Log In
United States Metals Refining Company exploration (Copperwood Mine), Gogebic County, Michigan, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| United States Metals Refining Company exploration (Copperwood Mine) | Deposit |
| Gogebic County | County |
| Michigan | State |
| USA | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
46° 40' 17'' North , 90° 0' 0'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
In 1955, soon after the publication of a USGS map, Chester Ensign, a geologist with United States Metals Refining Company (“USMR”), discovered copper-bearing rocks, equivalent to those at White Pine, within a feature known as the Western Syncline along the Presque Isle River in Gogebic County. In 1956, USMR began mineral exploration of the Western Syncline that led to the development of the Copperwood site. In 1958, USMR began exploration development that resulted in construction of a 233-foot deep shaft and the completion of 2,083 feet of drifting with about 50 feet of stoping in Section 1, T49N, R46W. The historic shaft and crushing building foundation sit at the center of the Copperwood site. Today, the old shaft is surrounded by waste rock piles and is visible from aerial photos. The shaft is currently fenced and filled with waste rock. 3678 M lbs. Cu and 15.3 M oz. Ag
Notably, Cu mineralization occurred at various stratigraphic levels, the top of which is locally demarcated by lead and cadmium anomalies as well as bornite, chalcopyrite, greenockite, galena, and/or pyrite over a few centimeters, which are overlain by pyrite-only bearing strata; this is the Top Cu Zone, which is equivalent to the Fringe Zone at White Pine. In addition, the potential ore hosted by the LCBS and UCBS was not laterally continuous. AMAX did not proceed with development.
Nonesuch formation.
Notably, Cu mineralization occurred at various stratigraphic levels, the top of which is locally demarcated by lead and cadmium anomalies as well as bornite, chalcopyrite, greenockite, galena, and/or pyrite over a few centimeters, which are overlain by pyrite-only bearing strata; this is the Top Cu Zone, which is equivalent to the Fringe Zone at White Pine. In addition, the potential ore hosted by the LCBS and UCBS was not laterally continuous. AMAX did not proceed with development.
Nonesuch formation.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
19 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ Anhydrite Formula: CaSO4 |
| ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ Chrysocolla Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ Clinochlore Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Greenockite Formula: CdS |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Halite Formula: NaCl |
| ⓘ Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ 'K Feldspar' |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| ⓘ Native Copper Formula: Cu |
| ⓘ Native Silver Formula: Ag |
| ⓘ 'Plagioclase' Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ 'Pyrobitumen' |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ 'Smectite Group' Formula: A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| ⓘ | Native Silver | 1.AA.05 | Ag |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Greenockite | 2.CB.45 | CdS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Halite | 3.AA.20 | NaCl |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Anhydrite | 7.AD.30 | CaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Muscovite var. Illite | 9.EC.15 | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| ⓘ | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | |
| ⓘ | Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| ⓘ | 'K Feldspar' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Smectite Group' | - | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | 'Pyrobitumen' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| O | ⓘ Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Halite | NaCl |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Greenockite | CdS |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Halite | NaCl |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite | K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver | Ag |
| Cd | Cadmium | |
| Cd | ⓘ Greenockite | CdS |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10400504 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Mid-continent DomainDomain
- Mid-continent RiftNarrow Rift
USA
- Midcontinent RiftGeologic Province
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
References
www.michigan.gov (n.d.) https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/Permit_MP_01_2012_Orvana_Copperwood_386897_7.pdf
United States Metals Refining Company exploration, Gogebic County, Michigan, USA