Keweenaw Copper EarthCache

The Keweenaw Peninsula & Copper

The Keweenaw Peninsula is the site of the first major copper boom in the United States. The Keweenaw Peninsula is home to the largest and oldest lava flow on Earth and produced the only strata on earth where large scale copper mining was able to extract 97 percent pure native copper. The copper found on the peninsula exists in two forms – either “Native” copper or “Float” copper. Native copper has a lacy consistency and float copper exists as a solid chunk. Glacier activity impacted copper forms. The weight of the ice from the glacier and it’s movement would take copper and compact it into heavy nuggets which would create heavy chunks of copper which would weight many tons. Several years ago the Grand Rapids Press printed a story about Native Americans artifacts had been recovered south of Michigan and the copper in their tools had been traced to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Over 7 million tons of refined copper have been recovered from copper mines between 1845 until 1968 on the peninsula. Copper from these mines accounted for three fourths of the United States copper production during that time. Copper from the mines were so pure that it could be mined and then formed into useable goods without smelting or refining. From 1845 to the 1920’s copper from the Keweenaw Peninsula was the only place on earth where it was found in commercial quantities.

History of this Mine

Originally this tract of land was purchased by two separate mining companies as a result of miscommunication between government agencies during the mining rush of the 1840s. Each of the two separate boards (Northwest Mining Company and Portage Mining Company) met and it was decided that they would merge into one company forming the Quincy Mine Company. The significant investment came from the town of Quincy, Massachusetts and thus the company took the name and began operations in 1846.

This mine has several interesting distinctions. First it became the most successful of the 1840ies era mines in that it was the leading copper producing mine from 1863 to 1867. Second, it was the first Michigan copper mine to switch from fissure mining to amygdaloid mining when they found the Pewabic amygdaloid lode was found to cross the Quincy Mine property in 1856. Fissure mining would mine large veins of copper in search of high grade copper. This mining could take days or months to extract the copper and at a high cost of mining. Amygdaloid mining would extract the lower-grade copper in the “amygdaloid zones” which are the upper portion of ancient basalt lava flows from millions of years ago by using explosives. Rocks containing smaller pieces of copper could be more easily blasted, transported away from the mine, and processed at a lower cost than mining copper of a higher quality. Amygdaloid mining allowed the Quincy mine to be profitable for 53 consecutive years. The Quincy Mining Company on was able to pay its investors dividends nearly every year from 1862 to 1920, earning it the nickname "Old Reliable." Additionally, the Quincy Mining Company was able to purchase adjacent properties and mines including the Pewabic Mine in 1891, the Mesnard and Pontiac mines in 1897, and the Franklin Mine in 1908. Another distinction is the Nordberg Steam Hoist built and installed in 1918. This hoist was the world’s largest hoist used for mining. It weighed more than 880 tons and would lift 10 tons of ore at 36.4 miles per hour saving the company tens of thousands of dollars per year and ultimately increased profitability for the company.

In order to attract, retain, and have a motivated work force – the Quincy Mine Company had housing for it’s workforce. That housing began as tents and then as time moved on the company continued to upgrade the housing standard til the end of the mining days – multiple story houses for its workers. These homes had running water and electricity. This allowed the company to attract and retain a skilled yet happy workforce.

The Mine Today

Since mining ceased in 1945 the mine has slowly filled with groundwater. Water has filled all the levels below the seventh level and thus inaccessible. Additionally the seventh level is also drained. Underground mine tours are conducted at the seventh level and is several hundred feet underground. Tourists enter the seventh level by a tram that does down the side of the very steep hill and then enter the mine on a tractor pulled wagon. Old mining equipment still can be seen as you enter the mine. Also there is an old classroom used by Michigan Technical University for mining instruction used until 1998.

The mine and surrounding areas are part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. The buildings, grounds, and tours are conducted by the Quincy Mine Hoist Association. Several different tour options are available including Surface Tour only, Surface Tour with Tram Ride, and Full Tour which includes both above and underground tours. Information about the Quincy Mine and tours are located at http://www.quincymine.com/. Hours and rates are also located online.

While grabbing our tour tickets we intrigued by some very interesting local history. It was the story of a little girl named Ruth Ann Miller who fell down into a nearby capped mineshaft while playing caused by erosion. A map and directions were included. My wife was very interested and we drove around until we found it. We spent nearly a half hour looking around and paying our respect.

Should you be interested - coordinates are listed here for the Tamarack #4 mine shaft and memorial : N47 15.661 W88 27.613

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