Panning for gemstones or just looking forward to a relaxing picnic under pine trees?

This train ride experience has everything you need for an adventurous day out! A journey on the Historic Train provides not only stunning views of the Delaware River but also an insightful glimpse into the fascinating history of The Susquehanna Mining Company.

What We Offer:

• Mine Train Ride Experience Along the Delaware River for One Child (ages 3-12)

• Mine Train Ride Experience Along the Delaware River for One Adult (ages 13+)

Trips are available at 10:00am, 12:00pm, and 2:00pm on the following dates:

• June 29-30
• July 6-7
• July 13-14
• July 20-21
• July 27-28
• August 3-4
• August 10-11

The Mine Train

For the Mine Train, you will board the River Train and debark at "Snyders" station. This is the site of The Susquehanna Mining Company as well as our Corn Maze. You will have two hours on site. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch as we have a beautiful picnic area under the pine trees. Light snacks and drinks are available in the gift shop.

At The Mine, you will learn the hilarious and tragic history of the mine. One lucky miner will actually push the plunger and blow the mine! After the short tour, each Miner will be presented with a basic bag of mining "rough". We will teach you to pan for real gemstones you can take home!

On-site we also have the Mine Store with a great selection of gifts and minerals.

Placer Mining

The Susquehanna Mining Company is a Placer Mine. Placer mining is the mining of stream bed (alluvial) deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit (also called open-cast mining) or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment. Placer mining is frequently used for precious metal deposits (particularly gold) and gemstones, both of which are often found in alluvial deposits—deposits of sand and gravel in modern or ancient stream beds, or occasionally glacial deposits. The metal or gemstones, having been moved by stream flow from an original source such as a vein, are typically only a minuscule portion of the total deposit. Since gems and heavy metals like gold are considerably denser than sand, they tend to accumulate at the base of placer deposits. Placer deposits can be as young as a few years old, such as the Canadian Queen Charlotte beach gold placer deposits, or billions of years old like the Elliot Lake uranium paleoplacer within the Huronian Supergroup in Canada. The containing material in an alluvial placer mine may be too loose to safely mine by tunneling, though it is possible where the ground is permanently frozen. Where water under pressure is available, it may be used to mine, move, and separate the precious material from the deposit, a method known as hydraulic mining, hydraulic sluicing, or hydraulicking.

The Picnic Area

Feel free to make the most of your stay. You will be on-site for one and a half hours so there is plenty of time for a nice picnic! We have a beautiful picnic grove under three gigantic pine trees just adjacent to the mining activity and Mine Store gift shop.

For Your Entertainment

You will be at the mine site for almost two hours. Don't worry, there is plenty to do. You can buy specialty and upgraded bags of mine rough (ore) and pan for rubies and gems. You will be amazed at what you find!

Crack a Geode! We have geodes for sale from small to extra large. We will show you how to crack them yourself to see the amazing crystals inside.

Feel like playing a game? We have GIANT checkers, Tether Ball, Horseshoes, and Corn Hole boards for you to use, all free of charge. Our on-site gift shop has snacks and sodas, but we suggest bringing a picnic lunch as there is a beautiful picnic grove at the Mine. Come spend a relaxing and fun afternoon in the country!

Susquehanna Mining Company Store - Gift Shop

Also, at the store, you may buy additional bags of mining "rough". We have upgraded Gem Bags, Fossil Bags, as well as our famous "Mother Load" (10 pounds) and "Mega Strike" (20 pounds) bags!

Why You Should Grab the Offer:

The Mine Train Ride offers an unbeatable combination of history, fun, and education that makes it stand out from typical day trips. Riding along the beautiful Delaware River provides picturesque views you won't forget. Once at Snyder's station, there's a two-hour adventure waiting including learning about placer mining and trying your hand at gem panning – it's like stepping back into time! Plus, there are fun activities like cracking open geodes to find stunning crystals inside or playing giant checkers under majestic pine trees. It's a perfect way to spend quality time outdoors while enjoying hands-on experiences that are both entertaining and informative.

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