Dendrochronological dating of coal mine workings at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Nova Scotia, Canada

Researchers used dendrochronology to date timber pit props from relic coal mine workings at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, revealing two distinct phases of mining activity between 1849 and 1875. The study identified that most adits (1-9 and 11-12) were part of an initial operation by the General Mining Association, with cut dates ranging from 1849 to 1868, while others (10 and 13-14) likely belonged to a later mine opened by the Joggins Coal Mining Company in 1873-1875. The findings align with archival records and suggest that timber stockpiled from an earlier mine may have been used in the construction of the initial operation. This study enhances our understanding of the industrial archaeology at this UNESCO World Heritage Site and refines the regional red spruce chronology for future dendrochronological studies.

Quann, S. L., Young, A. B., Laroque, C. P., Falcon-Lang, H. J., & Martin, G. R. (2010). Dendrochronological dating of coal mine workings at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Nova Scotia, Canada. Atlantic Geology, 46, 185–194. https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2010.011