The Ontonagon Copper Company was organized in 1844 to explore two separate tracts of land; one around the bluffs near Rockland and the other around where the Ontonagon Boulder was discovered near Victoria. Exploration work conducted in 1845 and 1846 at the Victoria location discovered native silver, epidote, and copper in the area. It was also reported that no copper was found at the site of the Boulder. Copper was also found near a ridge along the Ontonagon River. Most of the mining operations were focused on ancient pits discovered during exploration and also worked the amygdaloid veins on the property. The mine operated until 1853 when the property became part of the Forest Mining Company and later bought by the Victoria Mining Company. Today, any evidence of this mine is underwater as a result of Victoria Dam.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Copper

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent

North America PlateTectonic Plate

Mid-continent DomainDomain
Mid-continent RiftNarrow Rift

USA

Michigan
- Keweenaw PeninsulaPeninsula
Midcontinent RiftGeologic Province

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References

(1902) A Manual of the Copper Industry of the United States and Foreign Countries. The Copper Handbook Vol. 2. Horace J. Stevens

Kilpela, T. (1996) Copper Mining in Ontonagon County. 17 pages.

Kaminski-Hamka, T. (2011) The Copper Mines of Ontonagon County, Michigan. Copperlady Press. 154 pages.

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