Location: Edgemere, MI - Adventure Mine Stamp Mill

Edgemere was the location of the Adventure Mine Stamp Mill along Lake Superior. It was located along Lake Superior between Redridge and Beacon Hill. This was a copper reduction mill located along Lake Superior at Edgemere, near Freda.

Began → Adventure Stamp Mill → Closed

Operated for 15 years.

From: 1901

Owned by: Adventure Mining Company

Produced: Copper

Method: Stamp mill - 3 stamps

Railroad connection: Copper Range Railroad

Until: 1917.

Lifetime Production: 

Notes

This stamp mill served the Adventure Mine located in Greenland, MI. Ore was transported by the Copper Range Railroad.

The stamp mill, which had two stamps, was put into operation in 1901 and operated for 16 years until 1917. It was maintained with a watchman until 1939 when it was torn down.

An article in the Daily Mining Gazette concluded that the mill was discontinued due to the distance the rock had to travel from Ontonagon County to Edgemere, and due to lack of copper in the rock. [DMG-1984-09]

The mill began operation in 1902 and was plagued from the start with mechanical problems which eventually resulted in a suit against Allis Chalmers. The necessary corrections were completed in 1904 only to have new problems with the water intake and the stamp foundations. Complete rebuilding of the foundations was necessary and completed in 1907. Now in top condition, the percentage of copper in rock being mined and the price of copper dropped. The mil was closed and put in storage. The mill was maintained during the next few years during driving of Adventure Mine Shaft 5 but was eventually closed for good.

Time Line

1901. A mill site was selected on the shore of Lake Superior, nearly a mile west of Redridge (Atlantic and Baltic mills) in the spring of 1901 and ground was broken for foundations in May. As of December, 1901 the structural steel is nearly all up and much of the machinery is on the ground. A contract for mill and equipment was complete and undertaken by the Allis-Chalmers Co. The mill is 134'x215' in size with adjoining boiler house 69'x72' and pump house 38'x72'. The mill will have 3 Allis-Chalmers stamps, fitted with coarse screens and round mortars. The jibs will be of the Hodge improved pattern. There will also be Evans slime tables and 5 Wilfley concentrators - two for each stamp, which number may be increased later. The rock bins will have a capacity of 4,500 tons - three days supply, and coal will be delivered to the boiler house through chutes, by gravity. The pump will be a Riedler, with daily capacity of 16 million gallons, and water, to be obtained temporarily thorough a 1,200 foot tunnel, starting at the bottom of an 80' well, and having its intake under 35' of water in Lake Superior. The tunnel will not be competed before the end of 1902.

Improvements at the mill site include a spur of the Lake Shore branch of the Copper Range railroad; office building, smithy, machine shop, hotel, 5 dwellings, etc. There is 8 to 12 feet of clear water off-shore, permitting tugs and scows to land cargoes in fair weather. [CHBK]

1902. September 22. The Adventure mill begans stamping for the Adventure Mine. Transport of ore was done by the Copper Range railroad and their Greenland branch. [CRR]