The Choate Mine, the largest of the chromite mines still visible.

The serpentine barrens are still recovering from the fires from two years ago.

Magnesium rich serpentine barren soil means that the ecosystem here is very specialized. Indigenous peoples used fire to drive wildlife into traps, and keep the savannah grassy. A lot of the barren in modern times has been taken over by invasive Virginia pine.

One of the smaller chromite pits. The serpentine glistens in the late afternoon sun, but that doesn't show up so well in this photo.

Today's #Hike9 of the #52HikesChallenge was at Soldier's Delight NEA. I was going to do the Choate Mine Trail. There was still ice beyond the big mine, so I did the usual Serpentine Trail across the serpentine barren, then went up the opposite end of the mine trail for the smaller pits. #ParkChat