Yalmer F Primeau's Photo Gallery
K3P-P2FDatolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Dimensions: 7.0 cm x 5.4 cm x 3.4 cm
A classic 7cm Deleware Mine datolite, exhibiting an eye-watering red color, fracture-free interior, and complete back. Datolite specimens of this size and caliber were first recovered from the dumps of the Deleware Mine by early local collectors in the 1930s-40s, and would come to define the locality. While most any color can be seen represented in the nodules of the locality, the red datolites managed to achieve such sizes and perfection that they firmly became inseparable from the image of the ideal datolite, dominating displays wherever they appear. This specimen is an excellent example of some of the most treasured and sought-after members of the Keweenaw mineral canon. Acquired from Matt Heilman, 2022.
2TN-Q1HDatolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Dimensions: 4.5 cm x 3.2 cm x 1.0 cm
A flawless, semi-transparent dark red datolite nodule from the Keweenaw’s Delaware Mine. This specimen is from a find made by prolific collector John Perona on September 7-9, 2004 that was detailed in Rocks and Minerals. In total, the find produced 630 individual datolite nodules adjacent to and imbedded within a 400 pound boulder located in the depths of the mine dump. This particular half belongs to one of only about thirty nodules of this appearance, the most scarce variety recovered. The three day find which revealed this nodule is testament to the very best days that datolite collecting ever offered. Acquired from Steve Whelan of Tamarack Minerals.
Sandstone Bed - Owl Creek
Shown here is a heavily weathered outcrop of sandstone appearing on the west bank of Owl Creek ~100 feet south of the Old Copper Falls Mine, and 1/2 mile north of the Owl Creek Fissure and Copper Falls mine proper. This particular bed of sandstone is notable for being one of the oldest sedimentary beds considered part of the Copper Harbor Conglomerate. It also marks the lower horizon of the Old Copper Falls Fissure, which was unusually set between two sandstone beds well to the north of both the Greenstone Flow and the Ashbed Flow. Few mines worked fissures in such horizons, save for the Clark and East Vein near Copper Harbor.
Shoreline and Mine Dump
Mine dump (right of center) as seen on the Lake Superior shore in July 2022. Not terribly much of interest within the mine dump though a metal detector might turn up more. Veins on the nearby shore contain native copper and chalcocite variably. One of just a handful of keweenawan copper mines not located in Michigan!
TEW-GF9Datolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Dimensions: 54 mm x 51 mm x 19 mm
A sliced and polished half of a flawless, medium sized datolite nodule from the Michigan Mine in Ontonagon County, showing a pink hue with red inclusions sparingly to one side. Due to its striking similarity to other specimens, I highly suspect it is from the 1980s underground finds of Bob Barron. While he collected numerous flawless datolites from a few different spots underground, the majority were found in a single pillar separating the 2nd and 3rd levels. In any case, the subdued pink colors, red inclusions, and bubbly white exterior are characteristic of the fruits of this remarkable find.
FD8-6DHDatolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Dimensions: 42 mm x 35 mm x 22 mm
A superb datolite nodule showing excellent color, attractive veining around the edges, decent size, a flawless interior, and a complete back. It is one of the best datolites in my collection. An old specimen from the Flintsteel Mine. When these two small mines (the Flintsteel and Nassau) were first collected in the 1970s, they afforded small caches of wonderfully colorful datolites in red, pink, and yellow to the knowledgeable digger. Today, while these two locations still afford datolite nodules, colors like these are generally no longer seen.
UKY-WWYDatolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Dimensions: 49 mm x 41 mm x 19 mm
Shown here is a sliced and polished datolite half from the Drexel Mine. It displays a dark green color and is an excellent representative piece for one of the mine’s most notable varieties of nodular datolite. According to Jeffrey Anderson, this type of datolite showing green colors came from diggings in the far end of the mine dump, and reached much larger sizes than the smaller but colorful red/orange/pink types found elsewhere at the locality. Though this piece is more of a medium sized specimen, it is the largest Drexel datolite I have.
Mine Dumps
A view of the Evergreen Bluff Mine’s dumps. Altogether a fairly small operation, but a long-time great spot for collecting. Much like the nearby Ridge Mine, silver and datolite are the main minerals to be found, with a few specimens of spectacular crystals of silver known to have been recovered.
Edit: Land ownership status has changed and accessibility is now in question.
5XD-UEQDatolite CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Dimensions: 28 mm x 26 mm
Datolite nodules are very rare from the Mohawk/Ahmeek area mines, but they are known to occur. This small nodule, labeled as coming from the Ahmeek Mine, shows rare tones of black forming odd patterns contrasting with a white backdrop. This coloration is most likely due to minute inclusions of the copper oxide tenorite. Its whispy patterns of black remind me of nodules from the Arcadian Mine or Lake Mine further south.
Workings on the Childs Fissure
The Childs Fissure Mine and Old Copper Falls Mine were both worked between 1845 and 1850 by the Copper Falls Company, which had located two smaller copper-bearing fissures just north of its proper workings on the Owl Creek Fissure. The Childs Fissure is located parallel to the Owl Creek Fissure, only a few feet east of the latter’s terminus. A single shaft was sunk on this vein, visible today as a depression in the ground surrounded by fallen barbed wire. The shaft is accompanied by a rather deep trench, shown here. Some very overgrown mine dumps exist at the site that have not been collected in quite some time. Photo taken June 20, 2020.
