Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Bournonite vs. Vesuvianite
Cogwheels of bournonite are up against colourful vesuvianite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Laurium Mine, Osceola Township, Houghton County, Michigan, USAi
Regional Level Types
Laurium MineMine
Osceola TownshipTownship
Houghton CountyCounty
MichiganState
USACountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
47° 13' 6'' North , 88° 27' 42'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Laurium1,941 (2017)2.5km
Calumet703 (2017)3.2km
Lake Linden989 (2017)4.9km
Hubbell946 (2017)5.6km
Copper City187 (2017)9.2km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Copper Country Rock and Mineral ClubDollar Bay, Michigan12km
Mindat Locality ID:
14112
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:14112:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Introduction
An underground copper mine located just south of Laurium.

History
The prospect was discovered in 1904 by diamond drilling exploration, and a shaft was sunk in 1907. In 1909, the Calumet and Hecla Consolidated Copper Company took over operations and continued mining until 1920 when the mine closed because of water problems. The shaft reached the 12th level (approximately 1,660 feet deep) and some exploratory drifting was done.

For the collector
For variety of minerals, Laurium provides perhaps the best collecting in the Keweenaw, especially for the micro-mineral collector.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


19 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

Analcime
Formula: Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Atacamite
Formula: Cu2(OH)3Cl
Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
'Chlorite Group'
Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
Datolite
Formula: CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Habit: Crystals and nodules
Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
'K Feldspar'
'K Feldspar var. Adularia'
Formula: KAlSi3O8
Kinoite
Formula: Ca2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
Laumontite
Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Microcline
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Native Copper
Formula: Cu
Native Silver
Formula: Ag
Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)
Formula: Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
References:
Travis Olds collectionIdentification: Visual Identification
Pumpellyite-(Mg)
Formula: Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
'Pumpellyite Subgroup'
Formula: Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Saponite
Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Habit: Radial sprays of white acicular crystals to 1 mm!
Colour: White, sometimes has light red or green coloring.
Description: Any crystals of smectite are astonishing. This locality and several nearby produce the world's best saponite crystals.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
Native Copper1.AA.05Cu
Native Silver1.AA.05Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
Group 3 - Halides
Atacamite3.DA.10aCu2(OH)3Cl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Cuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
Hematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Baryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Group 9 - Silicates
Datolite9.AJ.20CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)9.BG.20Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Pumpellyite-(Mg)9.BG.20Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Kinoite9.BH.10Ca2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
Saponite9.EC.45Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Microcline9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
Analcime9.GB.05Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Laumontite9.GB.10CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Unclassified
'K Feldspar
var. Adularia'
-KAlSi3O8
'Chlorite Group'-
'Pumpellyite Subgroup'-Ca2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
'K Feldspar'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
H AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
H DatoliteCaB(SiO4)(OH)
H Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
H KinoiteCa2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
H LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
H MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
H Pumpellyite SubgroupCa2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
H Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
H Pumpellyite-(Mg)Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
H SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
BBoron
B DatoliteCaB(SiO4)(OH)
CCarbon
C CalciteCaCO3
C MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
O K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
O AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
O AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
O BaryteBaSO4
O CalciteCaCO3
O CupriteCu2O
O DatoliteCaB(SiO4)(OH)
O Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
O HematiteFe2O3
O KinoiteCa2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
O LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
O MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
O MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
O Pumpellyite SubgroupCa2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
O Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
O Pumpellyite-(Mg)Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
O QuartzSiO2
O SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
NaSodium
Na AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
MgMagnesium
Mg Pumpellyite-(Mg)Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Mg SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
AlAluminium
Al K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Al AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Al Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Al LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Al MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Al Pumpellyite SubgroupCa2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
Al Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Al Pumpellyite-(Mg)Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Al SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
SiSilicon
Si K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Si AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Si DatoliteCaB(SiO4)(OH)
Si Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Si KinoiteCa2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
Si LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Si MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
Si Pumpellyite SubgroupCa2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
Si Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Si Pumpellyite-(Mg)Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Si QuartzSiO2
Si SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
SSulfur
S BaryteBaSO4
S ChalcociteCu2S
ClChlorine
Cl AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
KPotassium
K K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
K MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
CaCalcium
Ca CalciteCaCO3
Ca DatoliteCaB(SiO4)(OH)
Ca Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Ca KinoiteCa2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
Ca LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Ca Pumpellyite SubgroupCa2XAl2[Si2O6(OH)][SiO4](OH)2A
Ca Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Ca Pumpellyite-(Mg)Ca2MgAl2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Ca SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
FeIron
Fe Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fe HematiteFe2O3
Fe Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)Ca2Fe2+Al2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH)
Fe SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
CuCopper
Cu AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
Cu ChalcociteCu2S
Cu CupriteCu2O
Cu Native CopperCu
Cu KinoiteCa2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10]
Cu MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
AgSilver
Ag Native SilverAg
BaBarium
Ba BaryteBaSO4

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 4, 2026 02:20:11 Page updated: November 23, 2025 21:37:40
Go to top of page