MixtatAL IlEsouncEs. The minerals for which Michigan is best known are copper and iron. Copper mining in the State dates from 1845. The output developed at a much faster rate than that of the whole emintry, so that in 1870 Michigan produced about 11,000 tons out of a total of 12.000 tons. lly the time. Montana and Arizona began to produce copper, the outwit of Michigan had doubled, amounting to over 22,000 tons in 1880. With the rapid develop ment of the Montana deposits Michigan fell to the second place (1887) as a copper producer, and, although its outinit has been steadily grow ing, its contribution to the total copper output of the country has relatively decreased. The copper deposits of Michigan are confined to the peninsula. protruding into Lake Superior, and the best-known mines are the Calumet and Ifecla. They yield over one-half of the output of the State. In 1901 Michigan produced 69.772 long tons of fine copper, or 25.9 per cent. of the total for the United States, as compared with 38.2 per cent. produced by Montana and 21.7 by Arizona.
Next to copper the chief mineral of Michigan is iron, in regard to which the State occupies the foremost position in the country, although its output in 1901 was exceeded in quantity by that of Minnesota. The iron deposits are found chiefly in the Marquette, Menominee, and Gogebie ranges, and consist almost entirely of red hematite. Iron was first discovered in the State near Marquette in 1841, and mining operations were begun in 1846. The development of the industry was greatly' retarded by the lack of transportation facilities, so that in 1872 the output of iron from the Marquette range amounted only to 948,553 tolls of ore. In ISS5
the Marquette, Menominee, and Gogebie ranges yielded 2,240,887 tons. The improvement of the facilities for the transportation of the ore and the extension in the use of iron and steel gave a new impulse to iron mining and bratullit Michi gan to the position of the foremost iron-produe ing State of the Union. In 1901 the total yield of its iron ore amounted to 9,654,067 long tons, valued at the mines at $2L735,592. Only a small part of the iron output is smelted in the State, most of the ore being transported by way of the lakes to the Lake Erie ports. The chief shipping ports are Escanaba on Lake Michigan and Marquette on Lake Supe•io•.
Previous to 1893 Michigan was the leading salt-producing State. In that year it was dis placed by New York, which held the first rank until 1901, when Michigan again became first. The total production of salt in Michigan in 1901 was 7,729,641 barrels, or 37.6 per cent. of the output of the United States. The value of the salt output of Miehigan for the same year was $2.437,677. The chief salt mines are around Saginaw Ray. Michigan is also the leading gyp sum prodneing State, the output a mount ing in 1901 to $207.243. or over 17 per cent. of the total for the country. Most of the gypsum is found in Kent County. Among the other minerals may be mentioned Portland cement, which was produced to the value of $1,128.290; coal, $1,753, 064; gold, 81,000 oz.; mineral waters On the production of which Michigan leads all other States), $1,195,614; and various clays I furnish ing material for the manufacture of (ricks, tiles, and pottery), $1,542,034. These figures were 101* 1901. the section on Mining in the article UNITED STATES.