Not only coal was mined in Southern Illinois

https://hardincountyindependentillinois.com/2017/06/22/fluorspar-miners-memorial-ceremony-a-day-of-honor-for-miners-and-families/

ROSICLARE, IL-  (Julie Lane – Hardin County Independent.  Please click on the link for the story.)

NOTE:   When you hear of “the mines” here in Franklin County or even in the Southeastern part of the state most of your minds probably think of coal.

There was a time the fluorspar mines in Hardin County were booming.  It was the driving force of the local economy.

The “spar” mines began to struggle around the same time the coal industry began to struggle here in Franklin County.

The link is a pictorial view of a festival in Rosiclare last weekend, as well as a tutorial about fluorspar mining.