Native Copper with Calcite

The Keweenaw Peninsula is one of the world’s most famous native copper localities. Copper mining began here long before European settlement, with Indigenous peoples mining and working native copper thousands of years ago.

Large-scale mining during the 1800s made the Keweenaw one of America’s most important copper-producing regions. Native copper from Michigan is especially famous for its unusual crystal forms and large masses, making the region a classic locality for mineral collectors.