Underground Coal Mines of Centerville, Iowa and Vicinity Mine Related Problems and Subsidence Potential, 1986

Extensive underground mining occurred in the Centerville area, Appanoose County, Iowa between 1850 and 1971. Coal production was exclusively from the Mystic Coal Member of the Labette Shale (Pennsylvanian). Both longwall and room-and-pillar mining methods were utilized with the longwall method being the predominant type. Although both crater and trough subsidence have occurred in other areas of Iowa with known underground mining, the Centerville area has relatively few reported mine-related problems, despite extensive undermining. A map of all coal mines which could be located was compiled for Centerville and the surrounding area using available mine maps and other information