Mine: Trimountain Mine, Trimountain, MI

Began → Trimountain Mine → Closed

Operated for 31 years.

From: 1899

Owned by: Trimountain Mining Company, then Copper Range Consolidated Co. in 1925.

Produced: Copper ore

Method: Underground mine shafts (4). The mine had a double-tracked shaft. [HAL]

Railroad connection: COPR

Stamp Mill/Smelter: On Lake Superior near Freda.

Until: 1930

Lifetime Production:  144 million lbs of refined copper.

Notes

Trimountain Mine was located in its namesake town about 10 miles southwest of Houghton. Operations began about 1899 by the Trimountain Mining Company and the mine ultimately had four shafts.

Though the Champion, Trimountain and Baltic mines were under separate ownership, they made temporary arrangements with with other companies to mill and smelt their product prior to building their own stamp mills. [HAL]

An underground copper mine consisting of 4 shafts near the community of Trimountain. The Trimountain Mining Co. was organized in 1899 and worked the Baltic Lode. Shafts at this mine were some of the steepest in the Keweenaw at 70 degrees from horizontal to follow the orebodies. The mine operated under Trimountain until 1923, when the company was dissolved. Copper Range Consolidated Co. took over operations in 1925 and operated the mine until 1930 when it was closed permanently. The Trimountain Mine produced approx. 144 million lbs. of refined copper. Some minerals that can be found on the piles include copper, epidote, datolite, and rarely chalcocite. [MINDAT]

The mine obtained several of its hoists used from the Arcadian mine. One was a Nordberg hoist that could raise a 6-ton skip 1,000 feet and dump the rock and lower it back underground in 60 seconds. [HAL]

The Copper Range railroad had three framed trestles at this mine, #50 which was 361' long (built in 1900), #55 which was 251' and #54 which was 230'. The latter two were built in 1902.

Time Line

1899. The Trimountain Mining Company is formed by Boston financiers led by H.F. Fay. They purchased 1,120 acres from the St. Mary's Canal Mineral Land Company.

1901. July 13. Trimountain shaft No. 1 is down 700 feet and there is drifting underway at all levels to and including the fourth level. But little work is being done at No. 2 shaft. The completed branch of the Copper Range railroad is delivering building material at the Trimountain mill site. [DFP-1901-0713]

1902. January. The Trimountain Mining Company begins shipping copper rock to the Arcadian Stamp Mill southeast of Dollar Bay at Point Mills, via the COPR and Hancock & Calumet railroads. This continued until the Trimountain's own mill was completed in 1903. The first train consisted of around 13 cars hauling 500 tons of rock. [MIS-2022-W]

1904. The reorganized Copper Range Consolidated Copper Company absorbs the Trimountain Mine in a stock swap deal, similar to the arrangement with the Baltic Mine in 1901. [HAL]

1905. A number of specially built cars have been received at Trimountain for use in conveying its mineral to the Michigan smelter. This class of cars will also be rendering service in the near future at Champion and Baltic, after which the use of barrels will be entirely dispensed with. [DFP-1905-0402]

1907. Installation of the electrical system to replace steam at the Trimountain mine is nearing completion. A 10-horsepower motor is being installed in the machine shop and will furnish power for the operation of lathes. [DFP-1907-0224]

1914. The mine adopts electric haulage locomotives in the mine. [HAL]