The Plum Run Chert Quarries

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Investigation into the Plum Run Chert Quarries

Alliance, Ohio - Mahoning County

The following photos are of my visit to the quarry sites in '96.

The Plum Run Chert Quarries are located in section 31 of Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio. In the Southwest quarter section outcrops of this chert and the lower laying bed portion are exposed. Quarry debitage is amply found on the eroded till banks. The bed, proportional to that of the Upper Mercer deposit, is about six to twelve inches in thickness. A three to six inch layer of high quality material is found nearer the central portion of the bed, surrounded by two distinct layers of low grade chert. No fossil or quartz inclusions were observed in quarry specimens or the actual bed deposit. Nodular forms of this material do demonstrate quartz deposits on the outer surface but, rarely within the internal portion. Freshly fractured sections are a dark gray to a black - dark blue. Weathered specimens have a brown earthy coloration on the outer surface, from the large amounts of iron in the make up of this stone. Some specimens have a coloration of brown to dark blue demonstrating this property. Heat alteration on quarry debitage and shatter is rare on site, most heated pieces show potliding and/or color change. Most debitage can be classified as primary shatter and decortication flakes but, secondary re-sharpeners were also observed. .Click here if you want to view a JPG of the bed outcrop.

This material is found in Mahoning and Stark Counties and appears to be a local one foot thick sheet of high-grade material (Murphy and Blank, 1970). Found in the Vanport flint bed, Plum Run and Flint Ridge flint share in common characteristics. This bed in the northeastern portion of our state, if as asserted by Magrath (3:36) is close to the Kittanning coal strata, therefore being of the Vanport formation. Stout and Schoenlaub (111: 59) note occurrences of Upper Mercer in the area but no quarries were mentioned. Plum Run Chert is dull brown or tan with tints of soft pink, mauve or yellow. Also, found in colors of off-white to translucent black, it forms in nodules and in sheets (personal communication Noble, Sugarcreek Chapter ASO).

.Click here if you want to view a JPG of the topography.

Plum Run Chert, found in abundance, is the major lithic material in the proximal area. This material is commonly green, yellow, tan, or a mix of all these colors. When weathered it turns to a mauve - purple color, when heated it is common to have potlids and a red veining in the fractures. The Plum Run deposits were not a major source of chert for aboriginals, its use being confined to a few counties around the quarry area.

The ruins of the former Alliance Block plant now comprises the territory once occupied by the original quarry site. The construction of this plant in 1906 led to the destruction and loss of the majority of the archaeological remains surrounding the site. In the 1900’s the area was mined for clay to make "Speedway" paving bricks.

Links to my other pages

Michael's Home Page
My research on microwear formation on stone tools.
Michael's Scrawl Wall !!!
Stone Technology
The Center for American Archeology.
My investigation into The Upper Mercer Chert Quarries
Archaeology Toons
My Autobiography
Jazzy - My collection of awesome Jazz Midi files :-)

Links to other archaeology and stone technology sites

Knappers Anonymous
Lithics Net: a great guide to North American Projectile Points
Jason Hanna's web site features his Personal Collection of artifacts found in Ohio.
SARC - Stone Age Reference Collection

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