Historic mining districts are receiving renewed attention as the United States considers opportunities to strengthen domestic supplies of critical minerals. At the 2026 National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs Conference, Jarek Trela, PhD, and David Hibbard, CPG, PG, of Brierley Associates will discuss the critical-mineral potential of the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District and the relevance of the region’s abandoned fluorite mines to abandoned mine lands programs.
Located in southern Illinois and western Kentucky, the district was a major producer of fluorite throughout much of the twentieth century. Today, it contains numerous abandoned mine lands sites that present reclamation challenges while also offering an opportunity to reconsider the region’s mineral-resource legacy.
The presentation will highlight Hicks Dome, a geologically distinctive feature within the district associated with volcanic breccia pipes, igneous activity, and complex faulting. Drawing on published geologic research, historical mining information, and available regional data, the presenters will summarize current understanding of how these features contributed to fluorite mineralization and the occurrence of rare earth elements and other critical minerals.
The discussion will also examine materials historically treated as mine waste, as well as breccia bodies and other geologic features that may warrant additional evaluation by appropriate mineral-resource investigators. Large portions of the intrusive complex remain buried and incompletely explored, underscoring both the potential of the district and the need for further scientific and economic assessment before conclusions can be drawn about recoverable resources.
In addition to the regional geology and mining history, Trela and Hibbard will share perspectives from Brierley Associates’ abandoned mine lands work. The presentation will consider how historical records, existing geologic information, and practical AML experience can help agencies and other stakeholders identify sites where reclamation priorities may intersect with future interest in critical minerals.
The Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District provides a useful example of how legacy mining areas can be viewed through both reclamation and resource-potential lenses. The presentation is intended to encourage informed discussion about abandoned mine sites, critical minerals, and the role that AML programs may play as these districts receive renewed attention.
Jarek Trela, PhD and David Hibbard, CPG, PG, will present this paper at the upcoming National Association of Abandoned Mine Lands Programs (NAAMLP) at 11:30 am on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026