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Ropes Gold Mine, Ishpeming Greenstone belt (Marquette Greenstone belt), Ishpeming Township, Marquette County, Michigan, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Ropes Gold Mine | Mine |
| Ishpeming Greenstone belt (Marquette Greenstone belt) | - not defined - |
| Ishpeming Township | Township |
| Marquette County | County |
| Michigan | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
46° 31' 46'' North , 87° 42' 56'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| West Ishpeming | 2,662 (2017) | 5.3km |
| Ishpeming | 6,483 (2017) | 5.9km |
| Negaunee | 4,582 (2017) | 8.7km |
| Palmer | 418 (2017) | 13.6km |
| Trowbridge Park | 2,176 (2017) | 21.5km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club | Ishpeming, Michigan | 6km |
S 1/2 of NW 1/4 of Section 29. T48N R27W.
A gold mine north of Ishpeming.
In 1881, former druggist, postmaster, and school board member Julius Ropes discovered gold among the serpentine rocks north of the town of Ishpeming, which prompted him to form the Ropes Gold and Silver Company to exploit that discovery. Mining and stamp-milling operations began in earnest in 1883 with the sinking of the Curry shaft and continued until financial troubles forced closure of the mine in 1897. Fifteen levels had been developed to 813 feet depth. $645,792 worth of gold (period values) was shipped during this period, extracted by the mercury amalgamation process and gravity separation.
Corrigan, McKinney and Co. purchased the mine property and, using the newly-developed cyanide leaching process, reclaimed nearly $200,000 in gold from the tailings during 1900 - 1901. Additional gold was gleaned from scraps of mercury amalgam recovered throughout the mill buildings.
The mine changed hands numerous times without further production until the inflation of the 1970s drove up gold prices enough to prompt Callahan Mining Co. to purchase the property and invest in exploration and rehabilitation of the mine. Mining resumed in 1983 with the sinking of a truck decline to 900 feet depth, and a new shaft was sunk in 1984, with workings reaching 1548 feet depth. Ore rock was trucked to the ore dressing plant of the retired Humboldt Iron Mine for gold extraction. Operations continued despite the collapse of the uppermost levels into a huge stope in 1987. The hole was filled with sand and mining carried on until expensive repairs and falling gold prices prompted closure in 1991 of the only profitable gold mine in Michigan's history.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Antigorite Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| ⓘ Brucite Formula: Mg(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Dyscrasite Formula: Ag3Sb |
| ⓘ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Gersdorffite Formula: NiAsS References: |
| ⓘ Heazlewoodite Formula: Ni3S2 References: |
| ⓘ Millerite Formula: NiS |
| ⓘ Molybdenite Formula: MoS2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
| ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum Formula: (Au,Ag) |
| ⓘ Native Silver Formula: Ag |
| ⓘ Nickeline Formula: NiAs References: |
| ⓘ Nullaginite Formula: Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Pecoraite Formula: Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 References: |
| ⓘ Powellite Formula: Ca(MoO4) |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite Formula: (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Rutile Formula: TiO2 |
| ⓘ Scheelite Formula: Ca(WO4) |
| ⓘ Schorl Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ Spinel Formula: MgAl2O4 |
| ⓘ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite' Formula: (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 Description: Collected by Travis Olds 2008 References: |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline' Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ Tremolite Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold var. Electrum | 1.AA.05 | (Au,Ag) |
| ⓘ | 1.AA.05 | Au | |
| ⓘ | Native Silver | 1.AA.05 | Ag |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Dyscrasite | 2.AA.35 | Ag3Sb |
| ⓘ | Heazlewoodite | 2.BB.05 | Ni3S2 |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Nickeline | 2.CC.05 | NiAs |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Millerite | 2.CC.20 | NiS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite var. Bravoite | 2.EB.05a | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| ⓘ | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 | |
| ⓘ | Gersdorffite | 2.EB.25 | NiAsS |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| ⓘ | 'var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite' | 2.GB.05 | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Spinel | 4.BB.05 | MgAl2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
| ⓘ | Brucite | 4.FE.05 | Mg(OH)2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Nullaginite | 5.BA.10 | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Powellite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(MoO4) |
| ⓘ | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Schorl | 9.CK.05 | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Antigorite | 9.ED.15 | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| ⓘ | Pecoraite | 9.ED.15 | Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| ⓘ | 'var. Picrolite' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Nullaginite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Pecoraite | Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Nullaginite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Nullaginite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pecoraite | Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| O | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
| O | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Mg | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
| Mg | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Pecoraite | Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| S | ⓘ Heazlewoodite | Ni3S2 |
| S | ⓘ Millerite | NiS |
| S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| Fe | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Pyrite var. Bravoite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| Ni | ⓘ Heazlewoodite | Ni3S2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Millerite | NiS |
| Ni | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| Ni | ⓘ Nullaginite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Ni | ⓘ Pecoraite | Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Ni | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Zn | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| Zn | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup var. Picrolite | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 D= Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Al, Zn |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| As | ⓘ Nickeline | NiAs |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| Mo | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Dyscrasite | Ag3Sb |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum | (Au,Ag) |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver | Ag |
| Ag | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Dyscrasite | Ag3Sb |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup var. Silver-bearing Tetrahedrite | (Cu,Ag)6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]Sb4S13 |
| W | Tungsten | |
| W | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum | (Au,Ag) |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Superior Craton
- Penokean OrogenCraton
- Superior DomainDomain
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Ropes Gold Mine, Ishpeming Greenstone belt, Ishpeming Township, Marquette County, Michigan, USA