The Norton Mine operations began in the early 1940's as a raw material source of limestone. Mining operations ceased in 1976. PPG has maintained the mine since 1976. PPG would like to sell their interest in the mine. Approximately 338 million cubic feet of material has been extracted from the mine. The mine is within the Columbus Limestone. The limestone is described as a gray to bluish gray, partly crystalline limestone bedded in various thickness', separated by 11 major partings of shale varying in thickness from trace to over one inch in thickness. There are 15 horizontal bands of cherty nodules within the mined interval with the majority of these bands concentrated in the upper layers of stone. The limestone is reported to be absent of secondary permeability features, such as joints or fractures. The mine is below the water table, which is at a depth of about 18 feet below ground surface. The mine is dry.

Norton Mine is approximately 2,200 feet below the ground surface and covers an area of about 7,000 feet by 4,000 feet (7,763 acres). Access into the mine is through one of the two mineshafts. Both shafts were constructed in 1940. The shafts consist of a surface collar to a depth of 550 feet and have a 16 feet by 7 feet clear opening. The depth of Shaft #1 is 2,323 feet below ground surface. The depth of Shaft #2 is 2,258 feet below ground surface.

The Norton Mine is a system of rooms and pillars. Initially, the rooms and entries were on 80-foot centers with entry dimensions of 28 feet wide by 25 feet high and room dimensions of 40 feet wide by 50 feet high. The actual room heights ended up being about 46 feet. Subsequently, the entry and room configurations were on 75-foot centers with both room and entry widths of 32 feet.

Norton Project Site Cavern Layout

Image by CAES Development Company, LLC