Fern Hill Barrens
Description
Fern Hill Barrens lies along a serpentine ridge on the north side of West Chester. Grasslands in the western part are conserved by the North Hill Civic Association. Three large quarries in the south face of the ridge, bordering the West Chester bypass, were used for building stone. The eastern part of the ridge formerly belonged to the Graystone Estate. It is now the property of West Goshen Township and is being preserved.
Marshallton Barrens
Description
The Marshallton Barrens is a small remnant barrens to the east of Marshallton. It has no known mining history. The flora was described by Francis W. Pennell in the early twentieth century, but it must have been well-known to early Chester County botanists. Humphry Marshall lived in Marshallton, and evidently raised fameflower from these barrens in his botanic garden.
Pink Hill Barrens
Description
Pink Hill Barrens represents the remains of the "Barrens of Middletown", which once stretched further south towards Lima. There is no known mining history. This is the only ecologically intact serpentine grassland in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and takes its name from the moss-pink of the grasslands, which turned the hillside pink when it bloomed. Extensive efforts have been made over the past few years to remove successional forest and restore a larger area to serpentine grassland.
Brintons Quarry Barrens
Description
The quarries here were opened in the early eighteenth century, and during the late nineteenth century, they supplied most of the serpentine stone used in the eastern United States for architectural purposes. After quarrying was largely abandoned in 1900, the flooded quarries were used for swimming and an organized swimming association ultimately bought the property.
Unionville Barrens
Description
From 1825 until about 1892, masses of corundum were mined at the site to be used as an abrasive. Feldspar pegmatites were also quarried here, as well as a small amount of chromite from the Baily Mine, and one quarry was worked for serpentine stone.
Chrome Barrens
Description
Also known as the "White Barrens", Isaac Tyson carried out extensive placer mining in this area during the nineteenth century. One parcel along Barrens Road, known as "Upper Chrome", is owned by Elk Township and managed by the Nature Conservancy. To the south, "Lower Chrome" is owned by the Nature Conservancy.
Goat Hill Barrens
Description
Goat Hill Barrens, though large, acquired that name comparatively recently. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, residents of Rising Sun seem to have referred to it by the unflattering, if accurate, appellation of "Tick Ridge". In botanical labels, "below Lees Bridge" is usually used. Mining at Goat Hill began as early as 1820, producing magnesite for the manufacture of Epsom salts. They closed in 1871, although sporadic attempts to reopen them were made as late as 1921.