This footage from the 1920s captures the Freeport Sulphur Company, now known as Freeport-McMoRan Inc., mining sulfur at what is most likely the Bryan Mound salt dome in Brazoria County. Opening in 1912, the mine was the first to employ the Frasch process in Texas. As partly seen in the film, the method extracts sulfur from underground deposits through pumping superheating water into the dome, melting the element. Next, hot air is injected in order to push the molten sulfur to the surface. Then, the sulfur mixture is discharged into bins, where it hardens into large blocks. Finally, explosives are used to break up the sulfur for distribution. The original operation closed in 1935 after producing five million tons of sulfur. The Bryan Mound Complex is now used to store crude oil reserves.

Brazoria County Freeport

TFC Story Sloane Story Sloane, III Freeport Brazoria County Freeport Harbor harbor crane beach coast shore sand dig digging machinery waterway Gulf Coast backhoe bulldozer wave waves construction ladder trade boat boats ship ships shipping navigable inland bay bays transportation barge barges 1920s Brazos River Gulf of Mexico Brazos River Harbor Navigation District

diversion channel diversion channel Federal aid river dam silt shoaling depth Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Dredging Co. Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Dredging Co. dredge dredging tide highway bridge levee levees flood prevent prevention Freeport Sulphur Co. sulphur cargo tonnage vat vats explosives charge fired train tracks rail railway railroad lumber demolition nitrate nitrate film

nitrate decomposition Freeport Sulphur Company Frasch process Frasch method sulfur