Mine: Cayia Mine, Crystal Falls, MI

Began → Cayia Mine → Abandoned

Operated for 2 years, no production.

From: 1951

Location: NE-SW, NW-SE and SE-NW Sec. 26 of T43N-R32W

Owned by: Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., then leased to Inland Steel Co.

Produced: Iron Ore

Method: Underground. Shaft sunk inb 1953. This is a reserve property in 1950.

Railroad connection:

Until: 1954

Lifetime None.

Source: [LSIO-1950]

Notes

The Cayia Mine was located in Crystal Falls in Iron County near the old Lee Peck mine. [WAK-1951-0216]

Named after A. J. "Fred" Cayia, son of a Crystal Falls family, who is Inland Steel Company's manager of ore mines and quarries and president of their subsidiary Inland Lime and Stone Company. [WAK-1951-0216]

A 2.5 mile spur will be built from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific railroad main line north of Crystal Falls to the property. Ore will be shipped from the C&NW docks at Escanaba.

Time Line

1951. It is estimated that 75 men will be employed to operate the mine. The company also operates the Sherwood Mine at Mineral Hills and the Bristol in Crystal Falls city, which also ship from Escanaba. [WAK-1951-0216]

1952. A shaft is sunk at the mine. The ore produced in 1953 was placed in stock and will be shipped this year.

1954. Mud, water and quicksand hinders underground work and is believed to hasten a decision to abandoned the property.

1954. The property, located on M-69, east of Crystal Falls, will be abandoned by the Inland Steel Company before a single ton or ore has been shipped. [WAK-1954-0402]

1954. May 29. "Unsettled conditions" in the iron and steel industries have resulted in the closing of one upper peninsula iron ore mine and curtained operations a two others. Inland Steel Co. closed its Cayia iron ore mine after two months of suspended operations. Mining costs had exceeded the return expected from the ore body. The mine was opened in 1952 and the company stockpiled all ore produced there last year. About 60 men are affected by the closing. [IDG-1954-0329].