Category Archives: Keweenaw Peninsula

Art in the Park at Copper Harbor

The laid-back art show in Copper Harbor.

We love the Art in the Park at Copper Harbor. We see all our old friends and new ones. Copper Harbor in the farthest North Town in Michigan, no cell phone service, no stoplights, no national chains, and no freeway, just natural beauty.

Bonnie working in our booth.

Another historic location of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Fort Wilkins was a remote assignment for early soldiers. They were sent here to protect the copper interests from whatever they imagined the threats to be. Turns out the winter weather and remote location were the biggest threats they faced. Today Fort Wilkins has been restored to a nice historic state park where we can camp in our RV. I always tell Bonnie when it rains, “Our tent is dry”. She likes the furnace when it is cold at night too.

Just past Fort Wilkins is the end of the road, US 41. There are rocks out past that spot, but my car towed behind the RV is really not up to that rough a trail. Going the other way, the road sign in Copper Harbor helpfully helps you plan your trip in case your next destination is Miami.

Our booth on the hill overlooking the Copper Harbor Art Show.

The Michigan greenstones have been very popular at this show, just as we expected.

Cliff Mine-Prehnite Hunting

The hounds are released on the Cliff Mine Pile.

The pile was bulldozed and the Copper Country Mineral Retreat hunt at the Cliff Mine began at 9am. A good crowd of eager hunters attacked the pile. A nice trench was excavated and some entered it while others, like me hunted the surface. The Cliff, even though hunted for over a hundred years by rockhounds, still produces some fine copper specimens as well as other copper associated minerals. Native American Indians hammered this copper in prehistoric times, and chisel chips left from their mining are found at the Cliff today.

A nice trench was excavated and our buddy Keith from Baltimore found his way into it.

A great view of the Cliff mine showing the trench that fellow rockhounds were searching.

Since I already have so much native copper, Bonnie and I spent the day hunting for gem Prehnite for our jewelry. The Prehnite at the Cliff formed in small veins maybe a few inches thick and is apple green and speckled with copper. We were quite successful and found good pieces with some help from Pam Hecht who is a good buddy and led the hunt.

Prehnite comes in various forms and colors in the Copper Country. One of my favorites is referred to as “U.P. Thomsonite” and is verigated, often with eyes. Prehnite comes in assorted pastel colors, the most common being pink and green.

A seam of Copper bearing Prehnite from the Cliff Mine.

Here is some of that Prehnite on my workbench. Notice the copper?

The Cliff mine was the first successful copper mine in the Copper Country of the state of Michigan. The mine is at the now-abandoned town of Clifton in Keweenaw County. Mining began in 1845, and the Cliff was the most productive copper mine in the United States from 1845 through 1854. Large-scale mining stopped in 1878. The Cliff was a fissure mine where the seams of copper were vertical.

Fissure mines are always interesting to search. I spent the day looking for gem quality Prehnite, and Bonnie and I found many nice pieces. These veins of Prehnite are commonly no more then an inch or so wide with a split down the middle as the Prehnite formed in from the outside of the vein and met in the middle. Much of this Prehnite is loaded with specks of Copper and is a pleasing apple green color.

Although amygdaloid and conglomerate deposits of the Keweenaw tended to be lower-grade than the fissure deposits, they were much larger, and could be mined much more efficiently, with the ore blasted out, hoisted to the surface, and sent to stamp mills located at a different site. Amygdaloid and conglomerate mining turned out to be much more productive and profitable than fissure mining, and the majority of highly successful mines were on amygdaloid or conglomerate lodes. The first mine to successfully mine a strataform ore body was the Quincy Mine in 1856. The most productive deposit, the Calumet conglomerate, was opened by the Calumet and Hecla mining company in 1865. (Mine information from Wikipedia)

I’ll be excited to cut this Prehnite and make some attractive pendants.

Firebrick & Greenstone Pendant

I have a most creative customer (Nelson) who is always thinking outside the box when it comes to jewelry design. His latest concept was a Upper Peninsula representative pendant with an Isle Royale Greenstone placed approximately where Isle Royale is located. Nelson was given the honor of naming this pendant which he called “Yooperland”, so for here on out they will be Yooperland Pendants.

After some thought Nelson decided on a U.P. cut from firebrick. Firebrick has been talked about in my blog before but let’s review: When the copper smelters were build in copper country, they were made of brick. Over the years as copper was smelted, the copper vapors and solids permeated into the brick and replaced everything except the silica materials. After the mines were closed the ovens and stacks were either taken down or fell down. Enterprising individuals then took away some of this heavy material and used it in lapidary projects. Today fire brick is quite scarce, but there are still stashes around. Since firebrick has such a great story of the Copper Country, it makes wonderful conversational jewelry.

This "yooper special" is a wonderful design.

This "Yooperland" is a wonderful design.

I usually coat my firebrick jewelry with a two-part epoxy resin to prevent it from tarnishing. This will keep the “Yooper land” pendant shining with a coppery look.

I used a 30X40mm Blue Lace Agate cabochon as the base for this project. After cutting out the firebrick and prepping it, I polished a wonderful Greenstone. Both of those stones were glued to the Blue lace so it appears as if everything is floating in Lake Superior.

The wire wrapping in gold and silver is quite elegant as befitting Nelson’s Queen. I added additional height to the perimeter to protect the firebrick and the greenstone. I expect Nelson’s wife will have a wonderful birthday gift. She loves U.P. themed jewelry.

I expect to make several more of these before spring. I believe these pendants will be one of our most popular, especially for our U.P. shows.

Nelson wrote me after giving his wife her Yooperland: The YOOPER LAND pendant is OUTSTANDING! I gave it to my wife for her birthday and she loves it. However there is a small issue that I must deal with when we go out in public. Nearly everyone comments on her necklace- BUT the rest of the people just stare. Sometimes I get a little jealous . MAYBE the solution would be a turtle neck shirt!

By the way my wife says “THANKS”

Selection of Snob Appeal Jewelry at Copper World Expands

Copper World in historic Calumet.

A recent mutual agreement between Calumet’s Famous Gift Shop, Copper World and Snob Appeal Jewelry will expand Copper World‘s exclusive line of our jewelry products. Copper World has always represented our line of Michigan Pendants prominently and have decided to double the number of pendants that they have on hand. You should always be able to find nearly fifty of our pendants available, and Copper World can arrange for me to make you a special pendant from stones that you find or most any other gemstone you would like.

Snob Appeal Jewelry has always felt that the best way to select one of our pieces is to see it in person, try it on, ‘FEEL’ how it fits your style and personnality. Selection is important, and comparing selections is easier if you have more to choose from. Our website has almost 800 pieces of jewelry on it, and represents the jewelry well, but there is something about seeing a pendant in person, letting it “talk” to you, as I often say, that just enhances the selection process. Our website has very accurate photos of our jewelry, but I have to give up much of the shine of the gemstones for detail. Holding a piece of our jewelry allows for a full experience with the beauty and aura of it.

A personal appearance at Copper World.

Copper World is a perfect fit for our Michigan jewelry. Tony and Tim Bausano are lifelong residents of Calumet and have hunted the rock piles in the Keweenaw area themselves. They are very knowledgable about my pendants, the rocks that are in them, and all the products that they sell. I think that it is important to know the details of any gemstone you buy so you can tell others about it. You can shop on Copper World‘s website and see our pendants when you click on “Jewelry” on their home page then “Pendants by Don Reed” .

This gift shop is class all the way. They feature many exceptional one of a kind items created by local (not foreign) crafts people. You can purchase anything from Stormy Kromer Products, to hand warming cups, to rocks with your name engraved in it! I especially like the “Yooper” postcards. The chutney is great too.

I am very pleased with our partnership and the way our high-end jewelry is displayed and handled at Copper World. Our items are the same prices at Copper World as they are on our website and at the art shows we attend, making them exceptional bargains.

Firebrick, Crysocolla (Bumbletown Hill), Datolite with Copper. These items were being made and are for sale at Copper World.

Firebrick, Chrysocolla (Bumbletown Hill), Datolite with Copper. These items were being made and are for sale at Copper World.

I have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, making personal appearances at Copper World in 2012 where I create Snob Appeal Jewelry in person. The Keweenaw is one of our favorite destinations and should be on your list also. When you go there make sure to see the folks at Copper World for a piece of Snob Appeal Jewelry (and some Thimbleberry jam).

DATOLITE-On the Workbench

Two unbelievably beautiful Datolite/Copper Pendants

Datolite in Michigan occurs only in the copper deposits in the Keweenaw Peninsula as well as on Isle Royale National Park. Datolite was never a valuable mineral when copper was king, and was left in the spoil piles at the mines. Today alert rockhounds are still actively seeking Datolite in the mine dumps.

Occasionally we find wonderful Datolite/Copper combinations. These unbelievably beautiful specimens make elegant and amazing pieces of jewelry. Copper World, our retail outlet in Calumet sells every one of these pendants they acquire from me. Sometimes these rare beauties reach my website. If you see these appear on this site, you should buy them immediately. These combination cabochons are quite scarce and warrant your attention. Small specks of copper are common within the Keweenaw Datolite and the colorations of Datolite is most often caused by copper, usually too small to see with the naked eye. This is where the wonderful pinks and reds of Datolite come from. The truly spectacular Datolite has large veins of copper in the Datolite and occurs most often in the veins seen in the leftover rock piles. This Datolite/Copper sets off our metal detectors and is a real thrill when found.

Each mine in the Keweenaw has a fairly distinctive color of Datolite associated with it. White is the most common and natural color for Datolite and has been found in all the mine spoil piles in the Keweenaw. The rare yellow datolite has no copper in it and derives its’ coloration from Manganese.

Datolite with a large amount of copper are difficult to cut and polish as we are dealing with different hardnesses as well as metal in combination with the datolite. The copper-included Datolite is also prone to overheating while being cut. When you buy one of these Datolite/Copper pendants you can be sure it was a challenge to cut and polish.

If you want something rare and beautiful from Michigan, you can’t go wrong with a Datolite of any kind, but especially these riveting Datolites with large copper inclusions.

Brockway Mountain-Paradise Lost?

A Brockway Mountain Sunset.

What is the most scenic spot you know? If you’ve been on this road, the Brockway Mountain Drive has to be at the top of your list. During the Great Depression unemployment in this area wasa staggering number, 75-80%. This scenic drive was created by unemployed miners digging through the rocky terrain of the northernmost area of the Keweenaw Peninsula ending in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Other New Deal projects were numerous and have contributed to the landscape in the area even today.

The 16 mile long road passes by a huge rock face on one side, with a steep drop off on the other side, in many places. Canopied with trees and unencumbered my man-created buildings, the Brockway Mountain Drive is a beautiful trip. At the summit, nearly everyone stops for a look at the scenery. On our last night we saw two lake freighters while we watched the sunset. From the summit you can see harbors, islands, lakes, trees. It is a priceless view, and it is FOR SALE!

Privately owned, this park-like setting has been used by the public since the road was built, but now it could be cut off to the public and sold to developers. Several organizations have joined together to raise money so that Eagle Harbor Township might buy it and keep it available for public use. The Nature Conservancy and the Audobon Society are adjacent landowners and are partners in the fund raising, along with many others including the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District and the Kewwnaw Land Trust. The are working to obtain grant and private funding to acquire the top of Brockway Mountain and surrounding 320 acres, and to keep it forever in the public trust.

The tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula is an important migration path for raptors as they move north. You’ve heard the phrase, “as high as the eagle”, well up on the summit that’s where you are!

Bonnie has family photos from the 1940’s of being on Brockway Mountain Drive. The trees are bigger, but the effect is the same-beautiful surroundings. We support the efforts of the local people of Eagle Harbor Township to keep this treasured piece of land available to the public. For more information, visit www.eagleharbortwp.org.

We have sent a check and invite you to help save the view for public use.

KCWC-Brockway Mountain Project

Eagle Harbor Towship

321 Center Street

Eagle Harbor, MI 49950

Did I mention that we drive up there every night while we are in Copper Harbor?! It is the only place for miles around that we can talk on our cell phone! Can you imagine a place where you have to drive 4-15 miles to use your cell phone, and the one spot might become someone’s walled-off castle?

We invite you to help get the word out, and the money in, and save this piece of Paradise.

My Best Datolite Ever

The faithful husband encouraging Bonnie to "did faster".

The faithful husband encouraging Bonnie to "dig faster".

The pitter patter of light raindrops was my alarm clock. Bonnie & I were up and off before dawn’s light. Only a thermos of coffee and a portable monk’s muffin went with us, as we hurried to our destination. The goal was to get there before “The Badger” got there. .(Why? I don’t know—a point of honor I guess.) We had seen him digging a hole the other day, and knew he was attacking the rock pile with a sense of purpose. We saw evidence of his success and wanted to be successful too.

Don's BIG hole.

Everybody was digging BIG holes

Chrystal's odd find while metal detecting

Krystal's odd find while metal detecting. Would this be a "float hammer" just because she was looking for "float copper"?

At 6:00 am the traffic is pretty light on US 41 in the Keweenaw, but low and behold a car appeared and turned into our very own destination rock pile. I knew who it was! Yes, the Badger, a vigorous and determined datolite digger had arrived moments before us. The bad news was that the rain disappeared, and had not been sufficient to clean off the rock recently moved around there, so there was no datolites washed out. At least the dawn had come on enough that we could see.

We watched the experienced work of the Badger (this is not his real nickname, I just called John this because of his digging skill) and joked around with him. He is a recently Tech grad in geology engineering and is goofing off this summer gathering datolites and other rock treasures. John Dezelski dug and looked. He ended up the day with around a dozen. Bonnie & I dug and between us finally got 3. You have to develop an eye, because otherwise they are camouflaged.

"Don"atolite

I have been hunting minerals in the Keweenaw for years now, but I always focused on greenstone and “cutting material”, a vague term used to cover pretty rock found in this area–Patricianite, Prehnite, and others. I have dug for datolites before, but I don’t recall finding many! Luckily sometimes when you’re digging you find other stuff to please you.

Greenstones seem to be getting harder to find as the years go by, especially real nice big ones. All my old glory holes have been hauled away for road fill. We used to get Greenstones and Datolite at many locations and now those piles are gone. It’s not like the good old days. If you want a greenstone or datolite at a reasonable price, act now. Less supply means higher prices.

Aliens and Salamanders

Copper Harbor (left) with sheltered harbor and Lake Superior on far left. Lake Fannie Hooe on the right. We are camped on the west side of the lake.

Today was a wonderful 75 degrees with a nice breeze. It rained during the night so we thought maybe some Greenstones would be washed out at the Central Mine. We headed out with our rock buddies Chris and Krystal, but had limited luck. There was not enough rain to wash the stones out.

It's a long way down US41 to Miami from here.

I found a rock with a drill core hole in it and forgot to take it when we left. I stashed it so I’ll get it tomorrow. I thought it would make a great planter for Bonnie. We all got a few things, but nothing to brag about. We left the Central and headed out to the logging road where Chris found his float copper the other day.

Chris again was the star, with a nice Lake Superior Agate he found where the bulldozer tracks were in the logging area. He also found a couple small pieces of Float Copper and Crystal found a small piece of float also. I hiked back into the bush and found an exposed Prehnite outcrop where I picked up a couple pieces to cut later.

These guys were digging so fast they were just a blur.

After we had lunch Chris, Bonnie, and I hiked back to the Prehnite area to dig. Krystal rested in the car as she got little sleep due to a bear roaming around their campsite during the night. We all dug, but the holes produced little except the blue spotted salamander Bonnie unearthed which was interesting to examine. It emitted some sticky substance from glands in its’ tail onto Chris. We released it so it could crawl back into a hole.
Just after that wildlife encounter the strangest alien looking bug landed on Chris. It stood still long enough for we to get a great shot of it. If anyone can ID either this Salamander or the bug, please let me know.

The Salamander. When we sprayed water on him he really was excited.

We think the "alien" is a moth. Does anyone know about this chartreuse bug?

We split up and Bonnie and I checked some outcrops on Brockway Mountain Drive for rare agates, but found none.

I think after some burgers on the grill we will go downtown Copper Harbor and be tourists tonight.