Most familiar barium deposits of the coalfield, it was first described as early as 1900. Two workable deposits were discovered, with the eastern one being mined for barytes between 1904 and 1921 before reopening in 1940. The western deposit began production in 1938, and the majority of barium mineral production thereafter came from this area. Reported production until closure in 1955 totaled 221,659 tons, with only a small percentage being of witherite.