry lies about 500 feet south of the Summers place, and there is another about 250 feet to the northeast. The latter is in light pink to gray granite; the former in a red variety. Both are now abandoned by the blockmakers, but the debris, consisting of chips and large blocks which have accumulated, are transported in cars along a tramway to the railroad at Knob Lick and shipped as grout to St. Louis, where it is crushed and used in the preparation of granitoid walks. A very large number of blocks were manufactured from the two localities.”
Knob Lick Area (?), Missouri - the Slater Marble Quarry

See: Knob Lick Area (?), Missouri - the Strong and Gillespie Marble Quarry above.
Knob Lick, Missouri – St. Louis Quarry and Construction Company Quarry (from Stone: An Illustrated Magazine, April 1897, Vol. XIV, No. 5, “Notes from Quarry and Shop” section, pp. 650)

“John J. Steffen has filed suit to restrain the St. Louis Quarry and Construction Company from selling his property at Knob Lick, Mo., under $1,590.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Steffen Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Steffen Quarry. - A couple of small openings have been recently started (circ 1896), one on the north and the other on the south side of the O’Meara switch, just west of its connection with the Belmont branch railroad (Tp. 35 N., R. VI E., Sec. 29, SW. qr). As quarrying has just been begun only a few blocks have as yet been made. The granite is the coarse, grayish red variety, is easily trimmed and is doubtless quite a valuable stone. Drilling is done by steam power and the intention is to open up large block quarries. Sandstone extends over the top of the hill along the north face of which the granite is uncovered and quarried.”
Knob Lick Area (?), Missouri - the Strong and Gillespie Marble Quarry (formerly known as the Slater Quarry) (Marble) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Strong & Gillespie Quarry. - The opening in the marble just north of the main east and west road along the headwaters of Slater branch was formerly known as the Slater quarry but is now called the Strong & Gillespie. The quarry is on the south slope of the hill and considerably above the drainage level. A prospect shaft was sunk here through thirty or forty feet of marble and the formation was not passed through. A large amount of stone has been taken out from the quarry. Some has been shipped and some of it used for monuments. The stone is light to dark red in color, and partly banded with thin veins of white, the latter are of calcite and do not interfere with the solidity nor durability of the rock. The clayey seams which occasionally occur near the outer surfaces of the layers are somewhat injurious in that they are sources of undesirable fractures and do not polish well. The thickness of the strata in sight ranges from a few inches to two feet and immense blocks are obtainable. A single large derrick has been employed.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Summers Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Summers Quarry. - This is quite a large opening, situated in Tp. 34 N., R. VI E., Sec. 9, NW. qr. It was opened about ten years ago (circa 1886) and quarrying was carried on interruptedly until recently (circa 1896). The excavation is about 150 feet in length. The stripping of decomposed materials is from five inches to as many feet thick. There are many joint planes trending nearly east and west and north and south, but these do not interfere with the adaptability of the stone for dimension purposes. The easiest way for working the granite is on the rift, yet the ‘hardway’ is often resorted to. The ‘hardway’ is nearly perpendicular to the direction of the slope.”
Knob Lick (near), Missouri - the Syenite Granite Quarry - Excerpt from Missouri Mining Heritage Guide, by John R. Park, Stonerose Publishing Co., Miami, Florida, March 2005. (The following excerpted quotations are used with the permission of John R. Park, author.)

“...In mid-2004, I looked for, and failed to find, the Syenite Granite Quarry, which is presumably overgrown. The Milne House (a 2 storey building with 2’-thick granite walls), although almost directly on SRDD was obscured by vegetation.

“The Syenite Granite Quarry was operated from 1881 and 1914 by John W. Milne. Granite (not syenite) was quarried for use as dimension stone and paving blocks.

“Other quarries in the immediate area include: the Hill-O’Mera Construction Company Granite Quarry, the Alexander & Burks Granite Quarry, the Milne & Gordon Granite Quarry, and the...Asplof Granite Quarry.

“Hill-O’Mera Construction Co. Granite Quarry N37° 42,184’ W90° 24,616’, Alexander & Burks Granite Quarry N37° 42,184’ W90° 23,700’, Milne & Gordon Granite Quarry N37° 40,935’ W90° 23,854’.”
Knob Lick (near), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Syenite Granite Quarry (Granite), (historical site) (location) (from Brainy Geography)
Knob Lick (northwest of), Missouri - the Tetley Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Tetley Quarry. - About 200 yards south of the Berry quarry is an opening on the Tetley land. The work is a reddish gray granite, and rather coarse-grained. About 50,000 paving blocks have been used from this place.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Wildcat Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wildcat Quarry. - This quarry is at the top of a broad granite hill (Tp. 34, N., R. V E., Sec. 13, SE. qr). The rock is tolerably coarse-grained, pale red in color and works easily. No dimension stone has been taken out, although joint planes are not so abundant as to interfere with the quarrying of large blocks. About 50,000 six- and eight-inch paving blocks have been made here. The granite in this district is all of splendid quality. It seems to be more uniform in color as well as in texture.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Warsing Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Warsing Quarry. - This is a small opening in the northeast quarter of section 18 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI. E.). As yet it has been developed but little. The rock dresses easily and could be used advantageously for building stone. Up to 1894 only paving blocks had been taken out, of which about 10,000 had been marketed.”
Knob Lick (southwest of), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Western Granite Company’s Granite Quarry(Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“This quarry is located about three-fourths of a mile southwest of Knob Lick. It has been opened for a distance of about 150 feet along the major jointing planes which strike N. 40° W. It has also been opened at right angles to this direction for a distance of 65 feet. At the east end, where it is now being operated, the face is 45 feet high.

“The granite consists essentially of pink and white feldspar, quartz and biotite. The color is a grayish pink, lighter than the granite at Milne and Gordon’s quarry. Occasional dark, roundish or oval spots, known as knots, occur in the granite. These are segregations of biotite similar to those described in connection with other quarries in the district. They are injurious to stone used for monumental or building purposes, but for crushing they are not especially detrimental.

“The major joints strike N. 40° W. and minor joints N. 45° E. The stone also contains dries. The joints are numerous, but in places large dimensions might be obtained. The dark spots and dries, however, are too abundant to admit the quarrying of large quantities of this stock.

“The crusher is connected by side track with the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern railroad. The stone is hauled from the quarry to the crusher by wagon. Crushed stone is the chief product, although paving blocks and dimensional stone are produced to a small extent.”
Knob Lick (southwest of), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Western Granite Quarry (Granite), (historical quarry) (location) (from Brainy Geography)
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Wood Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wood Quarry. - This quarry is on the Taylor land, on the north hillside about one-fourth mile west of the Cartee place. The rock is quite similar and the same kind of methods are employed in quarrying and dressing the rock. Over 32,000 blocks have been produced.”
Knob Lick (west of), Missouri - the Wood Bros. Granite Quarry (Granite) (one of the Bee Knob - Klondike Hill Granite Quarries) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“This quarry is located west of the Hansan quarry. It has a vertical face of from ten to fifteen feet of what is apparently excellent stone for making paving blocks. It contains numerous dries which make the stone unfit for building or monumental stock.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Wood and Hibbits Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wood & Hibbits Quarry. - In the northeast quarter of section 7 (Tp. 34 N., R. VI E.), quarrying has been going on in a tolerably fine-grained red granite, for the production of paving blocks. There are a great many large bowlders on the surface near by but only the solid ledges underneath are utilized. The stone fractures easily in the manufacture of pavers. Dimension stone could also be easily obtained. The total output to date is about 100,000 blocks.”
Knob Lick Area, Missouri - the Wright Marble Quarry (Wright) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wright Quarry. - The Wright quarry is about a mile northeast of the Gale (Tp. 33 N., R. VI E., Sec. 28, NW qr., S ½) in the side of a ravine. Work towards developing these ledges began about fifteen years ago and a number of blocks of the stone taken out, two or three car loads of rough stone being shipped from Fredricktown. No stripping of consequence is necessary to reach the best ledges which can be gotten out in slabs sixteen inches thick. As a rule the stone has a peculiar texture. It is rather dull, finely textured and a granular in appearance, the latter character being well brought out in the polished faces. It is remarkably easily worked and not in the least ‘plucky.’ The color is commonly a very dark brick-red, approaching brown; in this general hue are blotches and specks of lighter color and of clear white calcite which give a striking as well as beautiful effect to the dressed stone.”
Knob Lick (southwest of), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Zeran Gregory Granite Company’s Granite Quarry (Granite) (The following information is from The Quarrying Industry of Missouri, by E. R. Buckley, Director and State Geologist, and H. A. Buehler, Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines Vol. II, 2nd Series, 1904.)

“The Zeran Gregory Granite Co., of Cairo, Illinois, has opened a quarry in sec. 35, T. 35, R. 5 E., on the farm of Mr. Gregory. When visited the quarry had just been opened and the granite was exposed only to a depth of twelve feet between two jointing planes, covering an area about eight feet by forty feet. The natural outcrop of granite covers an area of about 22,500 square feet. West of this exposure small boulders of granite occur at the surface, indicating that the stripping in that direction is not heavy.

“This granite consists essentially of feldspar, quartz and mica. As far as exposed the granite has a uniform, deeper red color than most of the granite in this area. It takes an excellent polish and is very hard. It breaks with a very straight fracture.

“The major joints, which strike N. 65° E. and are from three to ten feet apart, break the stone into large dimensional blocks, that can be easily quarried. The minor joints, which strike at right angles to the major set, are very few in number, only one showing near the middle of the face.

“The granite contains an occasional dark seam, similar to those in other quarries of this area. A number of parallel dries occur in the upper part of the quarry. As elsewhere these imperfections in the stone cause considerable waste.

“The chief product is monumental stone which is shipped to Cairo, Illinois. The quarry is two miles from the Turpin switch, to which the stone must be hauled by team.”
Knob Lick (southwest of), St. Francois County, Missouri - the Zeran Gregory Granite Company Quarry (Granite), (location & map) (from Brainy Geography)
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Knob Lick Mountain Diabase Quarries (Diabase) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Near the north and south section line, on the southeast extension of the Knob Lick mountain, about 100 feet below the summit, there are several small ‘motions’ in green diabase. The stone is fine-grained, but makes a very good paver. It is not difficult to dress; and if it were found in greater abundance and more conveniently situated would doubtless be utilized much more extensively. For several years the excavations have been abandoned.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Allen Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Allen Quarry. - This place is also opened on the north-western part of Knob Lick mountain. The stone is reddish gray. Over 175,000 blocks have been shipped out. The stone works well and makes an excellent paver.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Butler Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Butler Quarry. - The old Butler openings lie on the south side of Butler hill, a western extension of Knob Lick mountain. There are in this place a number of surface quarries known as ‘bowlder motions,’ the solid beds not having been reached. Some of these detached masses are twenty feet or more in diameter and are composed of fine, undecayed granite. Only one or two excavations are being worked at present (circa 1896), but in past years the output has been quite large. Most of the granite is rather coarse-grained and of a grayish red color.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Cross Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Cross Quarry. - Work began at this point, which is on the northwest slope of Knob Lick mountain, in 1894, and since that time, 40,000 blocks have been taken out. The stone is the ordinary light grayish red granite and has an easy fracture.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Pritchett Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Pritchett Quarry - Work was begun just northwest of the Wells quarry in the spring of 1895. The granite here is of a lighter color than at the Wallace but otherwise is quite similar. Only a few blocks have as yet been removed.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Rueking & Eistrup Quarry

See: Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Wood Granite Quarry below.
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Wallace Granite Quarry (formerly the Welch Quarry) (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wallace Quarry, formerly the old Welch quarry, is situated high up on the northwest side of Knob Lick mountain. It is 250 feet long and 100 feet wide; and has been worked for a dozen or more years. The quarry is eight to eighteen feet deep, with two to six feet of stripping. The fracture is more certain on the rift parallel to the north and south planes. In the upper part of the quarry a porphyritic rock appears, at one point being eight feet thick. Nearly 1,000,000 blocks have been made here.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Welch Granite Quarry
See: Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Wallace Granite Quarry above.
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Wells Granite Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wells Quarry. - A short distance on the slope to the north-east from the Wallace quarry is another recently opened. The color of the granite is the usual reddish gray and the texture is tolerably coarse.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Wells Porphyry Quarry (Porphyry) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wells Quarry. - This is a ‘motion’ near the top of Knob Lick mountain. Work in a compact porphyritic rock progressed for about a year, and 3000 pavers were made. the rock was found to be too hard for first-class blocks and was condemned. A few hundred porphyry blocks have also been taken out near this place but the work lasted only for a short time.”
Knob Lick Mountain, Missouri - the Wood Granite Quarry (formerly the Rueking & Eistrup Quarry (Granite) (from A Report on Mine La Motte Sheet, including Portions of Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, by Charles Rollin Keyes, State Geologist, Missouri Geological Survey, Reports on Areal Geology (Sheets 1-4) Volume IX, 1896)

“Wood Quarry. - Formerly the Rueking & Eistrup quarry. The opening is in the red granite, on the lower part of Knob Lick mountain about three-fourths of a mile nearly west of the highest point. The rock is considerably jointed and paving blocks are made with but little difficulty. A derrick is employed for shifting the large masses.”

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Quarries in Missouri & Quarry Links, Photographs, and Articles Kimmswick thru Knob Lick

Quarries in Missouri & Quarry Links, Photographs, and Articles
Kimmswick thru Knob Lick