View of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I) Big Mine Tipple.

The mine portal was located on Gibson Ridge above the tipple.

Coke ovens are located to the left of the tipple.

The site of the Big Mine Tipple is now the location of the Big Mine Park and Ice Arena.

The history of the Big Mine and the coke ovens are presented in the interpretive signs.

Portions of the coke ovens are incorporated into the landscaping of the Big Mine ice arena and the adjacent Big Mine Skate Park.

Big Mine Skate Park.

The Crested Butte Museum

Mounted in the ceiling of the museum are two religiously inspired ceremonial flags.

The European tradition of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners, was brought to Crested Butte by immigrant miners.

Click Here to see a video of the town model and train layout with the Big Mine and coke ovens (left) in action.

(Left) Both anthracite and bituminous coal were produced in the mines at Crested Butte and along Slate Creek to the west of town.

Following the museum tour, Dr. Duane Vandenbusche, Emeritus Professor of History from Colorado Western University, presented a lecture on the history on mining in Crested Butte.

EXPLORING ANTHRACITE MINING ALONG SLATE CREEK

WITH JOHNNY AND DAWN JOHNSSON

Johnny and Dawn Johnsson took the opportunity for a DIY visit to the once booming coal mining and beneficiation area west of Crested Butte.  The massive coal breaker shown below once processed anthracite at the Floresta (AKA Ruby-Anthracite) mining camp.

Floresta Anthracite Breaker. (CF&I Steelworks Archive, Pueblo, CO Photo)

Today, the area west of Crested Butte along the appropriately named Slate Creek contains only a few traces of the once booming anthracite mining industry.

Johnny confirms it really is anthracite.  He should know it.  He and Dawn organized the 2005 MHA conference in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

(Above) Looks like a beaver has created a small dam and a pond in a stream running through the wastes from a coal breaker.

(Right) Scattered remains are all that remain at this mining and processing site now being reclaimed by Mother Nature. Can anyone identify what it is?