Prince William Forest Park in Dumfries in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Pyrite Mine
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
"Before I will give you another penny, I will let the shafts fill up with water and the frogs jump in," the mine superintendent told workers who were seeking a raise of 50 cents per day. Unbeknownst to the workers, a cheaper but higher grade of pyrite had been discovered in Spain. So, the superintendent shut down the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine that was located here along the Quantico Creek.
From 1889 to 1919, miners from nearby communities used dynamite to extract pyrite from shafts more than 1,000 feet below the surface. The ore was mined for its sulfur, which industries used to make soap, fertilizer, paper, medicines, and explosives.
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In 1919 miners received $3.50 to $4.25 per day. Some of their pay consisted of coupons redeemable only at the company store.
The Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine consisted of more than 70 buildings and had 250 employees.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 38° 34.636′ N, 77° 21.153′ W. Marker is in Dumfries, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is in Prince William Forest Park.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Reclaiming the Land (approx. Ό mile away); Old Cabin Branch / Clarkson School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Little Union Baptist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Little Union Baptist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pyrite Mine Road (approx. 0.7 miles away); Mary Bird Branch Trail (approx. 1.1 miles away); White Oak (approx. 1.2 miles away); Eastern Red Cedar (approx. 1.2 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on September 30, 2025, by N. Jozsa of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 12, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
