The Mines and Minerals of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a recently published book by FM member Ron Sloto, provides a comprehensive description of the mining history and mineralogy of the county. It pulls together over 300 years of mining and mineral history under one cover. It is richly illustrated with 400 figures — old and new photographs, old maps, mine plans, and photographs of minerals from museum, university, and private collections. Many of the old photographs have never been published before. This book describes nearly 175 mines and mineral localities. It includes the known history of each mine and locality and a list of reported minerals. The locations are shown on a set of USGS topographic maps. Because many of the mines had several names over the course of their history, a comprehensive cross-index is provided. An extensive bibliography also is included.
Ninety-one different mineral species have been reported from Bucks County. Extensive coverage is provided for the two most prolific mineral localities in the county-the New Galena lead mines in New Britain Township and Vanartsdalen’s quarry in Lower Southampton Township. Many of the past mineral industries in Bucks County, such as lime burning and production of paving blocks, are described.