Minerals Minerals played an important role in the history of southern Illinois and are still important today. The Great Salt Spring attracted people and animals to the area for centuries. A visit to the Illinois Iron Furnace, restored in 1967 by the Golconda Job Corps, will take you back to the mid-1800's, when more than nine tons of pig iron was produced per day. Minerals mined today include fluorspar and tripoli. Fluorspar is used in common products such as toothpaste and fire extinguishers.
Tripoli is used in paints and as an abrasive.
Coal, important in the past and present economy of southern Illinois, lies mainly north of the forest. Lake Glendale and Pounds Hollow are the only beaches where lifeguards are provided and a fee is charged in the National Forest. Camping and Picnicing Camping here in the Shawnee is fun, whether you like to rough it or prefer conveniences. Pitch a tent or park a trailer for a modest fee in one of 13 developed campgrounds. Most have drinking water, restrooms, tables and grills or fire rings.