NATIVE Silver with NATIVE Copper

Unknown Owner

Copper Country in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan is world famous for its deposits of Native Copper metal, mined since prehistory by Native Americans and then on an industrial scale after the arrival of settlers from Europe. Far more uncommon were masses of crystallized Native Silver and Native Copper/Native Silver mixtures known as 'halfbreeds'. One mine where Native Silver appears to have been much more important is Wolverine mine, a little northeast of Calumet in Houghton Co. The mine started in 1882 but struggled to get going properly until 1890. Over the next 30 years it reached an inclined depth of 4,500 ft before closing in 1925. This superb large miniature specimen is almost entirely a dense aggregate of hackly crystallized Native Silver but look carefully and small inclusions of orange Native Copper can be seen. Not only is this Native Silver aesthetically pleasing, but is quite large compared to many from this famous mine.