With the discovery of copper ore in 1860 by Thomas McCarty and William K. Reed, the town of Copperopolis sprang into existence and soon became the largest producer of copper in the western United States. The population of Copperopolis grew to exceed 10,000 by 1863. The Union mine was the largest producing mine in the area, working three shafts and hundreds of men on the payroll.
During the nations three recent wars, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, much of the copper ore that was so vital to the implements of war was supplied by this area.
"From 1861 until 1976, the camp has produced about 72,500,000 pounds of copper valued at the time at $12,100,00."
ReplyDeleteNot bad...
"Michigan has produced over 14 billion pounds of copper since mining began in 1844. Silver is often extracted along with the copper deposits."
https://project.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/copper.html
I was in the UP for a week. A line of T storms rolled through. More lightning strikes than I had ever seen.
DeleteThe ground there is loaded with iron ore.
Globex, a Canadian company, is buying up old mines and tailings in the U.S.
DeleteIt's not only them, though maybe they're the most capitalized. Miners of the past left a lot of metals in their diggings. New technologies are allowing extraction of AU, AG, CU, PB.
Even the old tailings (no digging needed) are rich. Some tailings produce more than 1 gm per ton AU, around half that in AG.