The Carp Lake Mine is open to the public as part of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (Porkies), in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is located along Hwy-M107, west of Silver City. You do not need a Michigan State Park permit to visit this cache. If you continue west past the mine shaft on Hwy M107 it will take you to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook, in which you will need a Michigan State Park permit.
Parking is available on the side of the highway, across from the mine at a small park.
This earth cache will take you to one of the relics of the copper mining history of Carp Lake Mine, which has been closed since 1929.
This mine is very much like a snapshot from years past. As with all mining areas, please be very careful. Be aware that there is no reason whatsoever to enter the mine shaft to claim this earth cache. This mine was used mainly for the mining of copper ore.
Some tree coverage and rock formations can have an effect on GPS’s, but the coordinates should take you to the site of the earthcache (the mine entrance).
The Carp Lake Mining Company was organized in 1858 with work on the mine beginning in 1859. In 1860, two shafts were sunk on the property and by 1862, a nearly horizontal passage 700 feet long was driven. The copper was discovered as finely disseminated particles in sandstone (likely the Freda Sandstone). The mine reopened in 1864 and sunk an air shaft to ventilate the mine. Work stopped in 1867 and a certain proportion of the ore raised, or of its value, was given to the miner as his recompense until 1894 when the property was sold and renamed the Carp Lake Copper Company. The mine was sold again in 1901 to the Porcupine Copper Company. In 1906, a three ton mass was discovered but very little copper was recovered beyond this. By 1918 the original mine was abandoned but caretakers remained throughout the 1920’s. During its life span, the Carp Lake Mine produced approximately 34,000 pounds of copper. In 1927, a new group of miners began working on a tunnel into the base of the bluff on the original Carp Lake property; this is known as the Mead Mine. The tunnel was worked to over 1,000 feet into the bluff. Some copper and silver was removed from the tunnel, but by 1929 the Mead closed for good.
In 1945 this area became what is now the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park.
Some copper can be found on the rock piles, but since this is State Park Property, no collecting is allowed!
There are many other interesting sites around this area to visit and enjoy.
Email your answers to the cache owner for the 3 questions listed below in order to receive credit and claim the find.
Each and every individual cacher whom logs this cache as a find MUST send in his or her answers separately.
Any submission that does not meet all requirements will be deleted.
1. What is the height and width of the opening of the mine entrance?
2. How many steps descend to the entrance of the mine?
3. What large body of fresh water is located across Hwy-M107 to the north of the mine opening?
OPTIONAL: I would love to have a picture of you or your group with GPS in hand with the mine entrance in the background.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM PETERSON FOR BEING THE FIRST TO FIND
If you are interested in placing a cache on State Property you must fill out an application thru the Michigan DNR. gov site and look for the applicaction/permit to use State Land. You must be a member MIGO to place a cache on State Property.
References:
Mindat.org