Keweenaw Peninsula Historic Images

The Keweenaw Peninsula, also known as the Copper Country, is situated in the northern coast of the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The discovery of substantial technologically recoverable deposits of native copper in the Keweenaw region stimulated a unique history of copper mining in North America. More than 11 billion pounds (5Mt) of native copper were produced between the years 1845 and 1968. Annual copper production peaked between 1916 and 1917 at 270 million pounds. The Calumet and Hecla Mine produced 77 million pounds (35,000t) of copper in 1917 and was considered the leading producer of the Lake Superior Copper Range. Prehistoric mining of economically viable deposits of native copper also took place in Isle Royale and produced over 13 million pounds of copper in 1917. The native copper deposits found in the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale are associated with the Middle Proterozoic Midcontinental Rift that crosscuts Precambrian basement terranes.

(Source: Murdoch, 1964)

F.R.Marzene

The Cliff Mine location. Pittsburgh & Boston Mining Company. (Source: Murdoch, 1964)

The Cliff Mine, dicovered in 1845, was the first and most productive copper mine in the Michigan Copper Country,

mining over 38 million pounds of refined copper from fissure veins throughout the period of 1845-1887.

(Source: Murdoch, 1964)

Calumet & Hecla Library

Loading copper ingot from Isle Royale Mine on steamer Juniata at Houghton, Michigan, 1905

(Source: Murdoch, 1964)

Calumet & Hecla Consolidated Copper Company

Whole forests of timber went underground to support the roof or "hanging wall" of Keweenaw mines - another

billion feet was cut into "lags and stulls" or top pieces. Men are trammers loading conglomerate into tram cars,

34th level, Number Five Shaft, Tamarack Mine. (Source: Murdoch, 1964)

Calumet & Hecla Consolidated Copper Company

Mass Copper at Ahmeek Mine. This Chunk of solid copper (weight unrecorded) was uncovered on the eleventh

level, Ahmeek Mine, the busiest and most profitable property in operation on Lake Superior. Though a guarded,

defense industry, the Ahmeek surface plant was, until Pearl Harbor, the mecca of all tourists - the largest steam

hoist in the world, its awe-inspiring feature. (Source: Murdoch, 1964)

Sources

Murdoch, Angus. Boom Copper: the story of the first U.S. mining boom. Copper Country ed. Calumet, Mich.: R.W. Drier and L.G. Koepel, 1964.