Mayflower Old Colony Mine, Centennial, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA

Commodities (Major) - Copper; (Minor) - Silver
Deposit Type: Lode
Development Status: Past Producer
Deposit Model: 96: Native Cu
Host Rock Unit: Kearsarge Amygdaloid, Portage Lake Volcanics
Host Rock: Basalt

An underground copper mine consisting of five shafts located near Laurium. This mine was the result of the merger of the Mayflower and Old Colony Mining Companies in 1911. Both companies organized in 1898 and are located adjacent to each other. Both companies worked the same amygdaloid lode (some said this was the Isle Royal Lode, but geologic studies doubt this). This property is located very close to the Keweenaw Fault, the major structural feature of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Reports from both companies state the rock was highly fractured and in some cases, sandstone was encountered. Another fault, the Mayflower, was also discovered on the property. According to company reports for the combined venture, these faults made it very difficult to consistently follow the ore lodes. Another shaft was sunk in 1919 to work the Mayflower Lode. By 1920, most work was concentrated on crosscuts and by 1926, the company was focusing on a conglomerate in search of copper. The last company report known is from 1930; it is assumed the company closed sometime after this time. Today, there is a rock pile from the Mayflower operations that exists, but it lies on private property and permission must be obtained before entering. Local collectors note that copper and chalcocite can be found on the piles.

Mineral List

6 entries listed. 5 valid minerals.

References