Keweenaw Peninsula

1997 Mining History Association Field Trip

Caledonia Copper Mine

Mass, Michigan

June 9, 1997

The Caledonia Mine is located near Mass, Michigan, about 40 miles southwest of Houghton. It is one of several area mines including the Mass Mine, Knowlton Mine, and the Nebraska Mine that produced over 72 million pounds of copper during sporadic periods of mining from the 1860s until the 1950s. Additionally, several exploration projects have evaluated these mines at different times. Richard Whiteman, owner and operator of Red Metal Minerals and the Caledonia Mine, invited a group of MHAers to the mine for a post-conference tour of the 19th-century Knowlton lode and Nebraska mine workings which are accessed through the Caledonia. At the time of the visit the mine was producing specimens of native copper and other copper minerals.

CLICK ON A PHOTO TO DISPLAY A LARGER IMAGE

MHAers are all suited up for the visit to the mines.

Inside an underground stope area at the Caledonia Mine.

(Above) Tom Rosemeyer fires up a jackleg at a pillar that was producing good copper crystals.

(Left) A large mass of native copper protruding from the back.

Climbing two levels up from the Caledonia into the 19th-century Knowlton stopes.

Mark Langenfeld inspects a small,19th-century skip in the Knowlton workings.

Examining a 19th-century wooden ore cart in the Knowlton workings.

(Above)Tom Rosemeyer examines a remarkably intact Cornish pump and wooden pump rod in the Knowlton shaft. Roger Burt (off camera) got very excited about this feature.

(Right) Another view of the pumping equipment, this time, looking down the inclined shaft. The metal arm extending from the pump rod operated the lift pump as the rod moved up and down.

(Above)Huge white pine stulls and lagging in the Knowlton Mine are still doing their job supporting the back after 100 years.

(Right) Lots of ice in the adjacent Nebraska Mine workings which are also accessed from the Caledonia Mine.