Mine: Mohawk Mine, Mohawk, MI

Began → Mohawk Mine → Closed

Operated for 34 years.

From: 1898

Owned by: Mohawk Mining Company. Bought by the Copper Range Company in 1934.

Produced: Copper Ore

Method: Underground shaft.

Railroad connection: This company owned its own railroad from the mine to its mill in Gay, MI. The road was originally operated by the Mineral Range railroad and later by the Copper Range railroad.

Stamp Mill/Smelter: Mohawk Mill in Gay, MI on Keweenaw Bay.

Until: 1932

Lifetime Production: 

Notes

Six shafts, deepest was No. 1 at 3,017 feet.

The Wolverine Mine was on 320 acres southwest of Mohawk. The Wolverine and Mohawk mines were controlled by the same investors. [CRR]

The Mohawk Mine was located on Fourth Street in Mohawk. It was organized in 1898 and quickly became a major producer of copper ore on the Kearsarge Lode. By 1909 is employed 1,000 men and produced 11.25 million pounds of copper. Nearly depleted, it was purchased by the Copper Range Company in 1934. [UPM]

This mine had common ownership with the Wolverine Mine.

Time Line

1905. Sinking is progressing at the new No. 5 shaft, which gives indication of becoming the most productive portion of the property thus far developed. The mine is supplying about 1,800 tons of rock daily. [DFP-1905-0402]

1906. Mohawk broke its former record by turning out 1,202,500 pounds of mineral last month. The mine is now producing at the rate of 11,000,000 pounds of fine copper peryear. The improvement in the lower levels of the northerly shafts is mainly responsible for the larger production, and as soon as the improvements at the stamp mill are completed, a much larger product will be possible. [DFP -1906-0618]

1907. Preparations are under way at the Mohawk mine for the installation of an electric generating plant. [DFP-1907-0224]

1917. The Copper Range railroad begins serving the Mohawk and Wolverine mines, north of Calumet. [MIS-2024-1]

1932. The Mohawk mine will not be worked again but there is some work remaining on the surface. The caving of No. 6 shaft, the only production unit, brought about the decision to abandon all mining operations. There is rock on hand to make 30 million pounds of copper and this will be treated later at the Michigan Smelter near Houghton. The machinery at the time and the mill (at Gay) will be sold. [BHN-1032-1125]