Who owns White Pine Mine?
In July 2021, Highland completed the acquisition of the White Pine North copper project from Copper Range Company, a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Copper mineralization was first recognized in the early 1850’s and various small, short-lived mining operations at White Pine began in 1865.
When did the White Pine Mine close?
The mine found some reprieve by 1985, but it closed permanently in 1995. It had reached a depth of 2,700 feet and produced 4.2 billion pounds of coppery and 47 million ounces of silver. After closing, different fates befell the former White Pine buildings.
How much copper is left in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan?
Orvana estimates that approximately one billion pounds of copper are present at their site, along with smaller quantities of silver. Studies indicate that 800 million pounds (360,000 metric tons) of copper can be extracted, as well as 3,456,000 ounces of silver. Production would last 13 years, based on those reserves.
Is there still copper in the Keweenaw Peninsula?
These events brought a rush of copper-seeking prospectors into the Upper Peninsula in the early 1840s. Copper mining has been almost continuous in the Keweenaw Peninsula area for the 150 years since then. During that time over 12 billion pounds of native copper have been mined.
Where is White Pine Mine Michigan?
Copper Range Company’s White Pine mine is located near White Pine (approximate population 1,200) in Ontonagon County, Michigan, on the Upper Michigan Peninsula. The company’s mill and smelter are six miles south of Lake Superior.
Where does the purest copper come from?
Earth’s largest and purest copper deposits are found around North America’s Great Lakes. At some point, Native Americans learned to harvest the ore and heat, hammer, and grind it into tools.
Why did mining stop in Michigan?
The zinc, copper and gold-rich mine is the first gold mine in Michigan since the 1990s. Ropes, the state’s last gold mine, collapsed in 1989. Although the mining resumed in 1991, failing gold prices prompted its closure after more than a century of operations.
Where is the largest copper mine in the world?
Escondida Mine
The Escondida Mine in Chile is by far the world’s largest copper mine.
Are there any working copper mines in Michigan?
Eagle Overview Eagle Mine is an underground, high-grade nickel and copper mine located in western Marquette County of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is the first mine to be permitted under Michigan’s Part 632 Non-Ferrous Mineral Mining Law.
Is white pine native to Michigan?
In Michigan we have two native hard pine species: red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana). Soft pines, in contrast, mostly have needles in fascicles of five. Michigan’s native soft pine is our state tree, eastern white pine (Pinus strobus).
What county is Ontonagon MI in?
Ontonagon County
Ontonagon/Counties
Where is the richest copper mine?
Chile
Escondida copper mine in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is the world’s largest copper mine by reserve. The mine contained more than 32 million tonnes (Mt) of recoverable copper reserves at the end of 2012.
