How many metallic mineral mines are there in Michigan? Are there any that tap deposits similar to the one identified in Menominee County?
Approximately 800 metallic mines have been located in the western Upper Peninsula. Most of these are iron or copper mines. The iron mines produced mainly iron oxides (hematite and magnetite), and two of these mines are currently operating-the Empire and Tilden iron mines operated by Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. The copper mines produced mainly native copper. However, the White Pine mine in Ontonagon County produced predominantly copper sulfide-a mineral of the same classification as the deposit in Menominee County. Large-scale underground mining operations began at the White Pine Mine in 1953 and ended in 1999.
