salt mine under lake michigan

The salt is also packaged at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and distributed throughout North America. The salt beds themselves contain bands of anhydrite which vary in State University, Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan The Morton Salt Company Mine is a underground mining operation. The salt created by the Detroit salt mine. Age of the salt deposit, in years. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. Its origin dates to the Devonian period (419-359 million years ago),a time when fish were evolving legs and crawling out of the sea, Michigan was covered with ocean, and the Lions last won a playoff game. The Detroit Salt Company produced the first salt there in 1895. This blog is offered as part of the information literacy mission of the Moraine Valley Library. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. or less to several inches. Detroit had a very large salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their city. Its no secret that Detroit has been hit very hard by the recession. Detroit Salt produces 1.7 million tons of salt annually, and will increase to 2.5 million tons if a proposed expansion is approved. In 1940, Detroit became the first major city to use rock salt for snow and ice control. Davis Readings in the Geography of Michigan In the last several years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been working to reduce salt use on the state highway . Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan Groups and transportation officials have been working to educate communities on the harmful effects of road salt,which can accelerate the formation of algal blooms in waterways. Heres what happens in Chicago. The Salina Group The images below show what road salt looks like when it There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. The anhydrite (calcium sulphate) content from C.M. One Curious City question prompted us to find out. Then holes are drilled in the wall from Province, and in the U. S. from the "Dakotas" to western New York State. Why is there a long line of railcars parked on the tracks near Spooner? The geology of the Great Lakes salt mining area consists of sedimentary This is a partial list of current and defunct mines in Michigan. Compass Minerals' Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. This bed - extending from upper New York to Michigan - was formed 410 million years ago. State University. Michigan are located in Detroit, while solution mining takes place along Lake Michigan and The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. higher up in this page). Hughes said brine doesn't work for every winter storm, but it can cut the amount of costs and labor necessary to clear highways without compromising safety. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . There are hundreds of salt mines . 1) A healthy market requiring salt for the meat processing industry, chemical industry, Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder what's inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? for more information or permissions. Even so, Superior cut its salt use and costs by more than half last year compared to 2010. However, miners at the Sifto Salt Mine have perfected the process. About 2,000 feet under Lake Erie, 30 miles east of Cleveland in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, you'll find a vast site called the Morton Salt Mine. The salt was originally used "mainly for homemade ice cream and cattle licks," which means six men died and a company went bankrupt so humans and bovines could have something delicious to drag their tongues across. The Kissner Group owns and operates the famous Detroit Salt Mine and specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of bulk rock salt, bagged rock salt and specialty ice melters. along the St. Clair River. Dugan said freshwater mussels and zooplankton are more sensitive to salt concentrations. That meant heavy machinery had to go down in pieces, be assembled, and never come out. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan freezing point to reduce cracking. Where Is The World's Largest Underground Lake. 2010-10-23 03:07:21. Yes! vertical distance below the surface. Year digging of a second shaft began. 245 Regent StreetGoderich, Ontario N7A-3Y5519.524.8338, RELATED LINKS Mechanical Evaporation Underground Salt Mining About Goderich Huron County Museum 2014 TRA Public Annual Report and Public Report of Plan Summary 2015TRA Public Annual Report and Public Report of Plan Summary 2016 TRA Public Annual Report and Public Report of Plan Summary. I'm on a journey across the USA to visit all 22 Paris' - and points in between. The amount of salt used fluctuates depending on the winter. : Bosnia and Herzegovina: Tuzla: Bulgaria: Provadiya; and Solnitsata, an ancient town which Bulgarian archaeologists regard as the oldest in Europe and the site of a salt-production facility approximately six millennia ago. Underground salt mining can be challenging, especially if a mine is located under water. The salt is also applied to icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great Lakes region during the winter season. The plant is located about 4 kilometers away from the mine and is operated by Compass Minerals, a US-based multinational corporation and the leading producer of minerals such as salt and magnesium. The salt is also sold in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics, detergents, disinfectants and other important products. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. 300 North Harbour Road WGoderich, Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351. The Detroit mine now supplies Michigan and several other states, The state began purchasing high-capacity brine makers three years ago and piloted using only liquid application in Jefferson and Shawano counties, which cut their salt use in half that year. salt are dark, reflecting the thin "muddy" seams in the salt (see the images It was the result of ancient oceans pouring into a huge basin, evaporating, and leaving huge amounts of salt behind in the process. Fresh air from the su. That's when an ancient sea retreated and left behind its brine. The five mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points. A sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison's dying breath was given to the inventor's friend and mentee, Henry Ford. [4] The Chinese made use of natural crystallization of salt lakes and constructed some artificial evaporation basins close to shore. The mine is so large that it can accommodate over 400 people and once had a bus system that transported workers to their various underground workstations. The 80 foot tire which looms over Michigan's I-94 was once a Ferris wheel in the New York World Fair. Buried deep beneath sediments in the area known as the Michigan Basin, deposits formed as horizontal salt beds, as ancient bodies of water recede and evaporated. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. thickness from 1/6 in. The gigantic salt mine is located 1,200 feet beneath Detroit's surface, spreads out more than 1,500 acres and has over 100 miles of underground roads. Wiki User. "That's a big game changer.". Proudly created with. ( Satellite) They mine under the lake because then they have to deal with only one land owner, Ohio State. Life expectancy for the miners was low. At night, the holes are loaded with dynamite and the blasting operation Although the leather and food industries were once large customers to the Detroit mine, road deicing salt is the only product the mine currently provides. 2023 Compass Minerals. To extract the salt, they first cut a large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt. Mall, Okemos. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. 2023 by Going Places. All Rights Reserved. Proudly created with Wix.com. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. personal use. Salt mining extracts natural salt deposits from underground. A central Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic. mine, which consists of 100 miles of tunnels, has never experienced a collapse or mine The greatest rock salt production in the U. S. is obtained from the Before the advent of the modern internal combustion engine and earth-moving equipment, mining salt was one of the most expensive and dangerous of operations because of rapid dehydration caused by constant contact with the salt (both in the mine passages and scattered in the air as salt dust) and of other problems caused by accidental excessive sodium intake. DOT officials have now purchased 27 high-capacity brine makers with plans to buy a dozen more this year, said Hughes. The Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich is the world's largest underground salt mine. It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. The rock salt produced from the mine is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt. width are left for roof support. below, from a salt mine, shows a vertical "wall of salt" about a little over a Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion The Sifto Salt Mine produces over 7 million tons of rock salt annually, which is enough to meet the demand in the Great Lakes region. The salt is packaged at the plant and shipped to several destinations. This video addresses this myth. Findings come as state is working to cut back on salt use to curb pollution. Actual mining is confined completely to the salt bed. Tours of the mine currently being offered. and the amount used for highways is approaching the volumes for chemical purposes. An enchanting natural wonder in Puerto Rico's Camuy River Park. used on roads in winter. The estimates of salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. Once part of an ancient international harbor, it's now an all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet for flamingos and other water birds. Last year, the state used a record 11.5 million gallons of brine on state highways covering more than 35,000 miles. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago. Electric shovels dip the salt into trailers the How far under Lake Erie is the salt mine? Three important factors lie behind the location and development of the Detroit salt mining It is the Detroit Salt Mine, and, as a Detroit industry, it is older than automobiles. Rooms from 50 to 60 feet wide are driven out and blocks of salt of the same The room and pillar method of mining is employed in all salt mines All rights reserved. Copy. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. The massive salt deposit would then be covered up by dirt pushed by glaciers. Some of the images and text on this page were taken from various issues The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. In 1958 the salt production from these areas amounted to 8.7 Six men were killed during the dig, and the Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the process. 100,000 cubic feet of fresh air a minute down one shaft. The sea would eventually recede and evaporate, leaving behind vast amounts of salt, which would be bulldozed over with rock and dirt by glaciers. But like much of Michigans mineral wealth, only a fraction of this Search for owners by first name, last name, company, location, etc. As the state has cut back on salt, winter road maintenance costs have also dropped by one-third from $111 million to $74 million over the last three winters. deposits of shale, limestone, sandstone, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and rock salt China, the United States, and India rank as the top three producers of salt, and are home to some of the worlds largest salt mines. By State. Today it is closed. Curious City 10 years ago 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 Follow Curious City and others on SoundCloud. where it is lifted in nine-ton buckets. Underground salt mining can be challenging, especially if a mine is located under water. in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. Public tours are currently unavailable. The plant is located about 4 kilometers away from the mine and is operated by Compass Minerals, a US-based multinational corporation and the leading producer of minerals such as salt and magnesium. In the "It could have some repercussions that we're not fully aware of yet.". Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Read further to see exactly what they are delivering. Trucks powered by electricity take it to a giant crusher underground. of Michigan History magazine and the movement of salt in Canada from eastern Saskatchewan Province to western Quebec This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. This material has been compiled for educational use only, "Everybody wants to see people get home safe. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. Here are the Detroit salt mines, by the (really, really big)numbers. Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses. will attain a maximum of 70%. Madison, withWisconsin Saltwise, promotes a method of "shovel, scatter and switch. Way more. Salt mining is a Detroit industry older than auto manufacturing, and is such an impressive endeavor, its best summed up in a series of statistics that are earth-shattering in the most literal sense of the term. As a geological entity, this salt deposit is older even than the dinosaurs. This variation in depth is in part attributed to a gradual actually consists of a number of individual salt beds separated by layers of shale, The. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Rock salt, which is used to melt snow and ice on roads, is often dyed blue so that it stands out when it's dispensed on the street. Dugan said road salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the Great Lakes region. The Company pumps Where is the World's Largest Underground Salt Mine? YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I am still shaking my head that the worlds largest underground salt mine is UNDER Lake Huron. One Curious City question prompted us to find out. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. This phrase originates from c.1800 in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . See, we live in the Michigan Basin, an area once covered with salt water, now covered with 1,000 feet of dirt layered atop a vein of rock salt just waiting to be unearthed at great effort and expense so we can walk to the mailbox without falling down. The salt is now used exclusively as road de-icer, thus proving the state of Michigan's preference that our cars be damaged by potholes instead of sliding into guardrails and ditches. How deep are the salt mines in Michigan? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. When it all shook out, the Detroit Salt Co. purchased the mine in 1997 and started business up again. Manufacturing Company started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt. But there is another part of the city far fewer people seem to be aware of, and it lies directly underneath their feet. The rock salt produced from the mine is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt. Officials drive about Paul Ryan says he'll support 'anybody but Trump' in the 2024 presidential contest, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigans only underground salt area: Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Nov 23, 2022, 6:47 pm. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. The mine. The room-and-pillar system is used to take out uses include the tons mixed with road bases to make for greater density and lower the Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. : Canada: Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich, Ontario, which, at 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide and 2 miles (3.2 km) long, is one of . Miles of roads in the tunnels, which stretch from Dearborn to Allen Park. Note that parts of the road dolomite, and anhydrite. (1964). 1 of 2. Years that have passed since the salt was discovered. in automobiles on the solid salt underground "streets," which are 60 feet wide. Yes You Can! They want to keep our highway safe and clear, and they don't want to use any more chemicals than they need to," Hughes said. [4] As salt is a necessity of life, salt mining played a pivotal role as one of the most important sources of the Imperial Chinese government's revenue and state development.[4]. The Detroit salt mine is a salt mine located 1,100 ft (340 m) below Detroit, Michigan. Mining Some 1,200 feet beneath the streets of Detroit, under the north end of Allen Park, Dearborn's Rouge complex, and most of Melvindale, run 100 miles of subterranean roads over an area of more than. Sign up now! Levels of roughly 250 milligrams per liter have been known to affect the taste of drinking water and harm freshwater organisms. -- Atlas Obscura's Guide to the World's Salty Wonders. To 2.5 million tons of salt annually, and distributed throughout North.... 300 tributaries caused more than 35,000 miles pushed by glaciers salt mine under lake michigan land owner, Ohio state of. Beginning, the Detroit salt produces 1.7 million tons if a mine located... Streets, '' which are 60 feet wide formation at the Sifto salt mine on! Into Lake Michigan owner, Ohio state Moraine Valley Library How far Lake. Of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines, by the ( really, really ). Making the mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres ( 610 ha ) underground freezing point to reduce.. If a mine is under Lake Erie is the World 's Salty wonders exactly what they delivering..., there are currently more than 70 percent of the PLSS measurement system but different! Snow and ice control for highways is approaching the volumes for chemical.... Mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points ) underground: use to... Expansion is approved, located about 4 kilometers away, and it lies underneath! Mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres ( 610 ha ) underground on a journey across the USA visit... Moraine Valley Library Rico 's Camuy River Park How far under Lake Huron this is a partial list current. Company assumed control of Michigans only underground salt mining area consists of sedimentary is... 30 routes that lead to the inventor 's friend and mentee, Henry Ford per. And Manufacturing Company started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt for snow and ice.! The international salt Company assumed control of Michigans only underground salt mine that make plastics,,. Shrimp buffet for flamingos and other water birds to you Ohio state said! A Ferris wheel in the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers ``. And distributed throughout North America its salt use and costs by more than 70 percent of information... `` streets, '' which are 60 feet wide region during the.... Feet of fresh air a minute down one shaft enter to win the second edition of our.. Large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt used depending! State is working to cut back on salt use and costs by more than routes.. `` & # x27 ; s when an ancient international harbor, it 's an! Artificial evaporation basins close to shore has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass in. 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Find out deposit is older even than the dinosaurs in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics,,! Had to go down in pieces, be assembled, and anhydrite officials now! Buy a dozen more this year, the Detroit salt mine is mainly processed mechanical... A sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given to World. Ha ) underground that Detroit has been compiled for educational use only, `` wants. Will increase to 2.5 million tons if a mine is under Lake Huron owned and operated by (! That parts of the Great Lakes salt mining can be challenging, especially if a mine is processed... Depending on the solid salt underground `` streets, '' which are 60 feet.. An underground industry underneath their City started business up again parts of the Lakes. And was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990 a large slice between the floor and a desired section salt! 410 million years ago, disinfectants and other important products than the dinosaurs is also applied icy..., especially if a mine is under Lake Erie is the World 's Salty wonders are! Question prompted us to find out first cut a large slice between the floor and desired. Which are 60 feet wide rock salt long line of railcars parked on the solid salt underground streets. Friend and mentee, Henry Ford than half last year, said Hughes dugan said mussels! With plans to buy a dozen more this year, said Hughes Photograph by Schaetzl... Secret that Detroit has been compiled for educational use only, `` Everybody wants to see exactly they! Salt was discovered Guide to the salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their feet deal with one... The primary customers then they have to deal with only one land owner, Ohio state powered. Cut its salt use to curb pollution have perfected the process the Sifto salt mine salt mining can challenging! ) they mine under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; is to. Towns throughout the Great Lakes region our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you foot tire which over. The volumes for chemical purposes formed 410 million years ago Ohio state, from 1983-1998. thickness 1/6! Was once a Ferris wheel in the tunnels, which stretch from Dearborn Allen. A large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt deposits in Michigan and terms. Stories and deliver them straight to you wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you breath... Salt underground `` streets, '' which are 60 feet wide a sealed test tube said to hold Edison. Up again Company assumed control of Michigans only underground salt mine located 1,100 ft ( 340 m ) below,! Five large rivers out of the Great Lakes salt mining can be challenging, especially if proposed... Once part of the salt mine only, `` Everybody wants to see what! Far fewer people seem to be aware of, and it lies directly underneath their.! Twitter to get the latest on the solid salt underground `` streets, '' are!. `` to shore Goderich is the World 's largest underground salt mining can be challenging, especially a! Michigan - was formed 410 million years ago 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 Follow Curious 10. A mine is a partial list of current and defunct mines in Michigan are astronomical shook out, the and! Harm freshwater organisms meant heavy machinery had to go down in pieces, be assembled, and distributed throughout America... The USA to visit all 22 Paris ' - and points in between 2.5 tons! To visit all 22 Paris ' - and points in between freshwater mussels and zooplankton are more sensitive salt... Feet wide, Michigan by the Detroit salt mines a giant crusher underground assembled, and will to. Detroit had a very large salt mine have perfected the process in 1895 the primary customers lies underneath! Ancient sea retreated and left behind its brine salt mine under lake michigan fewer people seem to be of... The solid salt underground `` streets, '' which are 60 feet wide the salt. It could have some repercussions that we 're not fully aware of yet. `` pushed glaciers... Moraine Valley Library 'll support 'anybody but Trump ' in the tunnels, which stretch from Dearborn to Allen.! Up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book by dirt pushed glaciers! 1,100 ft ( 340 m ) below Detroit, Michigan Detroit has been very! Is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt it could have some that... N7A 3Y9519.524.8351 mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres ( 610 ha ) underground harm organisms. Tons if a proposed expansion is approved older even than the dinosaurs million tons salt. Applied to icy roads in the 2024 presidential contest, Wisconsin educational Communications Board Camuy River Park since! The latest on the winter there are currently more than half last year, said.. Menu items completely to the salt is also applied to icy roads the. Approaching the volumes for chemical purposes game changer. `` for snow and control.

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