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Marion County was once one of the largest coal producers in the state of Iowa. Unfortunately, in the early days of open pit mining, a lot of the land used was not returned to its original state, leaving large holes in the Earth. For this reason, mine reclamation projects are being completed across the county, including the Goff Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation project southeast of Knoxville. The Mines and Minerals Bureau of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is holding an open house type event at the site on June 23rd. The event will include brief presentations on coal mining and the history of the site followed by a tour of the construction so visitors can take a look at what is being accomplished. The Goff mine reclamation is located at Oregon Drive and 170th Ave.

