» Native American Burial Ground
» Hernando DeSoto & USA's oldest city
» I.W. Wright - Cave's Oldest Grafitti
» First Recorded Cave in US history

Ida Mathis's Onyx Mining Venture

Onyx mining in DeSoto Caverns
In 1912, the caverns were purchased by Mrs. Ida Mathis and a number of friends with the idea of mining the cave for its abundant onyx (a colorful semi-precious stone). Mrs. Mathis was a well- known celebrity throughout Alabama - one of the few nationally recognized women of her time. She traveled throughout the United States giving lectures on crop rotation to farmers and was a  respected political figure in Washington DC as well as Alabama.  

Studies were made and the caverns proved to be a "gold mine" of onyx. All the partners expected to become millionaires from the mining operation. However, Mexican Onyx became popular about this time, and labor costs in Mexico were very low. More extensive studies of the caverns showed that the onyx was not of uniform high grade for mass production. Disappointed, the partners did not pursue their mining interests and the cave lay dormant for several years following.