The great ancient copper mines of michigan greater ancestors. Mining can also include other things like oil and natural gas. Though the company produced little copper, it was the first serious american mining attempt. From primitive, cumbersome mining methods to compact, efficient modernday equipment, copper mining has become a costeffective, efficient process. Miners left a pollution trail in the great lakes 6000 years ago. Mining of copper ores is carried out using one of two methods. Copper mining in the area started as early as 7,000 years ago. Jan 10, 20 what if i were to tell you that there were people here much earlier than that, possibly from europe mining copper for the bronze age.
The copper rush was the nations first mineral boom. The discovery of developable copper deposits in the far western end of lake superior in the 1840s and the publicity given to them by the work of douglass houghton initiated the first great mining boom or rush in u. The shipping of michigan copper across the atlantic in the bronze age isle royale and keweenaw peninsula, c. Copper mining in the upper peninsula boomed, and from 1845 until 1887 when it was exceeded by butte, montana the michigan copper country was the nations leading producer of copper. Mar 25, 2014 the keweenaw peninsula of michigan has been nationally famous for over 100 years for its history of highly productive copper mining. Carbon dating of wood timbers in the pits has dated the mining to start about 2450 bc and end abruptly at 1200 bc. Mine headframes and structures of michigan michigan has four major metallic mining ranges, the copper country mining district of keweenaw, houghton, ontonagon counties and some explorations in gogebic, the marquette iron range of marquette and baraga counties, the menominee iron range of dickinson and iron counties, and the gogebic iron range of gogebic county extending. Copper mines in ancient north america expanded perspectives. An underground copper mine consisting of two shafts and four adits located approx. It is a major industrial metal because of its high ductility, malleability, thermal and electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion. Miners left a pollution trail in the great lakes 6000. Usmining provides information on mines, operators, and minerals mined in michigan. Michigan copper mines us mining has mines, mining companies. The area is full of other fun things to do near by, from hiking the porcupine mountains to relaxing on the beautiful sandy beaches of.
Conduct a prefeasibility study to determine the theoretical economics of the ore deposit. Caledonia mine is set in the side of a mountain overlooking the beautiful valley of the flint steel river. All mining of native metallic copper ceased in the up in 1969. The report includes general geological analysis of the keweenaw area, but also provides production and dividend information for all michigan copper mines to the date of publication. Underground mining is, however, relatively expensive and is. Originally designed to provide investor information for michigan copper mines. Officially, no one knows where the michigan copper went. Curiously, however, the use and mining of copper were unknown to the tribes in this region when the europeans came to the great lakes in. Michigan copper mining, copper mine companies, mine owners and mine information. Us mining provides information on mines, operators, and minerals mined in michigan. This paper points out some of the major elements of misstatement and myth revealed.
The english attempted to industrialize mining in the 1700s but were ineffective. Underground mining is achieved by sinking shafts to the appropriate levels and then driving horizontal tunnels, called adits, to reach the ore. Recent scientific literature has come to the conclusion that the major source of the copper that swept through the european bronze age after 2500 bc is unknown. A marquette tour guide tells us about copper mining in the upper peninsula which dates back 7,000 years at the porcupine mountains and keweenaw peninsula. The majority of early mining took place along a 100mile section land that reached from keweenaw to houghton. Dec 31, 2016 mining continued throughout the early to mid20th century, reaching its height in 1916, when michigan produced over 250 million pounds of copper in one year. A placard in londons british museum bronze age axe exhibit says. Within the state of michigan, copper is found almost exclusively in the western portion of the upper peninsula, in an area known as the copper country.
Copper minerals and ores are found in both igneous and sedimentary rocks. Around 1,000 ad mining was restarted and lasted until 1,320 ad. The michigan tech archives includes the copper country historical collection which has thousands of digitized photographs and other documents pertaining to copper mining and processing, the mining cities and towns, and the melting pot of people who lived there during the mining era. The basic extraction of ore deposits follows these steps. The advancements made in mining equipment, such as those achieved at general kinematics, along with mining technology progress have resulted in growth and production in the copper mining industry.
Dolomite, a mineral, can be found in 18 different counties in michigan. Operations continued until 1871, when caledonia and the flinsteel copper co. More than 9,000,000,000 pounds of copper was mined in michigan to the end of 1838 and copper has enriched the people of the state to the extent of one and onequarter billion dollars. In the keweenaw, the entire peninsula was clearcut and used by the mining industry. More than 9,000,000,000 pounds of copper was mined in michigan to the end of 1838 and copper has enriched. Flickrupnorthmemories as modernization continued throughout the states, the mines slowly lost their influence in the area. Between 1845 and 1887, michigan was the national leader in copper production.
The interesting thing about the michigan copper deposits is that the copper occurs as free or native copper in the rock. July 2016 visit to the michigan keweenaw copper country duration. Evidence shows that someone was mining copper in northern michigan starting around 5,300 bc. The keweenaw peninsula of michigan has been nationally famous for over 100 years for its history of highly productive copper mining.
Michigans copper deposits were remarkable for their quality and purity. Mining in mi has been an important industry of mi for over 150 years, and we hope it remains one. From 1845 to 1877, michigan s keweenaw peninsula mines produced more native copper ore than any other mining area in north america. Mining continued throughout the early to mid20th century, reaching its height in 1916, when michigan produced over 250 million pounds of copper in one year. The mine is easy to reach, a 20 minute drive from ontonagon, michigan. In 1843, before the western gold rush of the 49ers, thousands came to the copper country to try their luck. The state of our knowledge about ancient copper mining in michigan the michigan archaeologist 4123. The quantity of michigan s native copper was unsurpassed in the world. Michigan copper was found among native americans as far south as the gulf of mexico and from the rockies to the alleghenies. Listed below are some very interesting and rarely known facts about copper. The local basalt is crisscrossed with many thick veins of native copper that made up the main ore of many of the mines.
Arizonas copper production was 60% of the total for the united states. Located near eagle harbor at the town of copper falls. Apr 05, 2017 t he old copper mine entrances dotting the hills of michigans remote keweenaw peninsula suggest a geological precariousness. Collecting copper in michigans copper country where to. The mine was the first michigan copper mine to switch from fissure mining to amygdaloid mining, when the recently discovered pewabic amygdaloid lode was found to cross quincy property in 1856. Scientists find evidence of ancient copper mining in polluted lake sediments from isle royale national park. While copper was originally mined by native americans around the year 5000 bce, michigan s mine rush began in the mid 1800s. Michigan silver mining, silver mine companies, mine owners and mine information. Mining things from the ground is called extraction. Timeline of michigan copper mining prehistory to 1850. Houghton is at the center of the copper country and the home of michigan technological university. Michigan silver mines us mining has mines, mining companies. All the ancient copper culture tools that have been found could have been manufactured from just one of the large boulders.
T he old copper mine entrances dotting the hills of michigans remote keweenaw peninsula suggest a geological precariousness. Mining can include extraction of metals and minerals, like coal, diamond, gold, silver, platinum, copper, tin and iron. Archeoligists have found copper drain pipes from 3,500 bc and before. Timeline of michigan copper mining 1851 to 1900 keweenaw. Martin 1995 abstract popular literature contributes to the persistence of fantasy and mythology surrounding ancient copper mining in michigan. It left the area with the nickname the copper country. Copper mining also produces gold and silver as byproducts. Until 1982, us penny was made from 95% copper and 5% zinc. Bands of native copper were contained in outcrops 2 to 8 miles wide and of varying depth. Some mines have entire forests worth of old growth trees holding up the ceiling.
Guide to researching michigan copper mining companies. Prospecting or exploration to find and then define the extent and value of ore where it is located ore body conduct resource estimation to mathematically estimate the size and grade of the deposit. Solid natural masses of copper weighing hundreds of pounds were found with relative. The copper country explorer focuses on the heritage of. The copper country is highly unusual among copper mining districts, because copper is predominantly found in the form of pure copper metal native copper rather than the copper oxides or copper sulfides that form the copper ore at almost every. Mining is the process of mining stuff out of the ground. The 8th annual conference of the mining history association was held in houghton, michigan, june 58, 1997. Highgrade fissure veins contained large, pure masses of copper, but the masses could take days or even months to extract, at high cost. Take a look at our new online version of copper facts and learn more about this incredible, versatile metal.
Dec 18, 2008 a marquette tour guide tells us about copper mining in the upper peninsula which dates back 7,000 years at the porcupine mountains and keweenaw peninsula. Copper got its name from the word cuprum, which is the latin name of cyprus, the largest site of copper mining during the time of roman empire. In most years from 1850 through 1881, michigan produced more than threequarters of the nations copper, and in 1869 produced more than 95% of the countrys copper. These photos from the michigan technological university archives and copper country historical collections, j. Timeline of michigan copper mining prehistory to 1850 coltons 1872 lake superior map partial serpent artifact made of lake superior copper found at effigy mounds national monument, iowa.
However, in all time production, from 1845 to the present time, the michigan copper mining district is exceeded only by the butte, montana district in total quantity of copper mined. Here are 11 fascinating photos of michigans copper mining. Mining in the united states has been active since the beginning of colonial times, but became a major industry in the 19th century with a number of new mineral discoveries causing a series of mining rushes. Michigan copper in the mediterranean graham hancock. Currently, arizona leads the nation in copper production. In most years from 1850 through 1881, michigan produced more than threequarters of the nations copper. Copper mining in arizona, a state of the united states, has been a major industry since the 19th century. Copper mining in the united states has been a major industry since the rise of the northern michigan copper district in the 1840s. What if i were to tell you that there were people here much earlier than that, possibly from europe mining copper for the bronze age. The pittsburgh and boston mining company begins mining near copper harbor. These easily mined copper deposits have been greatly exhausted, and michigan s last copper mine closed in october 1995. Here are 11 fascinating photos of michigans copper mining past. Vanpelt library, in some cases, where noted, prints from original negatives that would be better resolution than screen image are available from the library archives. Michigans valuable industry mining in michigan has been one of the states most valuable industries for over 150 years.
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