Iron

The Adirondack iron industry reached its peak in the late 1880s. During World War II, iron mines increased their production but the boom didn’t last. Many factors, including the cost of transporting iron out of the Adirondacks, forced companies to close their mines. Iron is no longer mined in the Adirondacks.

Other Minerals

Other mining industries also faded in the 20th century. Graphite was mined in the Ticonderoga area until the 1920s. Feldspar was mined in the eastern Adirondacks until 1950. Three pyrite mines operated in the western section of the region until the 1920s. Zinc was mined in the Balmat zinc mine. Titanium, once considered an impurity in iron ore, was mined at Tahawus by National Lead until the 1980s.

Adirondack Mines in the 21st Century

Today only a handful of companies continue to mine within the Blue Line and northern New York. Barton continues to mine and mill garnet at their Adirondack operations. NYCO Minerals, Inc. mines wollastonite at their Willsboro operation in Essex County. Talc is mined in the Gouverneur region.