English: Exhausted historical Maramec Open Iron Mine in Maramec Spring Park, Missouri, US. The red color of the soil shows the presence of iron. The soil was used as warpaint by Shawnee Indians before setting up the iron works.
The surface of the deposit was 528 ft wide as noted by Nathanial Cook in 1823. The main body was 225 ft in diameter and approximately 80 ft deep and located just below the surface. The mine was in operation for 50 years, during which approximately 375,000 tons of iron ore were removed. Wagons were loaded with 5 tons of iron ore which were then pulled by two yoke of oxen or a team of four mules to the furnace area. The furnace would use between twelve and thirty tons of iron per dat, depending of weather and furnace condition. In the closing years of the Iron Works the wages had more than doubled and the miners were earning between $1.50 and $1.75 per day.
--From Maramec Iron Mine Self-Guided Walking Tour pamphlet