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Isle Royal Mines, Portage Township, Houghton County, Michigan, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Isle Royal Mines | Group of Mines |
| Portage Township | Township |
| Houghton County | County |
| Michigan | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
47° 5' 50'' North , 88° 34' 48'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Group of Mines
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Houghton | 7,970 (2017) | 2.8km |
| Hancock | 4,555 (2017) | 3.3km |
| South Range | 746 (2017) | 5.7km |
| Dollar Bay | 1,082 (2017) | 5.8km |
| Hubbell | 946 (2017) | 14.2km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club | Dollar Bay, Michigan | 6km |
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Isle Royale Mine
Introduction
An underground copper mine consisting of 14 shafts located south of Houghton.
History
The Ohio and Isle Royale Company was organized in 1852 to explore the island of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The same year, the company transferred all operations to the south of Houghton, where three rich veins of copper were discovered. Six shafts were sunk in the area of prehistoric pits that also followed the veins. Much copper was found, as several masses were discovered very close to the surface. In 1855, the company was reorganized into the Isle Royale Copper Company but closed just two years later in 1857. After this time, the mine was leased on a tribute to the Mabbs brothers. In 1862, the company bought the Webster Mining Company, after which time the company worked the mine between 1863 and 1870 but closed it again. Again, the Mabbs brothers worked the mine on a tribute for several years. In 1899, the mine reorganized once again into the Isle Royal Consolidated Copper Company, dropping the "e" in the original name. This new company was a merger of the old Isle Royale, Huron, Grand Portage, Frue, and Dodge Mines. With the additional mines, the “New” Isle Royal was now working 14 shafts on the Isle Royale Amygdaloid. In 1909, the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company bought the mine and operated it until the depression. The mine was reopened in 1932 but closed for good in 1949.
Production
Between 1853 and 1885, the mine produced 8.8 million pounds of copper. Between 1901 and 1925, the mine produced over 171 million pounds of copper.
For the Collector
Little remains of the original Isle Royal site. Most of the rock piles are gone, used for construction projects and road work. The Houghton Walmart store is located on the former Huron Mine site, and other stores occupy the minesites of the Isle Royal. The only remaining rock pile is the Isle Royal No. 7, but this is privately owned as well. Wandering around the area, one will run into small remnants of the mine. Minerals that can be found in these small rocky areas include copper, silver, copper wires, and quartz.
An underground copper mine consisting of 14 shafts located south of Houghton.
History
The Ohio and Isle Royale Company was organized in 1852 to explore the island of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The same year, the company transferred all operations to the south of Houghton, where three rich veins of copper were discovered. Six shafts were sunk in the area of prehistoric pits that also followed the veins. Much copper was found, as several masses were discovered very close to the surface. In 1855, the company was reorganized into the Isle Royale Copper Company but closed just two years later in 1857. After this time, the mine was leased on a tribute to the Mabbs brothers. In 1862, the company bought the Webster Mining Company, after which time the company worked the mine between 1863 and 1870 but closed it again. Again, the Mabbs brothers worked the mine on a tribute for several years. In 1899, the mine reorganized once again into the Isle Royal Consolidated Copper Company, dropping the "e" in the original name. This new company was a merger of the old Isle Royale, Huron, Grand Portage, Frue, and Dodge Mines. With the additional mines, the “New” Isle Royal was now working 14 shafts on the Isle Royale Amygdaloid. In 1909, the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company bought the mine and operated it until the depression. The mine was reopened in 1932 but closed for good in 1949.
Production
Between 1853 and 1885, the mine produced 8.8 million pounds of copper. Between 1901 and 1925, the mine produced over 171 million pounds of copper.
For the Collector
Little remains of the original Isle Royal site. Most of the rock piles are gone, used for construction projects and road work. The Houghton Walmart store is located on the former Huron Mine site, and other stores occupy the minesites of the Isle Royal. The only remaining rock pile is the Isle Royal No. 7, but this is privately owned as well. Wandering around the area, one will run into small remnants of the mine. Minerals that can be found in these small rocky areas include copper, silver, copper wires, and quartz.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities36 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
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 | |||
| ⓘ | Domeykite | 2.AA.10b | Cu3As |
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite ? | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Brucite | 4.FE.05 | Mg(OH)2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| ⓘ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Anhydrite | 7.AD.30 | CaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Mirabilite | 7.CD.10 | Na2SO4 · 10H2O |
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Powellite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(MoO4) |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Olivenite | 8.BB.30 | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Datolite | 9.AJ.20 | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Prehnite | 9.DP.20 | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Fluorapophyllite-(K) | 9.EA.15 | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Saponite | 9.EC.45 | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | var. Pennine | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Kaolinite | 9.ED.05 | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| ⓘ | Mesolite | 9.GA.05 | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Natrolite | 9.GA.05 | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Analcime | 9.GB.05 | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| ⓘ | Laumontite | 9.GB.10 | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| ⓘ | Heulandite-Ca | 9.GE.05 | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' | - | KAlSi3O8 |
| ⓘ | 'Apophyllite Group' | - | AB4[Si8O20]X · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | 'Pumpellyite Subgroup' | - | Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A |
| ⓘ | 'K Feldspar' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Apatite' | - | Ca5(PO4)3A |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O20]X · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Mesolite | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Mirabilite | Na2SO4 · 10H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Pumpellyite Subgroup | Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A |
| H | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Pennine | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| O | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O20]X · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Mesolite | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Mirabilite | Na2SO4 · 10H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| O | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pumpellyite Subgroup | Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Pennine | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Mesolite | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Mirabilite | Na2SO4 · 10H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Pennine | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| Al | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Al | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Mesolite | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Pumpellyite Subgroup | Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A |
| Al | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Pennine | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O20]X · 8H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Mesolite | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Pumpellyite Subgroup | Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Pennine | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Mirabilite | Na2SO4 · 10H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| K | ⓘ Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| Ca | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Mesolite | Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Pumpellyite Subgroup | Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A |
| Ca | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3A |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Domeykite | Cu3As |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Domeykite | Cu3As |
| As | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver | Ag |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
Localities in this Region
- Michigan
- Houghton County
- Portage Township
- Houghton County
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Mid-continent DomainDomain
- Mid-continent RiftNarrow Rift
USA
- Michigan
- Keweenaw PeninsulaPeninsula
- Midcontinent RiftGeologic Province
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References
Peck, Albert B. (1917) Mirabilite from the Isle Royale Copper Mine, Houghton, Michigan. American Mineralogist, 2 (5). 62-63
Lane, Alfred C. (1917) The origin of the mirabilite from the Isle Royale Mine. American Mineralogist, 2 (5) 63-64
Butler, B.S.; Burbank, W.S. (1929) The copper deposits of Michigan. Professional Paper 144. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/pp144
Isle Royal Mines, Portage Township, Houghton County, Michigan, USA