Copper

specimen number:
8311350

location:
Quincy Mine, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA

description:

A superb well crystallized example of native copper from this classic Michigan locality. In super condition all around.

The Quincy Mine, located in Hancock, Houghton County, Michigan, is one of the most famous copper mines in the United States, earning the nickname "Old Reliable" for its consistent dividends. Geologically, the mine exploited the Pewabic Lode, a mineralized amygdaloidal flow within the Keweenawan-aged Portage Lake Volcanics. These deposits formed as native copper precipitated within the gas bubbles (vesicles) of ancient basaltic lava flows and between the grains of associated conglomerates. Historically, the Quincy Mining Company was established in 1846, and active mining operations began in earnest during the 1850s. The mine eventually reached incredible depths, with its Number 2 shaft extending over 9,000 feet along the dip of the lode. The operation remained a titan of the Copper Country for nearly a century until industrial production finally ceased in 1945. Today, the site is a National Historic Landmark, preserved as part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park, where visitors can still see the world's largest steam-driven hoist engine used during the mine's peak years.

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