Float Copper Wayside

A ranger talks about geology and float copper.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Calumet, MI

Amenities

2 listed

Cellular Signal, Parking - Auto

Float copper are chunks of copper varying in size from very small (ounces) to extremely large (tons) that were stripped from their original location by glaciers and slowly moved as the glaciers grew. They "floated" along the surface. This particular piece weighs in at 9,392 pounds. Random float copper discoveries fueled the copper mining rush of the 1840s.