Contact Person: Dan Trocke - Cell: 608-215-5307, dtrocke@acscm.com
Meeting Place & Time: Meeting Mike Riesch between 9:30 & 10:00 AM at the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum Michigan Technological University, 1404 E. Sharon Avenue, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295
Telephone: (906)487-2572. Hours: open 9-5 Mon to Sat. Admission fee.
After everyone gets their fill of the museum we will head out to several or all of the following sites with our guide Mike. Thanks Mike!!!
The sites available to visit and collect:
· Cliff Mine area. Collecting Focus - native copper and if you are lucky native silver, copper in prehnite, copper chisel chips · Senaka Mine (county owned – can access on weekend)
· Central Exploration - Mine tailing piles
· Lake Mine tailing piles (near Mass City) – supposed to be a huge area with shafts, addits, piles
· S&G recycling to check for scrapped native copper
· Lastly might get to explore a wooded area with a copper hunting dog and his owner. The dog can smell copper in the ground and points.
· Any other sites too good to miss – please pipe up!
Some great advice from Erich Hessner:
1) Get the Michigan Gazeteer. There is an abandoned copper mine every few miles for 100+ miles, starting down by Rockland, going all the way up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor. If you find one pile, you can find them all using a compass and the map book.
2) Land owned by paper/lumber companies is considered recreational land, regardless of who owns the mineral rights, as long as it is not being logged when you are there. Collecting minerals shy of actual mining is tolerated. In some cases, the surface mineral rights have been bought by Richard Whiteman, of Red Metal Minerals. He can get a bit testy if he catches you collecting at one of his sites - Minesota, Bumblebee, Mass, and a few others. He is a nice guy otherwise, so talk to him first - after all he's a rockhound himself. He may steer you to something off the beaten path - do not of course let him talk you into any of his overpriced "Turista" stuff. Contact info at his website.
3) You won't find any agates on the beaches - not even the private one's with permission. They are hunted hard after every storm by the locals.
4) You won't find much copper without a metal detector. The cheapest detector works the best - it discriminates. the ground around the mines is quite mineralized, and also copper sheets and wires (common) really ping the detector no matter how small.
5) Michigan is more relaxed than down here. Generally it is OK to drive a car a short distance on the All Season roads. You can tell which gravel roads are all season by the paint pattern designating a snowmobile crossing (across the asphalt), often with signage too.
Logging roads will be unmarked - travel these only with 4 wheel, and if not posted. Private roads will always have an address marker, and/or be posted. Use common sense, especially since you will have out of state plates.
6) Please! do not go into any open mines. Besides the safety concern, and our club rules, if the mining inspector finds out, big trouble! Our rock club never will be welcomed back up there again if you get caught. Yes, I've done it, but not as a card carrying member of the club, and with local Yoopers.
7) Use your imagination - the glaciers moved copper everywhere. There is a lot of "float" copper where you would least expect it. Also look for areas where new rock has been exposed at the waste rock piles. Rock is being hauled off for logging roads all the time. If you can't find some recently disturbed earth, just start digging a hole. Most of my silver came out of one hole - in afternoon of digging. The silver likes to hide under calcite.
8) Don't forget to have a pasty when you're up there.
Hotels / Motels in the Keweenaw http://www.keweenaw.org
· SUPER 8: (recommended by Mike)
1200 East Lakeshore Drive Houghton, MI 49931; 1200 East Lakeshore Drive Houghton, MI 49931; Ph: 906-482-2240.
· Travelodge in Houghten (Cathy said it was great (cheap)). Has a warm swimming pool and hot tub. Plus a pizza place a block away. J
215 Shelden Ave, 49931 Houghton 800-578-7878
· MAGNUSON FRANKLIN SQUARE INN:
820 Shelden Avenue, Houghton; Ph: 906/487-1700.
· HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS (Motel):
1110 Century Way, Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/482-1066
· AMERIC INN:
5101 South 6th Street, Calumet, MI 49913; Ph:906/337-6463
· HOUGHTON SUPER 8 MOTEL:
1200 East Lakeshore Drive; Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/482-2240
· JULIE’S MOTOR INN (formerly Budget Host Inn):
US Hwy 41 SE, Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/482-5351
· COUNTRY INN AND SUITES:
919 Razorback Drive (near Wal-Mart), Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/487-6700
· RAMADA INN:
99 Navy Street, Hancock, MI; 906/482-8400
Camping in the Keweenaw
Four types of camping are available on and near the Keweenaw Peninsula: Michigan State Parks, municipal, private, & U.S. Forest Service. Please note: as inviting as it may seem, do not just pull over and pitch your tent. For many years now, most land in the Keweenaw is privately owned. In Michigan, private lands DO NOT NEED TO BE POSTED to prevent uninvited guests. Rather, it is the responsibility of the guest to obtain formal permission allowing access to a property.
Michigan State Parks
· BARAGA STATE PARK (US-41):
30 minutes southeast of Houghton. 906-353-6558.
· TWIN LAKES STATE PARK (M-26):
40 minutes southwest of Houghton. 906-288-3321.
· F.J. MCLAIN STATE PARK (M-203):
30 minutes west of Houghton. 906-482-0278.
· FORT WILKINS STATE PARK (US-41):
~1 hour north of Houghton in Copper Harbor. 906-289-4215.
Municipal / County Campgrounds
· Gratiot River County Park - Gratiot River County Park off of Five Mile Point Road, Ahmeek, MI 49901, owned by Keweenaw County, encompasses 222 acres and 8.489 feet of Lake Superior shoreline, plus 1/2 mile of the Gratiot River. The park is open daily with no fee. Fires are permitted on contained areas and rustic camping is permitted in designated sites with quiet hours from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour after sunrise. Please pack out what you pack in. Hunting and fishing are permitted. Is 20 miles (40 mins drive) Northeast of Houghton, and is pretty and free J
· HANCOCK CITY CAMPGROUNDS (M-203):
West Hancock on Portage Canal. Campground Office: 906-482-7413.
Lake Linden on Torch Lake, 20 minutes east of Houghton.
Lake Linden Village Clerk for information: 906-296-9911.
Private Campgrounds
· FANNY HOOE RESORT AND CAMPGROUND:
~1 hour north of Houghton, 505 2nd Street, Copper Harbor.
906-289-4451.
· SUNSET BAY RV RESORT AND CAMPGROUND:
Five Mile Point Road, Ahmeek, ~45 minutes north of Houghton.
2701 Sunset Bay Beach Road, Allouez Township
941/923-2378 (October-May); 906-337-2494 (after June 1st) www.sunset-bay.com.
Notes: The Copper Country is notable for native copper mines and the rock piles comprise the waste rock from these old copper mines. At all of the localities it is possible to find native copper either in mass or crystallized form. Massive is much, much more common than crystallized, and virtually everyone will find native copper at a locality notable for native copper. Native silver accompanies native copper and it, too, can be found at all localities, but much less frequently.
There are over 130 different minerals found in the mines of the Copper Country. You can find many of these at every site. Some sites are more notable for certain minerals than other sites, but that does not mean you cannot find fine specimens of other minerals. The common minerals are:
PRIMARY HYDROTHERMAL MINERALS
analcime
anhydrite
barite
calcite
celadonite
chalcocite
chlorite
copper (native)
datolite
dolomite (ferroan)
epidote
feldspar (microcline, adularia)
gypsum
hematite
laumontite
mohawkite (algodonite, domeykite)
prehnite
pumpellyite (greenstone)
quartz
silver (native)
analcime
anhydrite
barite
calcite
celadonite
chalcocite
chlorite
copper (native)
datolite
dolomite (ferroan)
epidote
feldspar (microcline, adularia)
gypsum
hematite
laumontite
mohawkite (algodonite, domeykite)
prehnite
pumpellyite (greenstone)
quartz
silver (native)
SECONDARY (SUPERGENE) MINERALS
chrysocolla
cuprite
malachite
tenorite
chrysocolla
cuprite
malachite
tenorite
Safety is always first!
All collecting requires safe practices and use of common sense. At all times maintain awareness of yourself and your physical surroundings. Stay off the steep slopes and loose rock. Follow instructions of the trip guides. Be mindful of others collecting in your area.
Safety glasses are required!! Rock chips can fly a long way so you are just as likely to be struck with a chip from another as you are from yourself.
Work gloves, full-length jeans, and supportive footwear are a good idea.
A rock hammer and 5 gallon plastic bucket are essential items. In addition, to the rock hammer a chisel comes in handy too for breaking rocks. The bucket is an easy way to carry your specimens, but an old backpack will work too.
Water for cleaning specimens is a good idea as newly exposed rocks are coated with “muck.” A small spray-bottle of water and/or a container of water will work.
Bring a metal detector for copper collecting or arrange to rent one. With the prepared rock piles the newly exposed rock is very dirty. We strongly recommend you have a metal detector for copper collecting. However, there is no substitute for your eyes and some find equal success without a metal detector. Metal detectors are of NO value when looking for datolite or greenstone.
Carry drinking water with you on EVERY field trip. Plan your water containers before you leave home. Bring more than you think you will need, as rock piles can be quite hot.
Bring a variety of clothing. Field trips proceed as scheduled, rain or shine. In the past, we've had weather with sun and near perfect temps around 75 degrees to sunny with extremely hot temps from 90-105 degrees, to fog and rain with cold temps of 40-50 degrees. Weather is affected by Lake Superior and is less predictable than elsewhere. If it does rain, at least it will wash muck off of the newly exposed rocks.
Black flies and mosquitoes are usually not too bad by August, but a can or bottle of insect repellant in your vehicle is recommended. Bug nets are usually not needed but can be purchased locally.
Sun should be a concern too all as most rock piles have no shade!! Sunglasses, a head covering, and sunblock are recommended.
Bring or plan on purchasing packing materials to get your treasures home intact. Paper, paper towels, toliet paper or dry cleaning (plastic) bags work well. Newspaper is good for larger specimens. Plan on boxes to store your specimens.
Casusal dress is appropriate for everything.
Some great advice from Erich Hessner:
1) Get the Michigan Gazeteer. There is an abandoned copper mine every few miles for 100+ miles, starting down by Rockland, going all the way up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor. If you find one pile, you can find them all using a compass and the map book.
2) Land owned by paper/lumber companies is considered recreational land, regardless of who owns the mineral rights, as long as it is not being logged when you are there. Collecting minerals shy of actual mining is tolerated. In some cases, the surface mineral rights have been bought by Richard Whiteman, of Red Metal Minerals. He can get a bit testy if he catches you collecting at one of his sites - Minesota, Bumblebee, Mass, and a few others. He is a nice guy otherwise, so talk to him first - after all he's a rockhound himself. He may steer you to something off the beaten path - do not of course let him talk you into any of his overpriced "Turista" stuff. Contact info at his website.
3) You won't find any agates on the beaches - not even the private one's with permission. They are hunted hard after every storm by the locals.
4) You won't find much copper without a metal detector. The cheapest detector works the best - it discriminates. the ground around the mines is quite mineralized, and also copper sheets and wires (common) really ping the detector no matter how small.
5) Michigan is more relaxed than down here. Generally it is OK to drive a car a short distance on the All Season roads. You can tell which gravel roads are all season by the paint pattern designating a snowmobile crossing (across the asphalt), often with signage too.
Logging roads will be unmarked - travel these only with 4 wheel, and if not posted. Private roads will always have an address marker, and/or be posted. Use common sense, especially since you will have out of state plates.
6) Please! do not go into any open mines. Besides the safety concern, and our club rules, if the mining inspector finds out, big trouble! Our rock club never will be welcomed back up there again if you get caught. Yes, I've done it, but not as a card carrying member of the club, and with local Yoopers.
7) Use your imagination - the glaciers moved copper everywhere. There is a lot of "float" copper where you would least expect it. Also look for areas where new rock has been exposed at the waste rock piles. Rock is being hauled off for logging roads all the time. If you can't find some recently disturbed earth, just start digging a hole. Most of my silver came out of one hole - in afternoon of digging. The silver likes to hide under calcite.
8) Don't forget to have a pasty when you're up there.
Hotels / Motels in the Keweenaw http://www.keweenaw.org
· SUPER 8: (recommended by Mike)
1200 East Lakeshore Drive Houghton, MI 49931; 1200 East Lakeshore Drive Houghton, MI 49931; Ph: 906-482-2240.
· Travelodge in Houghten (Cathy said it was great (cheap)). Has a warm swimming pool and hot tub. Plus a pizza place a block away. J
215 Shelden Ave, 49931 Houghton 800-578-7878
· MAGNUSON FRANKLIN SQUARE INN:
820 Shelden Avenue, Houghton; Ph: 906/487-1700.
· HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS (Motel):
1110 Century Way, Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/482-1066
· AMERIC INN:
5101 South 6th Street, Calumet, MI 49913; Ph:906/337-6463
· HOUGHTON SUPER 8 MOTEL:
1200 East Lakeshore Drive; Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/482-2240
· JULIE’S MOTOR INN (formerly Budget Host Inn):
US Hwy 41 SE, Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/482-5351
· COUNTRY INN AND SUITES:
919 Razorback Drive (near Wal-Mart), Houghton, MI; Ph: 906/487-6700
· RAMADA INN:
99 Navy Street, Hancock, MI; 906/482-8400
Camping in the Keweenaw
Four types of camping are available on and near the Keweenaw Peninsula: Michigan State Parks, municipal, private, & U.S. Forest Service. Please note: as inviting as it may seem, do not just pull over and pitch your tent. For many years now, most land in the Keweenaw is privately owned. In Michigan, private lands DO NOT NEED TO BE POSTED to prevent uninvited guests. Rather, it is the responsibility of the guest to obtain formal permission allowing access to a property.
Michigan State Parks
· BARAGA STATE PARK (US-41):
30 minutes southeast of Houghton. 906-353-6558.
· TWIN LAKES STATE PARK (M-26):
40 minutes southwest of Houghton. 906-288-3321.
· F.J. MCLAIN STATE PARK (M-203):
30 minutes west of Houghton. 906-482-0278.
· FORT WILKINS STATE PARK (US-41):
~1 hour north of Houghton in Copper Harbor. 906-289-4215.
Municipal / County Campgrounds
· Gratiot River County Park - Gratiot River County Park off of Five Mile Point Road, Ahmeek, MI 49901, owned by Keweenaw County, encompasses 222 acres and 8.489 feet of Lake Superior shoreline, plus 1/2 mile of the Gratiot River. The park is open daily with no fee. Fires are permitted on contained areas and rustic camping is permitted in designated sites with quiet hours from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour after sunrise. Please pack out what you pack in. Hunting and fishing are permitted. Is 20 miles (40 mins drive) Northeast of Houghton, and is pretty and free J
· HANCOCK CITY CAMPGROUNDS (M-203):
West Hancock on Portage Canal. Campground Office: 906-482-7413.
· HOUGHTON CITY RV PARK - RV Only:
West Houghton, 1100 W. Lakeshore Drive. 906-482-8745 or 906-482-1700.
· LAKE LINDEN VILLAGE RECREATIONAL AREA (M-26): West Houghton, 1100 W. Lakeshore Drive. 906-482-8745 or 906-482-1700.
Lake Linden on Torch Lake, 20 minutes east of Houghton.
Lake Linden Village Clerk for information: 906-296-9911.
Private Campgrounds
· FANNY HOOE RESORT AND CAMPGROUND:
~1 hour north of Houghton, 505 2nd Street, Copper Harbor.
906-289-4451.
· SUNSET BAY RV RESORT AND CAMPGROUND:
Five Mile Point Road, Ahmeek, ~45 minutes north of Houghton.
2701 Sunset Bay Beach Road, Allouez Township
941/923-2378 (October-May); 906-337-2494 (after June 1st) www.sunset-bay.com.
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