History
The Cliff Mine was the first successful copper producer on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The property was owned by the Pittsburgh and Boston Copper Harbor Mining Company; however, the company first worked the Hays Mine near Fort Wilkins and Hays Point, both near Copper Harbor. After these two prospects became busts, and rumors of copper metal sticking out of the ground at the Cliff Location were noted by company officials, work shifted to the Cliff in 1845. The first work involved sinking a vertical shaft at the base of the cliff. Later during the same year, a new shaft was driven and named the Avery Shaft after one of the Company's biggest investors, Dr. Charles Avery. By the end of 1845, around 20,000 pounds of mass copper were removed from the shafts. Cliff sank two additional shafts between 1849 and 1853, each producing sizeable amounts of mass copper. The mine operated almost continuously until 1878, when the Company ceased operation. The mine was worked on tribute until 1883 and produced a few tons of copper. The property was sold to the Tamarack Mining Company in 1892. Exploration work was conducted in 1906 in the upper levels, but the mine was not reopened. Eventually, the property became part of Calumet and Hecla.

For the collector
Today, the piles are owned by Keweenaw County and are easily accessible off Cliff Drive, offering collectors a bounty of minerals to seek out.

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References