The slope mines built near the ridge of Red Mountain were depleting the most accessible parts of the Clinton formation ore seams.
[2] A 163 feet (50 m) tall headframe was erected over the shaft to operate two hoists, one for ore skips and another for men and materials, riding in double-decker cages.
The miners' bath house, designed to accommodate a work force of 500, contained a rack system so that clothes buckets could be suspended out of reach near the ceiling.
The ore was originally loaded onto trains on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad for delivery to area iron and steel furnaces, but later was trucked to Woodward No.
When the mine reached a thrust fault which would have required enormous efforts to overcome, the decision was made to cease operations.