Description

Soldiers Delight is a massive, well-tended serpentine grassland, the largest in Maryland. Placer mining for chromite started here in 1822. Isaac Tyson subsequently opened deep mines for massive chromite ore in 1827. They were worked by him and his successors until about 1880. The mines were reopened with marginal success during World War I and a little production of chromite continued until 1928.

Description

Also referred to as "Piney Barrens", Travilah represents the southernmost serpentine vegetative community in the mid-Atlantic. Across the Potomac, serpentine does not reappear until Buck Creek and Burks Mountain in North Carolina and Georgia, which have comparatively distinct and very rich serpentine flora, including endemics. Travilah Barrens lacks significant grassland openings, but has maintained a scrub-oak dominated forest perhaps since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Description

The name "Bald Hill" dates to at least 1878 (and probably much earlier) and undoubtedly refers to the historical presence of serpentine barrens. However, open vegetation is now limited to the powerline right-of-way. There was no known mining in the serpentine here, although flint was quarried nearby and a small feldspar quarry was opened to the west of Flintville Road.

Description

A small serpentine grassland maintained as a meadow hosts several characteristic species.

Visiting

The Northbrook Serpentine Meadow is private and should not be visited.

History

Rock Springs is a large and relatively well-watered serpentine barrens complex. At one time, the barrens vegetation was more or less continuous south along the Conowingo Creek as far as Pilot Barrens. The area was the site of deep chrome mines and iron ore mining. The property passed through the hands of the Nature Conservancy and then to the Lancaster Conservancy, the present owner. The area was scraped and burned before the property transfer, but it has undergone rapid regrowth of Virginia pine and at present is largely forested, with a few small grassland openings.

Description

Also known as "Soapstone Hill". Very little is known about this barrens, which is overgrown with red cedar. Some serpentine vegetation may have been preserved in a powerline right-of-way.

Mining

Brown's Mine produced a small amount of massive chromite ore.

Visiting

This barrens is privately owned and should not be visited.

Description

This area was also referred to as the "Pine Grove Barrens" for a nearby schoolhouse. Several chrome mines were worked in the area. Its name comes from a rural airport, now defunct. The site has become a juniper woodland, although serpentine species remain in the understory.

Visiting

Oxford Airport Barrens is owned by Herr Farms and should not be visited without permission.