We had one scheduled stop before heading to Eagle River. On a recent TV show we learned that the world's largest known (per Smithsonian Magazine) float copper "nugget" was displayed at the Presque Isle Park near Marquette. It was originally discovered on the Quincy Mine property in Houghton, Michigan using a metal detector. (Mike REALLY wants one of those!!!)
That was the reason we had gone out of our way to Marquette in the first place. Just out of town, we were briefly side-tracked at another ore dock. This one was in working order. A long ship (low lighter red with white area) was docked along side receiving a load of iron ore. Learn about the loading process in this 1:44 minute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdBJZLHDV8w. Interesting!
Back to our main mission. The weight of this float copper is estimated at 53,100 pounds (28,085 kgs) and size is 14 feet by 12 feet by 17 inches thick. Float is a geological term used to denote any material that was carried by erosion (or glacier) away from its spot of formation.
We drove all round the island looking for the nugget. We didn't see any directional signs, but it is so massive that we figured we just couldn't miss it. Alas, you won't see photos because we never did find it.
Near the end of our exploration, we asked some ladies where it was located and they said it was now owned by folks in Golden, Colorado. It had been on exhibit at the Chinese Mineral Show in Hunan, China in 2016, but they didn't know where it went from there.
Read more and see photos at:
https://collectorsedge.com/blogs/news/collectors-edge-minerals-purchases-the-worlds-largest-float-copper-3-24-2016
We did see lots of embedded copper in its natural state among boulders and along the shore of Lake Superior. So not a total loss. And the park was lovely even on this cold and sleety day.
On the way out of town we saw a bit of Northern Michigan's campus.
Continuing southwest to Wisconsin we saw the first significant snow of this winter. Keep in mind this was October 4th.
We passed through several small towns including Negaunee. We liked their City Hall building, but found out later it is now a senior citizen's home. Pretty cool!
We made a quick pass through Ishpeming, a place we had not explored and just off the main road. It was a typical small up north kind of town. There was a mining mural, reminiscent of older times. I'm sure that lunch box was carrying pasties!
And it had an unusual turbine on top of its highest hill. It was the first of this type we had seen. It is 162 feet tall and a vertical-axis style turbine. We learned later that is not working and is set to be dismantled. Boohoo!
Next we drove through the village of Bruce Crossing, a tiny burg with not much more than a post office and a bar. As some of our best friends are Lynn and Sandy Bruce, we decided to wet our whistles and give them a toast in Twilly's.
A sign on the front door said it all. It wasn't anything to do with Scotland, as our friends the Bruces are.
We were the only two inside, but it was warm, with interesting decor, and good, cheap drinks.
Back on the road for the last leg of the day.
That was the reason we had gone out of our way to Marquette in the first place. Just out of town, we were briefly side-tracked at another ore dock. This one was in working order. A long ship (low lighter red with white area) was docked along side receiving a load of iron ore. Learn about the loading process in this 1:44 minute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdBJZLHDV8w. Interesting!
Back to our main mission. The weight of this float copper is estimated at 53,100 pounds (28,085 kgs) and size is 14 feet by 12 feet by 17 inches thick. Float is a geological term used to denote any material that was carried by erosion (or glacier) away from its spot of formation.
We drove all round the island looking for the nugget. We didn't see any directional signs, but it is so massive that we figured we just couldn't miss it. Alas, you won't see photos because we never did find it.
Near the end of our exploration, we asked some ladies where it was located and they said it was now owned by folks in Golden, Colorado. It had been on exhibit at the Chinese Mineral Show in Hunan, China in 2016, but they didn't know where it went from there.
Read more and see photos at:
https://collectorsedge.com/blogs/news/collectors-edge-minerals-purchases-the-worlds-largest-float-copper-3-24-2016
We did see lots of embedded copper in its natural state among boulders and along the shore of Lake Superior. So not a total loss. And the park was lovely even on this cold and sleety day.
On the way out of town we saw a bit of Northern Michigan's campus.
Continuing southwest to Wisconsin we saw the first significant snow of this winter. Keep in mind this was October 4th.
We made a quick pass through Ishpeming, a place we had not explored and just off the main road. It was a typical small up north kind of town. There was a mining mural, reminiscent of older times. I'm sure that lunch box was carrying pasties!
And it had an unusual turbine on top of its highest hill. It was the first of this type we had seen. It is 162 feet tall and a vertical-axis style turbine. We learned later that is not working and is set to be dismantled. Boohoo!
Next we drove through the village of Bruce Crossing, a tiny burg with not much more than a post office and a bar. As some of our best friends are Lynn and Sandy Bruce, we decided to wet our whistles and give them a toast in Twilly's.
A sign on the front door said it all. It wasn't anything to do with Scotland, as our friends the Bruces are.
We were the only two inside, but it was warm, with interesting decor, and good, cheap drinks.
Back on the road for the last leg of the day.
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