Mineral Specimen #155 Silver, Copper and Microcline

Ridge Mine, Butler Lode, Mass City, Ontonagon County, Michigan, USA 

A very nice thumbnail from a location seldom available. The Ridge Mine was an underground copper mine near Mass City, Michigan. The mine had one shaft and one adit. It was operated by the Ridge Mining Co. from 1850 until 1855, afterwhich  it was worked by tributers (independent miners who sold the Copper back to the company usually for 50% of its value) until 1896. The mine was bought by the Mass Mine in 1899. Approximately 5.5 million lbs. of refined copper were produced at the mine. This specimen is a recent find and has been acid cleaned and sealed to perserve the luster.

20 x 15 x 10 mm