Exploring Copper Mine Ruins in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

[@captpaul8827]

Gosh Rob, had I known you were there, I could have shown you around. Let's start with the stacks; those are for the boiler houses on-site to feed steam engines. They are not for a smelter as Cliff did not have one. The pink crumbly rock was laumontite. You had some prehnite, but threw it back. It looks like you had some candidates for greenstone, but couldn't get a good enough look. I'm also glad you read Wikipedia, which got their info from Mindat, which I wrote! ;-)

[@MichiganRocks]

Well, shoot, where was the prehnite? Could you give me a time stamp? I knew you liked Mindat, but I didn't know you wrote for the site. That's cool. I found a picture of malachite found there. It was almost microscopic, so I guess I won't be making any malachite pendants with it. I'm still little confused about the stacks. There is no opening on the bottom that I could see. does the opening come in from the side underground? I read something when I got home that led me to believe that the stacks were to let air into the mine, but whatever I read was just a caption or something very short. Another question: Do you know where the entrances to the mine are? I'm sure they're blocked off, but I couldn't find where they might have been.

[@captpaul8827]

@@MichiganRocks 2:02 looks like prehnite. It will have the same colour as on the lakeshore. You pretty much trip over the stuff there, unlike datolite which is rare at Cliff. You are correct in that the host rock is basalt; rhyolite would be much redder. All of the shafts and adits have been capped off. I do write the site information for Mindat. I'm also on the management team for the site and am the Michigan expert.

[@gwynnfarrell1856]

@@captpaul8827 Would any of the rock walls have been parts of dwellings for the miners?

[@captpaul8827]

@@gwynnfarrell1856 I don't believe so, Gwynn. Those were all mostly along and near the railway and where cliff dr is currently.

[@gwynnfarrell1856]

@@captpaul8827 Thank you!

[@rosalindhendricks6337]

I have a picture of my dad’s family that was taken in Copper Harbor. My grandmother was pregnant with my dad at the time, and his older brother and sisters were standing next to grandmother and grandfather. Dad was born in 1904. The family arrived at Ellis Island, I think in 1888 and went to work in the copper mine. What a rough life. I look at the rock walls and chimney and wonder if my family placed many of those rocks. Anyway, thanks for giving me a glimpse of the lifestyle my ancestors lived.

[@MichiganRocks]

Yes, I can't imagine being a miner. I have an interest in rocks, but I wouldn't want to spend every day underground toiling away to extract them for low wages.

[@kathybrintlinger9993]

I’m a lifelong Upper and grew up in Atlantic Mine . As kids we played around the old mine ruins in our town. I miss hunting for copper. So many happy memories!

[@MichiganRocks]

What a fun place to have grown up.

[@aliciadeforge8999]

Born and raised yooper. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm a troll, and I agree completely. I love the U.P.

[@waynegouin939]

Hi Alicia. ITS GODS COUNTRY. A fellow yooper.

[@gayle8153]

The whole mine area just begs to be explored, so I don't think anyone can blame you for wandering about, lol! I found this adventure really interesting!

[@MichiganRocks]

It would have made a better video if I was so clueless while wandering around. Oh well, maybe next summer.

[@renate.g]

I am so happy to have found your videos. Nature always provides the loveliest and most fascinating things.

[@suedefringe]

I love exploring ruins and old abandoned buildings. Its hard to explain to some people why. You either love it or hate it.

[@MichiganRocks]

I love stuff that's this old. Being made out of stone really helps. I really, really like stone walls.

[@suedefringe]

@@MichiganRocksyes , everything old !! I've been watching the indie projects channel raise their stine barn walls in prortugal. Its a insane amount of work but looks so great.

[@GregtheGrey6969]

It's like being a child again.

[@upperpeninsulabeautiful]

I've spent a lot of time hunting copper in those tailings. Those are some beautiful stomping grounds! You really get around. The last video I watched you were hunting the Yellowstone with Katydid Rocks! That river is on my bucket list!

[@MichiganRocks]

I don't usually go to Montana. The trip I took this spring was by far the biggest rock hunting trip I've ever taken.

[@aprilMaeD]

As you more than likely know, the world's most rare agate were/are found in the Keweenaw -- copper replacement agate is a life goal. Wolverine stacks 1 and 2 are where I understand they can still be found in tiny nodules that form on outer matrix of basalt (I believe) and they are usually the size of a thumb nail. To find a Keweenaw copper agate would be UNREAL! :)

[@MichiganRocks]

I have definitely heard of and seen pictures of copper replacement agates. You’re right, that would be the find of a lifetime.

[@captpaul8827]

Wolverine 2 is a great pile for them, but they are not easy to find. There are a couple other piles that are good as well. I found a couple earlier this summer and feel fortunate.

[@aprilMaeD]

Capt Paul I am beyond jealous!! Wow!!Congratulations that is the most epic find of all time, the absolute persistence and patience that must have required! So impressive!

[@mistervacation23]

I met an old dude from Findland one time, he kept bitchin about "I got to get back to copper country, der watch you coll". I had no freaking idea what the old dude was talking about. After he died in 2016 the barmaid told me he used to work at the Kennicott Copper mine. Hell we were in Adak Island AK. Kennicott would be over 1600 miles by sea. The old bastard used to get drunk and just kept saying "I got a get back to copper country, der watch you coll". The old boy was 102 when he died. Now I guess we all know what he meant. I wished the bar on Adak was still open so I could tell the other patrons.

[@paulhutchinson3404]

I was on Adak Island when I was in the Marine Corps. Russian spy planes were coming into US territory and my squadron scrambled from MCAS El Toro (California) for a “show of force”. I was an Avionics electrician on F/A18’s. The most beautiful country I have ever seen and I have desired greatly to go back.

[@gingermackeen5741]

I was chuckling to myself at how fast it went from rocks to ruins😊. It was fun exploring with you!

[@MichiganRocks]

I was as surprised as anyone.

[@6stringgunner511]

I bet there might be some old coins in that area. Great site for photography and video. Looked like a really great time. Thanks, Rob. Great video, again.

[@MichiganRocks]

There might be old coins in the area, but a lot of people have metal detected this area looking for copper. It was a really cool place to visit.

[@tinkerbellblue5142]

Plenty of photography opportunities there, thanks for taking use with you, b safe 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@MichiganRocks]

Yeah, it's a really pretty spot.

[@jerryklutts8615]

So good to see things like that. Always good to get out of a "comfort zone" and try something different. Always learning stuff that way

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, I wish I would have studied up before making this video, but I'm also not afraid to admit when I don't know something. I'll admit that I didn't know much at all about the Cliff Mine.

[@jerryklutts8615]

@@MichiganRocks I do the same thing, ill go explore an old site, mine area, etc then back home i will look up more about it esp after i see the site and can see the pics and put things together.

[@davidl.turner1005]

Sort of off-topic but if you’re rockhounding in the Keweenaw you have to visit the A E Seaman Mineral Museum on the MTU campus in Houghton. Unbelievable specimens of Michigan Rocks and others from all over the world.

[@MichiganRocks]

I've been there a couple times and I agree completely. I went with my own family, my mom who has Alzheimers, and my sister. I thought someone would be bored in less than an hour, but the whole time someone was saying something like, "Whoa! Come look at this one!" Unbelievably cool rocks and minerals there.

[@davidg813]

Still a very interesting tour of the area that's a very interesting place it's unbelievable how much labor went into building all those rock walls and the chimney

[@MichiganRocks]

I really like rock walls and I was really impressed with them too.

[@puffinish]

Oh I love visiting Cliff Mine! I've found some neat copper chunks there.

[@captpaul8827]

One of the best places on the peninsula for copper chisel chips.

[@jancoburn4770]

I grew up in Laurium but live down state now. Just for info... there used to be a set of stairs that went from the top of the cliff to the bottom. It was still partially there in 1968. My grandfather worked for C&H mining as a carpenter. Helped build the steps. When I saw them last, years ago, they were haning in sections of the cliff wall. My fathers family mostly worked for C&H. My great uncle was a drill boy and died in an explosion when he was 14 at around the turn of the century. It must have been a very hard way of life back then. 😢

[@MichiganRocks]

I can't imagine how tough life was back then. We're a bunch of wimps in comparison, I think. I didn't see any sign of steps, if I was even in the same area where they were.

[@randimerrington6842]

Super enjoyed this, it's been a few years but we explored there about the same as you did; truly fun made me do more research about the mines. Thank you for sharing, we are enjoying your channel!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad you were not annoyed by my ignorance of what I was seeing.

[@davemi00]

Thank you, so enjoyed the exploration of that mine area. Those tailing hills looked huge.

[@MichiganRocks]

There was quite a bit of waste rock there. Lots to look through.

[@lynettepavelich7540]

Stuck in Chicago, waiting for my delayed plane to come home. Enjoying the trip to the UP. Can’t wait to get home to order some cool merch! Thx for taking us along.

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome. I'm glad I could help you pass your time in the airport.

[@midwestlakelife]

This is so wonderful. I live in Michigan and have never made the time to visit the copper mines. It's all so fascinating to me. Purest copper in the world. Michigan Copper is found all over the world in ancient buildings, ships and jewelry. The rock fences appear to be similar to cyclopean. Very similar to Megalith type structures in Greece, Peru, Lebanon and many other places. Michigan was home to many giants and a huge civilization before the last big cataclysm. The copper mine is much much older than Wikipedia reports it to be. All that is needed to confirm that is to look at copper found in ancient artifacts around the world. There is so much hidden history in Michigan to explore. So much evidence of past civilization still to be found.

[@MichiganRocks]

I don't think this copper mine is older than what Wikipedia or the sign in front of it says. But copper has been mined in this area for thousands of years, so copper mining in general is much older. If you've never been to the Keweenaw Peninsula or a bunch of other places in the U.P., I would encourage you to make the trip sometime. There are a lot of really pretty places to see.

[@debbielucas7792]

Great views, and another reason I enjoy your videos. While rock hunting, you always take the time to pan slowly around and share the views.

[@MichiganRocks]

It's difficult to remember to look around when I'm looking for rocks, but I remember once in a while.

[@deniseview4253]

I agree on the enjoying ruins. So great that their still standing. Love it. Thanks for sharing,

[@MichiganRocks]

The mortar has really crumbled on those stacks, so I hope they stay up without it.

[@Metal-Detecting-NC]

Hey there. I grew up in Michigan. My Grandfather worked at the Painesdale mine and my Great-Grandfather worked at Baltic #2. I found some very nice ore samples from the poor rock at Baltic #2 and Quincy (made a video of it last year). The Keweenaw Peninsula is some beautiful country. Keep an eye out for the ultra-rare copper arrowhead.

[@MichiganRocks]

I wasn’t aware that copper was made into arrowheads. I thought it would be too soft for that. I’ll check out your video.

[@mary-anneswanson8445]

That area you were in was awesome. The history, the stone remnants of the past mining structures and the gorgeous views and forest :) Thanks for taking me along on your exploration :) I hope you and Capt.Paul meet up and do a video together of the area :)

[@MichiganRocks]

That would be a lot of fun.

[@captpaul8827]

Well, you never know......

[@karenpacker8862]

What an awesome explore! It's so beautiful like all the UP!!

[@MichiganRocks]

I just love the U.P. The bugs get a little out of hand sometimes, but that's my only complaint.

[@madsteintist]

"Not knowing what you are doing" in a place like is just awesome! I can't wait to wander around there and check out those ruins and rocks.

[@MichiganRocks]

I had a ball, but didn’t feel like I provided much knowledge to anyone watching.

[@KatieReadsKoziesAndMore]

I consider the scenery worth your time even though you didn’t find a treasure trove of copper. What a beautiful site. I love seeing how nature reclaims her land when mankind walks away. But seeing things like the smoke stacks, and that marvelous wall, sets my imagination free. How did the miners work and live on this site? What was it like when the mine was producing more copper than any other mine at that time? What was it like when production ended? What must it have felt like to call it a day and walk away? Fascinating stuff. Thank you.

[@MichiganRocks]

I put a couple links that I found about the history of the mine in the description of this video.

[@donnaschaner3216]

It's very interesting. At least I can see without huffing and puffing. Ty

[@MichiganRocks]

I had to rest for a minute before filming some of these shots on the hill so I wasn't breathing hard into the microphone.

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

Man the history there. To be able to walk amongst the ruins of long lost lives is such a treasure. It’s seriously so cool to be able to experience it man. Even just on our devices. Thank you for taking us along Rob. It’s beautiful!

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

Doing research in the field with a view like that! What better place man. You found copper! Getting out of your comfort zone is so good. I agree though, meMiner would have loved it!

[@MichiganRocks]

I don’t mind walking around clueless by myself, but it’s a little embarrassing when I’m making a video. Rob, the clueless tour guide!

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

Michigan Rocks Oh man, being clueless when you’re out rockhounding means you’re exploring. It’s the best kind of Rockhounding man. It’s humble too 😉 No need to be embarrassed in the slightest.

[@Indyanas_ocean_view]

I loved the woods . They were so pretty and green. I also loved the old stone walls and chimneys too. very pretty!🥰😍😇💜

[@MichiganRocks]

Those ruins were my favorite part.

[@Indyanas_ocean_view]

@@MichiganRocks They were my favorite part too. 😍🥰😇💜

[@Smallathe]

Wonderful hike through nature and history. The copper finding is nice too! Better luck next time... :)

[@MichiganRocks]

I was very happy with my visit to the mine, just disappointed that I wasn’t able to be very informative for the video.

[@Smallathe]

@@MichiganRocks no worries... first try doesn't always work... :)

[@deltabravolima1514]

I can imagine seeing the miners pass through the same paths that you are walking on in the video. Thanks for the video!!

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesferry6717]

I got to explore a very different sort of copper mine in Cuba New Mexico last Summer. I had no idea what I was doing but I did manage to get some great azurite blueberries, some thunder eggs, and some black and green Nacimiento petrified wood. Getting out of your rockhounding comfort zone can be fun!

[@MichiganRocks]

That sounds like a fun place to visit!

[@CityRockhounding]

Thanks for taking us on your journey! It was like I was there walking with you. It's cool the see copper in raw form. I have to try that!

[@MichiganRocks]

I have another video from this spot coming out Friday. I was with a couple of geologists who explained what a lot of the minerals there are.

[@CityRockhounding]

@@MichiganRocks That's exciting, looking forward to that. Thanks for taking your time and effort into all of this. You have a great channel.

[@annconnellan4902]

Very beautiful. So impressed-no litter👍

[@MichiganRocks]

Yeah, I don’t remember seeing litter.

[@captpaul8827]

The industrial archeology group from Tech keep it very clean.

[@patmc59]

My wife and I took a trip to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw in 2007. Beautiful drive in the fall, the trees form a canopy on the highway. Being tourists we took a guided tour inside one of the mines up that way (bats and all). Interesting tour of a bygone era.

[@MichiganRocks]

I just love that whole area. Did you go up Brockway Mountain Drive? Stop at the Jam Pot?

[@jenkemp]

theres like ten times more people now that covid struck : (

[@MichiganRocks]

@@jenkemp I thought it was really crowded when I was there.

[@icatz]

What a great walk. I know a lot about copper mines in the SW but not where you are. Hitting the tailings is always fun. Wish I'd been there! TFS 💖🦅🦅

[@MichiganRocks]

It was tons of fun.

[@arizonaraven419]

My grandfather was a fireman on a train near you, worked for a Copper Mine, Quincey Hill I believe, died in 1937 in a train crash, rain night before n no one checked the track. He was only fatality. The old timers still remember.

[@MichiganRocks]

That's interesting. I'm sure there were a lot of lives lost in mining accidents. It's dangerous work. This isn't near where I live by the way, it's seven or eight hours from my house.

[@QuestForDetails]

I have been waiting for someone to go explore there, there are great mysteries that lead into pre history there, some pit mines in the area are older than all records and are from some lost past. I've heard millions of tons of ore were mined there in pre history and we don't know where the copper went, and in Europe they have the Bronze Age but never did find enough mines in all the east to explain where all the copper from the bronze came from....high on my bucket list ,like top ten in America! thanks for a look around, just even glimpses of the terrane are fascinating to me, Rock on !!

[@QuestForDetails]

and the metal detecting,! relics and copper nuggets !!!

[@MichiganRocks]

I read something someone else sent me yesterday about the copper possibly having been transported to Europe a very long time ago. That's really interesting.

[@captpaul8827]

So far, there is no definitive proof of this. Europe has plenty of sources for copper.

[@rsaldivar4218]

Great video. I’m in California. Missing Michigan. I have family up around Pickford, and the Sault area. Thanks!! Happy trails!

[@manisteerocks7092]

WOW! Neat adventure Rob!..I really liked the tour you provided. Thank you.!

[@MichiganRocks]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@melindakapp5838]

loved this! what an adventure for this 78 yr old granny! interesting how the copper looks in the raw! thanku! i had fun!

[@MichiganRocks]

I’m glad you enjoyed this little adventure. That place is really fun to explore.

[@odalaigh]

I was there with my kids this summer. They loved metal detecting. Good copper finds

[@MichiganRocks]

Did you find any larger pieces?

[@beckyschack4524]

I love this video! We're going here in 3 weeks to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. Is it easy to find the ruins (and path) from large dump piles visible from the parking area? I would love to explore there. We actually honeymooned in Cornwall, England for a few days and saw plenty of those towers. They stand-out in sharp contrast in a landscape nearly devoid of trees. In Cornwall, the towers were for the pumps as most of their mining was actually below sea level. If I knew how, I'd share some pictures I took, but I don't know how to add a pic :) Thanks for sharing!

[@MichiganRocks]

The ruins are easy to find. If you climb to the top of the big pile of rocks and walk to the back of it and go into the woods just a little, you should start to see walls. Facing the woods, walk just a little to the left to find the first tower that I showed. The path to the top is in that area. The other tower and walls are in the woods to the right of the pile of rocks. There are actually two rock piles on the bottom of the hill and it’s the woods in between them that has the stuff I showed at the end of the video. Good luck and happy anniversary!

[@beckyschack4524]

Great, thank you!!

[@pamcarter6595]

That was just beautiful...thanks for sharing..

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome, Pam.

[@agordianknot]

When I make a trip to Michigan there are many sites I probably would not have given a second thought about going to, but you have definitely changed my mind about that. Enjoyed the walk.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm still discovering new places to go see. We have a lot of cool stuff in this state.

[@tonywild1963]

That looks an amazing site to explore, I loved your walk through the forest, you just never know what you will come across. Maybe you could go again with a little more information. Thank you Rob.

[@MichiganRocks]

I definitely did not do my homework before going. I thought I was just going to poke around in the tailings piles when I went and ended up stumbling on all these cool ruins.

[@Bizz420]

I was thinking the same, meminer would have had a blast with his metal detector with you. Lol

[@MichiganRocks]

I'll have to invite him to come along next time.

[@virginiarocks]

Michigan Rocks that would be a really good video adventure IMHO!

[@darkwood777]

@@MichiganRocks Would love to see you and meminer rock hunting and comparing tumbled rocks in the same video, along with Daisy.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@darkwood777 I think that would be fun too. Maybe I’ll have to make a trip to Canada one of these days.

[@karenearly-horne8210]

Wow I miss home .everyone thinks I'm nuts for wanting to move home but I sure miss it . Florida's great but it's getting ridiculously high priced to live here .can't take the Michigan outta me

[@MichiganRocks]

Florida is a fun place to visit, but it's so flat. I like a few hills around.

[@ruthchapman3847]

Great adventure. Thanks for taking us along.

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks for coming!

[@flowerscordes7857]

I loved all the green rock..s look for the vain and color ...D

[@tompowell9016]

Rob, I found a website on the internet. Looks like you had a few rocks in your hand while perusing those piles that contained small greenstones....Lake Superior Magazine has an article showing polished stone and greenstone in Basalt..

[@MichiganRocks]

I think you're right. I suppose I should have brought a couple home. That's ok, I'll go back next summer and I have plenty of rocks in the basement to keep me busy this winter.

[@LongIslandsHardcoreDetectorist]

Really cool place, thx for bringing me along

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks for coming!

[@irishguyjg_2ndchancerecovery]

Watching now! I'm out of my element too lol. Great work 👍 .

[@LisaFrank1313]

Very cool! I was just up exploring the UP Labor Day. Did some metal detecting at a large mind dump, the old Central mine, I believe. Found some native copper and also some gypsum crystals. So many fun things to find in big rock piles!

[@MichiganRocks]

That was the other mine I debated about going to. I was there once before a few years ago. Found some copper.

[@captpaul8827]

More than likely it was calcite, not gypsum, that you found. Earlier this summer a large piece of silver and several smaller specimens were discovered at Central. I saw the big one and it was a beauty!

[@ispyfantasybw1567]

I was up there this summer.. visited the cliff cemetery..was sad to see it so overgrown

[@MichiganRocks]

I have seen the sign to it, but I haven't checked it out. Apparently, there are two or three cemeteries.

[@briank8077]

@@MichiganRocks I believe there are two cemeteries; one catholic and one protestant.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@briank8077 I was told there's a Jewish one too.

[@storytimewithunclebill1998]

That was an amazing place with an awesome view. Those walls and chimneys were really cool. Had to suck looking at all that and not really knowing what to look for. See a Capt Paul in the comments knows a little something. You guys thought of doing a video together, or you already did it and I havent seen it? Was fun to watch. Great video

[@MichiganRocks]

At the risk of offending everyone else, Capt. Paul is my favorite commenter. He is an actual geologist and adds a lot to the comments. He really knows his stuff. I love how he can correct me without being offensive or talking down to me. We did meet up this past summer. Oh, and his wife is a geologist too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZysdn13bZ13oMU

[@KelJayP]

Love this! Take it many steps further ~ I was lucky enough to tour Revere Copper Works outside of Syracuse NY, where no doubt many, many shiploads of UP copper were delivered for production. All the shiny copper products were an exciting sight to see, but they had just introduced their "pre-patenized" green finished sheet for roofs and gutters. No thank you lol.

[@MichiganRocks]

I kind of like how copper patinas to a green color.

[@littledabwilldoya9717]

I love seeing the green patina of copper, especially on old copper roofs of huge old stone churches. So picturesque!🙂

[@sparband]

Be careful of poison ivy. In California we have poison oak. All I have to do is look at it to get the rash. Lol. Beautiful area. I didn’t know that Michigan was on my bucket list until I started watching your videos. I don’t do cold, super hot or humidity, so I would have to research the best time to come explore and rock hunt. 70-75 would be perfect.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm always on the lookout for poison ivy. It's not usually too hard to find. I went disc golfing for the first time this summer and the whole course was poison ivy. It was a long shower after that, but I must have scrubbed well enough because I didn't get it. We have a lot of cold and a lot of humidity in the summer. Spring or fall would probably be your best bet.

[@sparband]

You are lucky that you didn’t get it. I never used to, but now do every time. Why the heck would they build a disc golf course in poison ivy. Makes you wonder what they were thinking. My brother in law likes to disc golf here. Thanks for the time recommendation.

[@jimmymac4559]

“I’m kinda out of my element” at a copper mine. I see what you did there.

[@MichiganRocks]

You know how people always say, "no pun intended", but usually the pun was very much intended? I think I can safely say that no pun was intended. I really wish I had realized I was making a joke. That's pretty funny.

[@jimmymac4559]

Michigan Rocks it was funny and I enjoyed it😄

[@thirstfast1025]

I just learned about "copper replacement agates" that only come from pretty much exactly where you are: tailings of copper mines on the Keweenaw peninsula... If you ever come across some, I'll trade you 100:1 Thunder Bay seam agate or amethyst for a specimen. At 11:42 it looks like you're picking up the right kind of rock to find them... I'm a little jealous but also very excited watching you pick around in this!

[@captpaul8827]

Only a few mines on the Keweenaw produce the copper agates; Cliff is not one of them.

[@thirstfast1025]

@@captpaul8827 Do you ever find them? I'll offer you the same trade.

[@MichiganRocks]

If I ever found a copper replacement agate, I’d be keeping it for myself. That would be the best find ever.

[@thirstfast1025]

@@MichiganRocks Me too! Hope you find one some day!

[@patriciawilliams4314]

Interesting video, we have camped at Copper Harbor, love that area. Have you ever hiked Isle Royal, we started training to do it all but I backed out. There is so much to learn there. Good job. Thanks again for sharing with us.

[@MichiganRocks]

I wish I had been a little more informed, but I wasn’t expecting to find the ruins. I haven’t been to Isle Royale, but I’d love to go. My wife wouldn’t be interested in doing something quite that rustic.

[@patriciawilliams4314]

Michigan Rocks My nephew wanted us to go with him. It was extremely involved. Don’t blame your wife, I opted out quickly. 😂

[@davidl.turner1005]

@@MichiganRocks It’s not all rustic camping. Rock Harbor Lodge on NE end of IR has nice basic accommodations and a dining hall for meals. hiking trails and canoe/kayak rentals nearby. NPS has some guided field trips too.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@davidl.turner1005 Oh, I didn't know that. I still doubt I could get her to go, but maybe.

[@outdoorstudios2022]

Hello Rob. Thanks for sharing!

[@zacharysnyder2520]

This looks like the places I used to explore as a kid with my friends.

[@MichiganRocks]

Fun place.

[@patifagan6774]

Thanks Rob for the tour

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome, Pati!

[@moonstruck581]

Sure enjoyed your video one of the places I want to check out next time in the U.P.

[@MichiganRocks]

I had a ball there, even though I was clueless.

[@velmamunoz3263]

I was in the area this summer. We just grabbed whatever we saw that had nodules and green looking areas. Turned out I did get some green stones and copper. Can't wait to go up again now that I know what to look for now.

[@MichiganRocks]

Cool, I'm glad you found some!

[@okboomer6201]

I have climbed that pile many timed. Best mineral collecting is at the Mohawk mine rock piles.

[@MichiganRocks]

This is one of the few piles that’s on public land and is legal to dig in from what I understand. What is the name of the mine in Mohawk?

[@captpaul8827]

Lol, Mohawk! Although many of those are privately held.

[@deannaprice3531]

Very interesting like to watch about Michigan rocks.

[@SisterShirley]

About 30 years ago I went to a New Year's Eve wedding in Copper Harbor. The whole week was incredible. My friends were married at the Log Cabin Church Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church. On the way home I stopped into a shop in Calumet and bought 2 bookends made out of a green stone sawed in two with gorgeous veins of copper running through them. Only the inside where it was cut is polished. The outside is rough. I just had to have them so I spent the $100 on them and am still in awe of them when I pass by them on my shelf.

[@MichiganRocks]

The only problem with book ends like that is that the polished parts are either on the bottom or against a book. Sounds like you're not using them as book ends.

[@jenkemp]

Hi, I just found the cliff road a few days ago. Im in Calumet now. Looking forward to exploring the mine sites. I dont really know anything about rocks. Hope life is treating you good. MJ PS i did find the old red brick buildings left over from the mining era very interesting. I made a video.

[@MichiganRocks]

Have fun at the Cliff. You don’t have to know much about rocks to have fun there as I clearly showed in this video.

[@123uschie]

Wow that is a very cool place! Love those rock walls!

[@MichiganRocks]

I love rock walls in general and these are way cooler than most.

[@priscillaross-fox9407]

One of my favorite mines. Wow! Someone put a bridge over the river. We drove part way up one time. Too long to type the story. LOL @5:41 is that a piece of thin metal, maybe iron, in the rock? I saw that too but no idea why its there. I found a small rock that had a single dark blue crystal in it, I don't think I was ever able to get an ID on it. Michigan Tech students were up there doing some research a few years ago. That's a place to go to for information. There's also a store in Calumet that sells books about the mining and different mines. You need to go back and your timing looks to be good as far as bugs go.

[@MichiganRocks]

It was way too windy that day for bugs, although I didn't have any problem in the woods either. You might enjoy this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZysdn13bZ13oMU

[@carlfitzpatrick5864]

In the beginning of the video when you cross over the wooden bridge I found micro specs of silver not a lot but 4-5 specs in 3 gold pan full I ran. You can a lot of stuff if you spend the time

[@MichiganRocks]

That's awesome. I have found gold in the black sand on the beaches in the U.P. I haven't found silver though.

[@LadyYoop]

OUTSTANDING!!! There's also supposed to be an old Jewish cemetery someplace up that way. Cool adventure! Thank you!!

[@MichiganRocks]

I read something about a Catholic cemetery and a German Protestant cemetery. There’s a sign showing where one is located, but I don’t know which one. I didn’t see anything about a Jewish cemetery.

[@LadyYoop]

@@MichiganRocks There's one hiding up there....several folks I know have been there....doesn't that just knock your socks off, to be so deep in the woods in such a spot and know how many soles are where your soul is now! Love it!

[@MichiganRocks]

@@LadyYoop Lots of cool places to explore in your area.

[@LadyYoop]

@@MichiganRocks AMEN to that!

[@davidl.turner1005]

I see online ref’s to a Forest Hills Jewish Cemetery near Calumet. Temple Jacob in Hancock near the lift bridge has been active to some degree since 1912.

[@envywizard]

you have such good energy

[@MichiganRocks]

It helps if you turn off the camera during the huffing and puffing.

[@markreetz1001]

Awesome video Rob. You were enjoying the ruins more than the rocks...but ruins are rocks, Rob? :)

[@MichiganRocks]

Good point, but the ruins are the types of rocks that can't be taken home. I do love rock walls though. I have built several in my yard.

[@SmallWonda]

Interesting - Yes, I think Daisy would show you the Keepers! That's where having an expert interpreting for you would be fascinating, as there were probably loads of samples worth taking, but without being able to ID, all looks like lots of old rocks! They really were busy weren't they? Always have found the Keweenaw fascinating - thanks for taking us along. 👍🐾🦘😉

[@MichiganRocks]

Yes, I definitely need a guide with me. You can read about rocks in books, but when you are actually there, so many rocks can just be overwhelming.

[@SisterShirley]

@@MichiganRocks I think Capt Paul is your man. He sort of offered, after the fact, but maybe he'll issue a raincheck 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

@@SisterShirley Did you see this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZysdn13bZ13oMU

[@darkwood777]

That would be a good place for making a movie about a lost civilization

[@MichiganRocks]

It would be a good place to make a movie about the Cliff Mine so I could learn something. But, yes, I thought about how the old walls looked like castle walls.

[@dancrites453]

Very cool. When did you make this trip? Thanks. Hope all is well...

[@MichiganRocks]

I think it was the middle of August.

[@Hotbeefsamich]

Great video! Watch out for bald face hornets nests about chest high going up the hill!! If you keep going up to copper country you will meet some cool folks that will give you some hints and you will catch the bug...especially if you get a good metal detector that has good ground balances such as a Garrett AT Pro. I remember the first mine I visited was the Cliff and i found a copper chisel chip by the road. Since then we always go up to that area for vacation!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks for the tips. Thankfully I didn't have any hornet problems. I have the rock bug for sure, but most of my hunting is done on beaches. I haven't learned what to look for at the mines.

[@rickbailey7183]

Even though those copper miners didn't make much, word is that they never got arthritis, and never got sick.

[@MichiganRocks]

Huh, I never heard that.

[@southforkmining]

Just a thought when checking those old tailings rocks you were picking up, crack them open with your rock pick. It will be easier to see the rock on a fresh face. As opposed to the weathered surface you were looking at. Great ruins nice video.

[@MichiganRocks]

My son in law, who is a geologist, tells me the same thing about beach worn rocks. The trouble is, I'm still not sure what I'm looking at inside. I'm still learning though.

[@captpaul8827]

One of the first things you're taught as a geology student is to get a fresh surface too look at. I teach this to all my students when out in the field...

[@davidl.turner1005]

Thanks for another great vid. See Don Chaput, The Cliff-America’s First Great Copper Mine, for history. The Copper Country Explorer site had great explanatory tours of the ruins of this and about everything else up there. Not sure that site is still up.

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks David, I'll check that out.

[@davidl.turner1005]

@@MichiganRocks Looks like the Copper Country Explorer site is down but I see it on Facebook and Pinterest. Mike has excellent Field Guides to any place you’d want to go. Site maps, photos, diagrams- amazing stuff.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@davidl.turner1005 I found the same thing last nigh when I looked it up.

[@teeteepalooza]

what an interesting excursion! and bonus: you got used a pickax! the small rock with the copper layer was cool. the slope with the loose stones was 😲 scary. the ruins were fascinating & the chimney was beautiful. the modern concrete with rebar area was curious. there’s an interesting story there. 👍🏻

[@MichiganRocks]

I was back there last week. This time, I drove up to the top too. I think the top part (that I drove to) is called Cliff North. There's another one of those big chimneys up there too.

[@pennyhoward3438]

Thank you so very much. I really enjoyed this video!

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome. Sorry I was a bit clueless about what I was seeing. It was really fun to explore though.

[@selfretired3025]

I'm curious how to get the Chlorastrolite out of the basalt. You had a really nice specimen! The ruins are cool. I'll have to stop up there. Thank you for this!

[@MichiganRocks]

I haven't tried that yet, but check out this video. It's in a Facebook group called, "MI Greenstoners". You might have to join the group to see it. facebook.com/jordan.luebben/videos/263486538976686

[@selfretired3025]

@@MichiganRocks will do! Thanks! :)

[@jeffbrown3963]

Interesting video. Thanks!

[@Vansautter]

Hi there Rob my wife and I have been fans of your channel for a long time , keep up the good work . We took home a lot of rocks from the cliff and the central mine and have recently tumbled some , and wow do they ever look cool.. wish we could show them to you . they are still in the rough stage can not wait to see them polished can we send a picture of them to you on your channel? can not figure how to put one here.bet you would like too try some if you have not already

[@MichiganRocks]

Send a picture to my Instagram account. It’s in the description of this video. I have never actually tumbled anything from there.

[@Vansautter]

@@MichiganRocks Thanks for the reply Rob , my wife is thrilled that we can send a picture to you , the colors in the rocks is exceptional hope it show in the photos one of her coolest tumbles ever.

[@Vansautter]

Hello again tried to do the instagram thing , can,t figure it out, if I put pictures on my facebook could you look to see them there ?

[@MichiganRocks]

@@Vansautter I should be able to, as long as you have the settings that allow non-friends to view pictures.

[@debzyj376]

Such a cool adventure ....thank you. 👍🏻💙

[@MichiganRocks]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@pamcole2097]

Another great video! Thank you!!

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome, Pam.

[@chickey333]

Was there any hazards encountered up there? you know like deer flies, ticks, bears, sasquatch... you know, the usual? I might add this to my bucket list.

[@MichiganRocks]

The most hazardous thing I noticed was the loose rock I was walking on. The bugs weren't bad.

[@chickey333]

@@MichiganRocks Thank You! Hopefully next summer. I'd like to explore a couple other of the "ghost towns" left over from the mining or logging days. Thanks again...

[@diedredunham7383]

So many times I wanted you to pick something up and take it home. There was one fist sized stone that had alot of orange spots in it I felt was very interesting. I was a rock hound kind of when I was a kid. Mom always said I had to wash then if I brought them into my bedroom. I had a place under one of the houses bushes I stuck some under, because they were bigger. I'd like to go to a place like that!! So much fun.

[@MichiganRocks]

I went to several mines with my kids when they were younger and brought a couple buckets of rocks home. They sat in my basement collecting dust until I finally gave them away. I have found that I would much rather bring home something that I can polish or make something out of. I did slab some rocks from mine piles that had copper in them, but the rest of the rock was very crumbly, so the slabs were useless for making jewelry. I do have a friend who has made jewelry from mine rock, so I know that it's possible to find more solid pieces, but I just don't know how to recognize the good from the bad yet. Maybe someday.

[@jimjones8268]

I like the 4000 year old copper mines.

[@MichiganRocks]

Haven't been to any of those yet, but I know copper has been mined in this area for a very long time.

[@davearbogast2882]

Hi Greg, too bad you didn't first consulted a map of these mines are Michigan Tech's mining school. Had you, you would have gone to the top of the tailing on the "cliff" to find their source - a brick vertical mine shaft. And, perhaps the three 1,200' deep shaft now caped with timbers and dirt. They are to the West of the horizontal shaft entrance you saw. Next time, think about where these tailing are coming from, not what rocks the old timers left behind.

[@MichiganRocks]

You're right, I did not do my research before this. I'm not much of a historian, just a guy who loves rocks. I didn't really plan to do so much exploring of the mine ruins when I went there that day. The plan was to look for rocks, and then the video just went a different way. I'm Rob, by the way, you might be confusing me with Greig from the MeMiner KZbin channel.

[@77rockcity]

I rode my mtb through a mine in Greenland, MI too cool

[@MichiganRocks]

Did you stop and take a look at the rocks?

[@vincentfontana7915]

My Mom's side of the family were all copper miners I still have family in Mohawk. They live in the restored Mohawk mining captains house. Here you were at the top of the upper cliff were two vertical shifts from what I could see from pictures.

[@MichiganRocks]

There's a lot of history in that area. I just love visiting up there every summer. My sister lives in the area.

[@davidhile5363]

This was really very interesting! I did a screen shot of the sign at the beginning so I could read the whole thing. The rocks are definitely a lot prettier at the beach. Ha Ha I wouldn’t have a clue what to look for. You have to wonder what was the purpose of all the stone walls. We’re some of them foundations for building. And then what was the purpose of the concrete footings with the threaded rods, mountings for the steam engines ? The problem with being a senior citizen is that there’s very few old timers left to ask about how things used to be or how they did things back then. I’ve seen very old houses with foundations that had cut stones about the size of concrete blocks. You wonder how they did that back then. Have you watched the PBS series “Poldark” that ran the past 5 years. A small part of the series involved copper mines that were owned by the Poldark family in England. Their mines were on the top of hills, had big square stone smoke stacks. They had steam engines and I believe had to run pumps to keep the water out of the shafts. That had to be a scary job for sure. I appreciate all the info that Captain Paul gives us. Thanks for another delightful excursion !!!

[@MichiganRocks]

I have not watched Poldark. Capt. Paul commented that the smoke stacks were for the boilers for steam engines. I don’t know what any of the other foundations were for.

[@captpaul8827]

Many of the walls and foundations are for the boiler houses and the steam engines, as well as other workshops. One of the pads I believe was for a headframe. It's been a while since I've been back there; too busy looking for specimens.... ;-)

[@davidhile5363]

Capt Paul Thank you for sharing your knowledge !!! It would have been great to have seen this in operation. I love old stuff. Are you a Michigan resident ?

[@captpaul8827]

I was raised on the Keweenaw. Sadly, I had to leave for work...