Eagle Harbor Mines, Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan, USAi

Regional Level Types
Eagle Harbor Mines	Group of Mines
Eagle Harbor	- not defined -
Keweenaw County	County
Michigan	State
USA	Country

Commodities (Major) - Copper
Deposit Type: Fissure Copper Veins
Development Status: Past Producer
Deposit Model: 96: Native Cu
Host Rock Unit: Portage Lake Volcanics
Host Rock: Basalt

The history of the Eagle Harbor Mining Company is one that is convoluted, to say the least. The mine was incorporated in 1848 on Lease No. 3, one of ten land parcels leased by the Lake Superior Copper Company in 1844. Lease 3 was 9,120 acres in size, but early miners only worked a three square mile area between Eagle Harbor and Madison Gap to the south. Much of the first area worked was concentrated near the town of Eagle Harbor where miners opened four trenches and five shallow shafts by 1847. Three additional shafts were sunk along the "Trap River". Altogether, the mine opened twenty veins, producing native copper from most of them. By 1848, nearly 200 tons of ore had been shipped to New York as no smelters operated in the Keweenaw at this time.

By 1864, the Eagle Harbor, Waterbury, Connecticut, and Amygdaloid companies were bought out by investors, consolidated, and renamed the Eagle Harbor Copper Company. This new company then formed three subsidiaries (Essex, Middlesex, and Sussex) to distinguish between the companies that had been merged. In addition, the company opened two shafts on another property that was later named Agency Place. Work continued on these areas through the 1800s, although little copper was recovered. Around 1900, the Eagle Harbor Copper Company was bought by Calumet and Hecla. No production was noted after this point.

If one of these trenches/mines can be found, calcite, copper, silver, and datolite crystals can be found.

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References