Epidote

specimen number:
2062119

location:
C & H Mines 11 and 12, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA

description:
Sparkling deep green crystals of epidote to 0.3 cm in size across an open pocket on the front of this matrix. In good condition. A good large rich example for the species from this area. Collected on August 1, 1998.

The Calumet and Hecla mines, located in Houghton County, Michigan, represent arguably the most successful copper mining venture in United States history. Geologically, these mines exploited the incredibly rich Calumet Conglomerate Lode, a sedimentary layer composed of volcanic pebbles where native copper filled the interstitial spaces, acting as a natural cement. This deposit was unique for its high concentration of nearly pure metal rather than sulfur-based ores, formed approximately 1.1 billion years ago within the Midcontinent Rift System. Historically, the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company was formed in 1871 through a merger and dominated the region until its final closure in 1968. At its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company produced over half of the copper in the United States, utilizing some of the deepest shafts in the world, such as the Red Jacket shaft which exceeded 4,900 feet in depth. Today, the remnants of these massive operations are preserved as part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park, serving as a testament to the immense scale of the Lake Superior copper district.

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