Mine: Superior Mine, Hurley, WI

Began → Superior Mine → Cary Mine

Operated for:

From: 

Owned by: Odanah Iron Mining Co.

Produced: Iron Ore

Method: Underground Shaft

Railroad connection:

Until: 

Lifetime Production: 

The Superior Mine is reported to have been located in Iron County Wisconsin, one mile west of Hurley, WI.

Notes

From 1886 to 1964, the Cary produced high grade iron ore. The remains are located one mile west of Hurley, WI just off Highway 77 on Ringle Drive, It was operated by the Odanah Iron Co. Workings reached depths of 3,300 feet. In 1942 a 5.5 foot diameter core was taken at the mine site to a depth of 2,500 feet. Portions of this core can be seen in the parking area around the Wisconsin Visitor Center on the north edge of Hurley.

The Cary Mine is adjacent to, and has similar mineralogy to, the more famous Montreal Mine. It is in a classic Proterozoic banded iron formation (the Ironwood Formation) that forms the Gogebic Iron Range, traceable from the near Mellen, Wisconsin east into Michigan. The strata strikes NE-SW and dips north.

Time Line

1896. September 2. Iron Mine On Fire. The Superior Mine, about one mile west from Hurley, is burning. The fire was discovered coming out of shaft No. 1, and soon the shaft was completely burned out. The fire is supposed to be near the fourth level and spreading both ways. Volumes of smoke are coming up and there s no way to fight it except to cover all the openings and smother it, which will take a month. The Superior mine ships the richest ore to be had here and is a valuable property, owned by the Odanah Iron Mining Co. The fire is supposed to have started from a candle from a careless miner, or a hot steam-pipe. [DFP-1896-0903]