Hematite

Unknown Owner

Bright lustrous botryoidal hematite specimen, the type often referred to as kidney ore. In great condition, a choice miniature for this material from this mining area.Iron mining at Republic, Michigan developed in the late 19th century as part of the Marquette Iron Range in the Upper Peninsula. The district produced iron ore from Precambrian banded iron formation using underground mining methods. Mines such as the Republic Mine supplied hematite ore to the growing iron and steel industry around the Great Lakes. Production continued for many years before declining as high grade ore deposits were depleted and mining shifted to other areas.