Category Archives: Copper Country

Keweenaw Mineral Hunting

Central Exploration (remember the big piles?).

Happy Datolite diggers.

bridgeup

Why would the bridge be up when rock hunting is beyond it?

This past week, as is our norm, we made our annual trek to the Keweenaw Peninsula for a week of rock hunting. Every year it seems that the mine spoil piles continue to become extinct because they are being crushed and used as road fill. Where giant piles of rock used to be are now fairly open, flat empty spaces. I expect within the next few years that rock and mineral hunting activity here may be a thing of the past. Many of what used to be county-owned, or easily accessed hunting grounds are now privately owned, or gone. Due to liability issues private owners do not welcome groups of rockhounds. Only a few years back we used to come up for rock hunting events sponsored by the AE Seaman Mineral Museum, including hunting various spoil piles, lectures and demonstrations by the experts at Michigan Tech. This was formerly known as Red Metal Week, then the Keweenaw Mineral Retreat and lasted an entire week. The local rock and mineral club has put in many volunteer hours over many years to make these events happen. Now the event is co sponsored by the AE Seaman Mineral Museum, and Keweenaw Gem & Gift. This is a shortened week, with the hunts starting on Wednesday and end on Saturday.

Datolite/Chlorastrolite. My best find.

My best find was a large seam Datolite that appears covered with Chlorastrolite.

After staking my claim, I dig it.

Rock hunting during these events consist of fee digs each day at different sites. These different mine sites still have copper, easily found with metal detectors. I am normally not interested in Copper but will pick up a piece when I see one, often giving them away to interested kids. What peeks my interest are the many stones I can make jewelry from. Some of these are Isle Royale Greenstone, Datolite, Prehnite, and agates.

Bonnie sees a pile where there may be a Greenstone.

Finding a Greenstone in spoil piles is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You start with a large like of rock. On the hunt at the Central Exploration these piles were crushed ore ready to be hauled out for road fill. Where high piles of large rock chunks used to be are now flat barren areas. The only piles left were the final crushed tailings piles. How depressing this is to see.

Bonnie did find many Greenstones by meticulously digging and searching. She out-hunted me. I did find a few Greenstones, but my best find was a large Datolite seam. The Datolite was covered with Chlorastrolite. Jewelry is in the planning stages.

There are hunters up here that look for relics from the copper era. I located a Maul. I used it on the Connecticut pile to pound in the ground to “Stake my Claim”. I then dug a large worthless hole looking for Datolite. I did have fun digging though. It’s bizarre how we rockhounds will work like dogs to fine a pebble. In normal society you would get real money for doing the same thing (or are in a penal institution), while WE actually pay for the privilege of being allowed to dig a hole; go figure.

A closer look.

Here is the hidden treasure.

The swap meet is a tailgate event. Great fun.

Another fun thing during this mineral hunting time is the annual swap meet at the Quincy Mine Hoist. For three hours vendors will set up in the dusty parking lot and peddle their wares. I left much money in the parking lot with various local vendors. I have some really nice Greenstones, colorful Datolite, and particularly amazing Lake Superior Agates. None of these come cheap, but I was happy with my deals.

The swap meet is also THE spot for meeting old friends and fellow rockhounds. Rockhounds appear from around the country. I think they realize the clock is ticking on these hunts, and the minerals of the Keweenaw are becoming more scarce each year.

My intentions are to make great jewelry from my recent finds and acquisitions. I will keep you in the loop on this blog. If you really wish to see more, and hear more of what we do, friend our Facebook Snob Appeal Jewelry site.

A selfie with a happy Bonnie with happy large Greenstone.

A selfie with a happy Bonnie and a happy large Greenstone.

Tucson Gem Mineral and Fossil Shows 2014-Pink & Green=Lots of Green

The blue is Paraiba Tourmaline.

A room full of Quartz

Today we started out at the south end of the I-10 strip, at the Clarion and Howard Johnson Gem & Mineral shows. These are both typical hotel shows, with vendors in tents and in the courtyards in addition to all the vendors in the rooms. We bought some beautiful rhodochrosite beads and cabochons (Bonnie likes pink), and I found some great ammonite cabochons with wonderful iridescent reds, greens, and yellows.

Cavansite in Granite. Some call this K2

I purchased some other small slabs including some Cavansite encased in granite. These will be re-cut later. Some call this “K2” for the mountain which this alledgedly is mined near in Pakistan.

Happy me looking for the perfect Brazilian Tourmaline.

Careful searching=Treasure

I was pawing through an inviting tub of rutilated quartz looking for good pieces when I was advised by the vendor that he was looking for a single purchaser. He wanted someone to buy the whole 40 gallon tub for thousands of dollars. That left me out and I wandered on down the line.

Bonnie discovered a large rose quartz sphere that she really liked until she was told that it was $20,000. This exceeded her budget, even with all the spending money I have given her! (LOL)

We saw a man replenishing his tub of watermelon tourmaline. Unfortunately almost the whole tub was bits and pieces without complete green rinds which are so coveted for jewelry. A diligent search down deep in the tub provided a surprising, large watermelon with a full green rind and lovely pink all through it. This was approximately 3 inches long and 1 1/2″ wide. After verifying that we could buy just one piece, and not have to take the whole tub, we became excited. I haven’t seen this much rough anywhere at the show, and after speaking with the vendor, I became the proud owner! I know what your question is: A LOT!

Sphere of Rose. Got an extra 20G?

Tonnage of rocks.

tonsofrockstents

The pictures don't do these Rainbow Obsidian beauties justice. They were just spectacular in the sun.

Keweenaw Ledge Agate-AKA SISU Agate

Visiting the Seaman Mineral Museum is always a treat. Their Fluorescent display is shown.

The Keweenaw Peninsula always amazes us. We have had the most wonderful couple weeks. Business has been robust, with loads of lovely ladies sporting our jewelry made from local Copper Country rocks. We pulled into our new campsite at Lake Linden last night, and while I was talking to the campground

The Pink Petoskey Stone and the Favosite I donated to the Seaman Mineral Museum.

host, I told her I sold my jewelry at Copper World. She said “Are you the guy that makes that amazing wire wrapped jewelry”. I admitted that I am and she told me that someone was in the campground who had a new Lake Superior Agate necklace she had bought at Copper World. It is so nice to get complements like “I could not believe that was wire wrapped jewelry, it was so perfect.” How nice is that? Coffee and a complement first thing in the morning–a great way to start the day.

Bon nie chats with some customers at the Eagle Harbot Art Fair.

Bonnie chats with some customers checking out some earrings in a mirror at the Eagle Harbot Art Fair.

I expect since it is a perfect day, I’m just going to relax and make some jewelry in my lawn chair.

This last week we started digging a hole in some hard rock ledges south of Copper Harbor, and we struck the mother lode of Ledge Agates like I have seldom been seen. This is a special type of Lake Superior Agate not as well known as the traditional fortification (or banded) agate. I was finding this agate in seams rather than in nodules, or single rocks.

Here I am "slamming" agates out of a ledge. I call these SISU Agates, because they are so hard to get.

The normal Ledge Agate is a dull brown or pink/white, non-banded, drab agate, but some of these are bright red, some with white Quartz. I have been literally working my meals off in this hole. I have a special “slammer” tool my buddy Chris made for me. I cannot imagine how much harder these would be with a chisel and hammer. I did dig this hole: bend and twist, sweat and ache. I saw color and from a deathlike state I come back to life and kept beating at the rock. The local Finns have a word for going above and beyond your ordinary: SISU. I am definitely in SISU working on this hole-struggling above and beyond. I hereby dub these SISU Agates!

Agates in the hole.

I guess I am in the Agate Greed mode right now, so we will go get more the next couple days.

A whole bucket of SISU Agates.

Finally the Monks at the Jam Pot had a full supply of their famous Muffins and other goodies.

Greenstone Hunting Plus Fun and Funny Adventures

Chris Cooper makes a tool he calls a "Slammer". It is much more precise, easier, and lighter than a sledge hammer. I love it.

Our current trip to the Keweenaw Peninsula is fun filled with hunting rocks and gemstones that I can make jewelry from, Wire wrapping demonstrations at our retail outlet, Copper World, in Calumet, and art shows in Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor.

The awesome Copper World

The awesome Copper World hosted me for a couple days, and honestly we were selling jewelry as fast as I could make it. I love chatting with the tourists and locals about Copper Country jewelry and the local rocks and minerals that my pendants are made from. You can always tell the locals (they actually know what Datolite is) and we know many of them that are faithful customers year after year.

Doing my job at CW.

Greenstone (Chlorastrolite) is one of our staples on our website and here in the U.P. We have been concentrating on finding some of this rare gemstone the past couple days, but it is just not easy to find many good gemstones anymore. The good spoil piles from the copper era have been gradually crushed and hauled off for road fill. It is all very depressing. We were signed up this week for a paid hunt at the Central Mine, but it was cancelled because crushers and equipment have been moved in to destroy and remove the piles.

The impossibly rare Blue Datolite from Centennial #2 flies out of the display case at Copper World.

Wouldn't you think there were some Greenstones in this pile of poor rock? They are so hard to fine.

I think these waste piles are an historic treasure in the Keweenaw, and when they are gone, so is the history of them. The Seaman Mineral Museum (Michigan’s Official State Mineral Museum) sponsors hunts this week in an event called the Copper Country Mineral Retreat. We pay for heavy equipment to stir up the piles we have rented from the landowners. Treasures in them are then searched out.

This little bag of Greenstone suspects might produce a couple good ones.

Jacob's Falls

Also we went to the Jam Pot, a bakery run by the Monks (yes real Monks), between Eagle Harbor and Eagle River. We got there at 2pm, thinking there would be a good selection left..NOT. They were pretty much sold out of all their famous, big, tasty muffins. I have withdrawls for Carrot Raisin Muffins. Bonnie found sone Hermit Cookies and some Apricot Muffins, and I found the amazingly decadent rum soaked brownies with raisins and nuts. Right next door is a waterfall (Jacobs Falls) that you can walk over and appreciate.

The strangest thing that happened thus far: I swear this is true: We see a day glow sign advertising a yard sale. There was so much writing on it you would have had to stop in the road and spend 10 minutes reading the fine print. Bonnie saw the word “Copper” so we headed down the road where the sign pointed. Possible error in judgement after 5 miles. What the hell. let’s see where this goes. After 10 miles we see the sister day glow sign on a pole and a front yard landscape comprised of lots of random scrap metal things. The sign had printed (scribbled) on the bottom: (entry fee $2)..If you buy something you get your $2 back. Only in the U.P. has there ever been an entry fee to a yard sale. I spent $4 worth of gas to get there. I should have stopped and charged him $2 to make us even. I think I go up after dark and add a sign that says, “Entry fee ONLY $2”. By the way, I turned around in his drive and back to town we went.

We’ll probably get out today for some hunting and back to Copper World tomorrow. Come see me if you are up here. The adventures continue..stand by.

Greenstone, Datolite, and Michigan Wire Wrapped Jewelry

In preparation for upcoming shows in the Upper Peninsula I have been working on some U.P. Gemstones and Jewelry.

Centennial Blue Datoite (and one from the Isle Royal Mine)

First was the cutting of very rare blue Datolite for the Centennial Mine north of Calumet. The mine hoist is still there, but the piles are gone and Centennial #2 is completely flooded. Any Datolite still found from this mine has been hoarded from the 60’s.

Blue Centennial generally contains microscopic grains of copper shining through the blue Datolite. Over the last few years Centennal Blue has been almost impossible to buy from anyone.

Copper Included Datolite is very popular in the U.P.

I’ve been holding on to assorted Datolite containing Copper Inclusions. I finally cut and polished the majority of the pieces I have. These always make popular jewelry for my Upper Michigan customers. Even those snobbish jewelry buyers love Datolite with Copper.

Copper Datolite with Greenstone...BAM!!!

Could it be a new ring?

I also cut three remarkable little Cabochons for a future ring for myself. The ring will sport a Yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite with copper, A Copper Agate from the Kearsarge Lode, and a copper Included Greenstone. This ring will be over the top when it is finished. I’ve got to cut the wax for the ring and I have a friend that will cast it for me. Notice the “Thumbs Up” from the Yellow Datolite.

We’re headed up north for rock hunting and shows shortly. Check our home page for upcoming events. It’s always fun for us to see all our friends in the Keweenaw. Come see us at Copper World in Calumet and art shows in Eagle harbor and Copper Harbor or on a rockpile nearby.

A Lake Superior Agate of the "Paint" variety was a quick sell off our Facebook Page.

Inside the A.E. Seaman Museum

The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum

I thought you would like to see a small sample of what you would see when you visit the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum.

THE most spectacular native Copper specimens in the world.

Copper Included Calcite

The new museum opened just over a year ago under the direction of Dr. Ted Bornhorst and Curator Dr. George Robinson.

The famous "Grasshopper" (Native Copper)

The Seaman is Michigan’s Official State Mineral Museum, located on the Michigan Technological University Campus in Houghton. A brand new museum building houses one of the most remarkable collections of rocks & minerals in the world.

Tourmaline

There is no other museum, including the Smithsonium, that houses the premier collection of Upper Peninsula Minerals that you see at the Seaman. Also you will not want to miss the amazing fluorescent display room, and the many “best in the world” specimens scattered thoughout this museum.

All the new, locally manufactured, custom display cases seem to be a perfect fit, and the lighting in the Seaman Museum is just perfect. Much thought went into the entire structure, except,”what do you do if you hit an old mine shaft during construction?”. You can read the interesting story from the building construction at The Mining Gazette. And you know the story eventually had a happy ending!

One of the Mineral Galleries at the Seaman

Pegmatite Display

A temporary display on loan from a private collection.

Many people, from around the world, make a pilgrimage to this out-of-the-way locale just to see this world-class museum. YOU would be remiss if you missed this marvelous and incredible museum. You might even have a Pasty after your explorations in the A.E. Seaman Museum.

A Donation to the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum

Anyone that knows me, knows that one of my favorite places in the world is the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is a beautiful, historic place, as well as my best rock-hunting area.

The New A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum.

In Houghton, on the campus of Michigan Technological Institute is one of the great mineral Museums in the world, one that, unfortunately, most tourists pass up. The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum located at 1404 Sharon Avenue. The seaman Museum is Michigan’s Official State Mineral Museum.

The Seaman moved to their new building last summer. The new building is still lacking the space to display all the museums collection, but it is all they could afford when forced to move from their old space in central campus location. The new museum building has room for expansion in the future.

Donating my Pink Petoskey Stone to Dr. Robinson at the Seaman Museum. I am pointing the case where the specimen should fit.

The curator of the museum collection is my good friend, Dr. George Robinson, who also teaches some of the geology classes at Tech. The director of the Seaman is Dr Ted Bornhorst. Based on all the work done in moving the specimens, and setting up all the new displays, I would also point out the work done by George’s wife, Susan. You might as well call her co-curator.

The new museum opened officially in August 2011. I told George that when the museum opened, I would donate a world-class Pink Petoskey Stone to add to their display case containing Michigan’s Official State Stone. I took a mineral photography class in 2010 and George saw the Pink Petoskey Stone when we photographed it in the class.

The world-class favosites I donated previously to the Seaman.

I have previously donated a Favosites specimen that is on display, but it was an honor for me to share my Pink Petoskey with the world. I know of no other museum that has a pink Petoskey Stone in their collection.

You can clearly see this Petoskey is Pink!

Next time you are in the Houghton area, check out the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum and look for my donated fossils.

I’ll blog more about the museum and show you some of the displays in the near future.

The Museum Collections

(as listed on the AE Seaman Museum website):

World’s finest collection of Keweenaw Copper District minerals

World’s finest collection of Lake Superior Iron District minerals

World’s most comprehensive collection of Michigan Minerals

One of the best fluorescent mineral exhibits in the United States

One of the largest systematic mineral collections on public view in North America

Collection includes individual specimens that are the best of their species

One of the world’s best suites of Fairfield, Utah Variscite

One of the world’s best suites of Yukon phosphate minerals

Guinness World Record copper specimen (satellite exhibit at the Quincy Mine)

Greenstones in the Rain (and other fun U.P. things)

The colors in the Keweenaw were about 30%, but we found spots. This tree was near Phoenix.

Our fall weekend in the Keweenaw was very productive.

The view from the top of Brockway Mountain indicates it will be a couple weeks before peak colors.

By going up Thursday, most tourist traffic can be avoided, and an extra day for rock hunting opens up. We found some nice greenstone at the Mandan.

Finding a nice Greenstone in all this rock is a challenge.

The best time to locate Greenstones is in the rain. The silky chatoyance just pops from the stones, both the loose nodules and those nodules still embedded in the matrix. We looked pretty wet and scruffy after a day in the rain, but it was worth it.

We had the Cliff Pile to ourselves on this drizzly day.

My favorite fall colors, maple Leaves and Greenstones.

Friday is also ‘pasty day” at the Mohawk Superettte. The locals purchase their pasties (pronounced pas-tee) in quantities, and we are happy to when we are in the area. We find them to be some of the finest pasties around. For those that do not know what a pasty is, they are a portable Cornish pie made from coarsely ground beef, with small cubes of potatoes, and rutabagas. You can find recipies on line. This was a hearty lunch for the miners, sort of an early version of fast food!

Any day is a great day to Stop in the Jam Pot and purchase a few delicious Muffins and rum-soaked, raisin and nut filled, brownies from the monks. Yum! (Closed Sundays, of course)

Makes me hungry just looking at the sign in Mohawk.

This rock ship at Kearsarge always makes us smile. Bonnie mans the ship at the Veterans Memorial.

While just aimlessly searching I saw a 3″ suspect just laying on the ground. This was just a suspect greenstone and may or may not develop into a winner. We also went to the Cliff mine, my favorite Prehnite location, and picked up some nice material to cut.

Whenever I go to the Upper Peninsula, I enjoy at least one day wire wrapping at Copper World in Calumet, and I really had a great time as usual. Talking to the customers, and answering rock and jewelry questions are a couple of my favorite things.

Sunday was another cool day with some scattered showers, we went out with some new rockhound friends. Bonnie found some nice little greenstones, and I found a very nice 2″ stone that has to be cut from a rock.

From left to right beginning at the top: Mesnard Datolite, Rose Quartz and Quartz with Copper, Franklin Datolite, Yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite, Patricianite with Silver and Copper.

While up north, I also located a source for some rare and unusual things like Patricianite with silver, and pink crystallized Datolite. Let’s see what kind of jewelry I can make.

Close-up of the Rose Quartz Cabochon.

A couple other things we did were donating a polished Pink Petoskey to the Seaman Mineral Museum (Blog coming), and I walked into Copper World Sunday afternoon and met a couple from Dayton, Ohio that had just purchased an exceedingly rare large Greenstone with a centrally embedded copper crystal, as well as a Petoskey Stone Pendant. It’s always nice to meet with owners of my jewelry. It means a lot to me to talk to them and answer any questions, and I think that the jewelry means a lot more to them when they can say they have met the artist. I could have stopped in any time, but Karma (I learned about this from Earl) brought me in at that particular time.

Patricianite with silver and copper inclusions.

Now I have some exciting new U.P. gemstones to cut, polish, and wrap up. It will be a great rest of the month.

The above stones I cut this morning. Enjoy!

Greenstones on the Workbench

Isle Royale Greenstones (Chlorastrolite) are so striking with their stunning chatoyancy and handsome alligator-like pattern. People think of diamonds as rare, when, in fact, they are artificially scarce due to lack of free market sales and cartel controls.

A recent batch of Greenstones and Thomsonite turned out to be amazing. This photo has not been enhanced. I'm thinking poster!

Michigan Greenstones on the other hand are a one-source gemstone. Nowhere else in the world are Greenstones found other than in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and on Isle Royale National Park, where they are illegal to harvest. Chosen as Michigan’s State Gem, the Greenstone represents Michigan uniqueness due to this limited accessibility, but also means it is not well known outside of Michigan residents. In fact many outside of the Upper Peninsula are not familiar with it! Having said that, we are amazed at the wide range of locations across the country that order our Greenstone jewelry and cabochons for jewelry.

Recent depletion of many of the mine waste piles in the Keweenaw to use as road fill is making the Greenstone supply even scarcer. Two of my all-time favorite piles are gone now. There are very few, non-private waste piles still available for the Rock enthusiast to pick up a Michigan Greenstone. Not all piles are worthy of seeking Greenstones in. I expect a big spike in the Greenstone prices over next five years. Now is the time to buy Greenstones, especially quality ones with good patterns and coloration.

This "Michigan Miracle" Pendant is one of our popular used of Isle Royale Greenstone. Also included in this one is Datolite, Lake Superior Agate, and Jasperlite.

Our Greenstone Pendants and Greenstone cabochons are very popular and we continue to sell both on line and at art shows. I cannot say I am the largest Greenstone dealer in the U.S., but I am one of a handful of large volume dealers. I cut all my own stones. I find stones and purchase quality stones from other miners.

Michigan’s State Gemstone should be on everyone’s bucket list. You will never regret having and wearing these lovely and rare treasures.

I have been working up greenstones I just brought back from the Keweenaw, and today I have to dop up another hundred for the lapidary work. Some of these recent stones are absolute killers. I’m going back UP in the next few weeks and I’m going to search for a rumored secret spot to dig Greenstones. Unfortunately the old guy that told me the general area where he used to dig Greenstone has passed away. This will be a treasure hunt for sure.

Be assured I WILL BE watching my rearview mirror to see if YOU are following me.

Sad to Leave Copper Country

Our favorite beach to watch the sunset-just south of Dapple Grey B&B on M26 near Copper Harbor.

As the sun sat over Lake Superior on our last night in the Copper Country, we reflected on the amazing time we had. Sure there were some difficulties on the trip, and you just cannot go get everything you might need without driving 40 miles. Still, we love this place.

The same beach is scenic during the day also.

The Yoopers are a very independent species. They have to be. They have all the important things like pasties, fresh air, scenery, rocks, Vollwerth meats, Copper World, rocks, no freeways, beautiful, sunsets, snow, Monk’s Muffins, and rocks.

I have started cutting my treasures today, as well as working on some custom jobs I picked up while up there. People find rock treasures and bring them to me to cut, polish, and make into their own wire-wrapped gemstone jewelry.

We have loads of good friends in the Keweenaw, as mentioned in a previous blog. Many of our local friends show up where they are least expected. The latest was Robin from Garden Goods, the garden store we shop at in Traverse City who showed up at the campground host’s coffee hour!

Thanks for saving the crest of Brockway Mountain.

Rock hunting is not as good as it used to be. Mine waste piles are being crushed up and hauled away for logging roads. The natural beauty of the area is being threatened by all the trees being cut. Even though the Keweenaw is a National Historic Park, it seems not to matter that the mine piles are being taken away. I feel that these piles are also historical sites and should be protected.

One good sign is that money has been raised to purchase the land and save the crest of Brockway Mountain. We saw a rebuild underway at the overlook of Copper Harbor on Brockway Drive. New stone border walls and benches are expected which should make it safer.

What lovely things you see off the beaten path.

If you really want to get away you just can’t beat the Keweenaw. We’ll be headed back up for color. I expect it to be early this year. We saw trees have begun to change already. We’ll remember the good times we had in the U.P.