The copper district of Keweenaw Point, in the northern peninsula of Michigan, is the second largest producer of copper in the world.
Where is copper found in Michigan?
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.
Is there any copper left in Michigan?
Today, two iron mines remain active in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—the Tilden Mine and the Empire Mine, both in the Marquette Range. Industrial copper mining began in the 1860s. During the earlier years of the copper mining era, Michigan produced up to 90 percent of the nation’s copper.
Where is copper most likely found?
The largest copper mine is found in Utah (Bingham Canyon). Other major mines are found in Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico and Montana. In South America, Chile, the world’s largest producer, and Peru are both major producers of copper.
Does Michigan have gold?
Records available at the US Forest Service in Cadillac indicate that gold has been found in over 100 places in Michigan. Gold has been discovered in 27 of 68 counties in the Lower Peninsula and 6 of 15 counties in the UP. Remember, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is an ancient, rugged land.
What is float copper worth?
The weight of the float copper is estimated at [26.6 tons, or 53,100 pounds (24,085kgs)]. Copper nuggets from the upper Michigan Peninsula generally have a copper purity of 90% to 97%. So, using a purity of only 90% copper by weight, the copper specimen has a current conservative metal value estimate of $101,000!
Where can I mine in Michigan?
Download coordinates as: KML
| Name | County | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Alabastine Mine | Kent | gypsum |
| Arcadian mine | Houghton | copper |
| Atlantic Mine | Houghton | copper |
| Calcite quarry | Presque Isle | limestone |
Are there abandoned mines in Michigan?
Michigan Abandoned Underground Mines
The inventory project reports were finalized in early 1999, and consist of two parts, an inventory of all of the Abandoned Underground Mines and a report of those locations needing safety remedies.
How long does it take for copper ore to form?
The development stage usually takes 4-12 years to open an ore deposit for production, and may cost anywhere from $1 million to over $1 billion to complete depending on the type of mine. Development involves extensive pre-development planning and paperwork.
How can you tell if a rock is copper?
In addition, search for rocks that are green or pieces of ore that have green flecks. The green hue is characteristic of copper. Remove samples of the rocks and take them back to the lab for testing. If the rocks have a high part per million count of copper, then you may have found a copper deposit.
What rocks contain copper?
Copper is found in many minerals that occur in deposits large enough to mine. These include: azurite, malachite, chalcocite, acantite, chalcopyrite and bornite. Most copper comes from chalcopyrite. The world’s leading producer of copper is Chile, followed by the U.S. and Peru.
What rocks is copper found in?
Copper minerals and ores are found in both igneous and sedimentary rocks.
Are diamonds found in Michigan?
More than 20 kimberlites have been discovered since 1971, and these post- Ordovician intrusions follow a general northwest trend through Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee Counties from Crystal Falls to Hermansville. Many kimberlites in Northern Michigan contain diamonds, while some appear to be barren.
What rivers in Michigan have gold in them?
Placer gold exists in the low water gravels along the Boyne River in northern Michigan. The Little Traverse Creek and its tributaries have been found with gold. Some very fine placer gold can be found in the low water gravel bars around the area creeks in the town of Walton in Grand Traverse County.
Is it legal to pan for gold in Michigan?
A gold pan is all you need to pull flakes or nuggets from rivers running through Michigan’s state or national lands. In fact, only panning by hand is allowed in the state; using portable dredges or sluices doesn’t meet the definition of casual or recreational panning.
Where can I find copper nuggets?
Most nuggets are found within Houghton County, where it is popular for treasure hunters to search for large nuggets with metal detectors. At the far northern tip of Keweenaw Peninsula is Copper Harbor. The area spanning all the way from the northern tip of the peninsula down to White Pine are productive.
Where can I find copper float?
Often these float coppers were buried inside glacial outwash deposits like those all around Calumet at Swedetown, Centennial Hill and Copper City. The most famous piece of float copper in the region is the Ontonagon Boulder, a legendary boulder found along the riverbank south of Ontonagon.
Is native copper valuable?
Copper is only worth about $3 per pound, but natural specimens are worth considerably more than that. Collectors pay a premium for nice nuggets and specimens that is not based on the “melt value” of the copper. Individual specimens with nice crystalline shapes can bring hundreds or even thousands of dollars per pound!
Can silver be found in Michigan?
Native silver occurs in a variety of vein and lode deposits of hydrothermal origin. In Michigan, it is found in the Keweenaw’s native copper deposits and in certain hydrothermal gold-quartz and lead- zinc veins in Marquette County.
Where can I find silver in Michigan?
Silver from Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA
- Silver. Cliff Mine, Phoenix, Keweenaw Co., Michigan, USA.
- Silver. White Pine Mine, White Pine, Ontonagon Co., Michigan, USA.
- Silver, etc. Iroquois Mine, Mohawk, Keweenaw Co., Michigan, USA.
- Silver, etc. White Pine Mine, White Pine, Ontonagon Co., Michigan, USA.
Where can I find gemstones in Michigan?
Chlorastrolite, or the Isle Royale greenstone, is the state’s official gemstone since 1973.
| Gemstones | Locations |
|---|---|
| Chlorastrolite | Great Lakes beaches and Isle Royal National Park |
| Agates | Lake Superior shoreline: Grand Marais beach, Muskallonge State Park beach, Woodland Park beach |