Mining & Mineral Facts
Ontonagon County Copper Facts
- 100 different mines and explorations operated from 1847-1920
- Over 6 Billion pounds of copper was mined
- Home to the famous Ontonagon Boulder
- The county at one time had a population of 12,428
- Rockland had the first telephone system in Michigan
What types of minerals can be found in the Keweenaw Peninsula?
Tenorite
Quartz
Pumpellyite
Prehnite
MalAchite
Limonite
Hematite
Gerhardite
Goethite
Feldspar
Epidote
Datolite
Cuprite
Copper Crystal
Native Copper
Chlorite
Calcite
Basalt
Azurite
Agate
Mining Terms
Adit: The opening/ entrance to an underground mine
Back Ceiling/Roof: The top of a drift, tunnel or adit
Flat Car: Rail car used to haul supplies
Foot Wall: The rock below the vein or seam in mine
Hanging Wall: The rock above the vein or seam in mine
Jack Leg: A percussive tool that is compressed air powered, used to bore holes in rock
Leaverite: Rock of no value, The miners gave term referring to a rock “you would leave right there” not a real rock name
Locomotive: Mobile equipment to haul ore, supplies, and/ or people on rails or tracks
Mucker: A front end loader that scoops and hauls broken rock
Ore: Rocks or minerals from which metal can be extracted
Ore Car: Rail car used to haul ore out of mine
Ore Pile: Rock that can be mined for profit
Ore Pocket: A chute where ore is removed from a stope
Pillar: Rock left behind for support/a column of rock left to support ceiling
Poor Rock: A waste product of mining
Rib: The left or right side of a drift, tunnel, or adit
Shaft: A vertical inclined opening for miner to access ore
Stope: Opening made in the process of extracting ore, also called a room
Tunnel/Drift: A horizontal passageway through rock
Vein: A long layer of rock or minerals
Wizen: A shaft sunk from one level to another
We require 48 hours notice to prepare your reservation.
During the season, we are open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Looking to visit on another day of the week? We offer 'Pick Your Own Day' bookings for a $75 fee depending on the availability of our staff. Please call for more details.
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