Calumet in Houghton County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Float Copper
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, August 13, 2014
1. Float Copper Marker
Inscription.
Float Copper. . a mass of native copper weighing 9,392 lbs. found in 1970, buried under three ft. of soil, (glacial till), about 4½ miles southwest of Calumet. Float copper such as this, was torn loose from fissures and lodes by glacial action and together with other rock materials, carried by the ice sheet for great distances before being deposited as glacial debris, or till. The churning, grinding action at the base of the glacier rounded and smoothed the mass of copper, resulting in the lobate form here. The long period of burial, (about 9,000 years), since the cessation of glacial action, accounts for the thorough oxidation of the surface of the copper. The resulting oxidation products are primarily malachite, (green copper carbonate, CuCo3.Cu (OH)2) and cuprite, (red copper oxide,-Cu2O). , Similar pieces such as this, were often discoverd in Keweenaw and on Isle Royale.
a mass of native copper weighing 9,392 lbs. found in 1970, buried under three ft. of soil, (glacial till), about 4½ miles southwest of Calumet. Float copper such as this, was torn loose from fissures and lodes by glacial action and together with other rock materials, carried by the ice sheet for great distances before being deposited as glacial debris, or till. The churning, grinding action at the base of the glacier rounded and smoothed the mass of copper, resulting in the lobate form here. The long period of burial, (about 9,000 years), since the cessation of glacial action, accounts for the thorough oxidation of the surface of the copper. The resulting oxidation products are primarily malachite, (green copper carbonate, CuCo3•Cu (OH)2) and cuprite, (red copper oxide,-Cu2O).
Similar pieces such as this, were often discoverd in Keweenaw and on Isle Royale.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.
Location. 47° 14.507′ N, 88° 26.889′ W. Marker is in Calumet, Michigan, in Houghton County. Marker is at the intersection of Calumet Avenue (U.S. 41) and Red Jacket Drive on Calumet Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Calumet MI 49913, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, August 13, 2014
2. Float Copper Marker
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, August 13, 2014
3. The Piece of Float Copper
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, August 13, 2014
4. Float Copper plaque
Lake Superior Float Copper
9392 LBS.
Donated for display
Coppertown USA
By
Joseph Lizzadro & Mary Sandretto Lizzadro
A permanent exhibit of the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
Elmhurst, Ill.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 511 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 16, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
