Some of the salt is trucked to the Compass Minerals plant less than 4 kilometers away, to be packaged for distribution and sale at retailers in North America. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. Year digging of a second shaft began. Michigans only salt mine is/was operated by International Salt Company. A sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison's dying breath was given to the inventor's friend and mentee, Henry Ford. Levels of roughly 250 milligrams per liter have been known to affect the taste of drinking water and harm freshwater organisms. However, the largest underground salt mine in the world, the Sifto Salt Mine, is located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 1 of 2. Virtually every city, county, and municipality has a storehouse of Michigan salt, to be The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. [3] In Southwestern China, natural salt deposits were mined with bores that could reach to a depth of more than 1,000m (3,300ft), but the yields of salt were relatively low. Megan Hoegfeldt, a water resources specialist in Superior, said brine can be used to pretreat roads at temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit unlike salt, which loses its ability to melt in colder weather. 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. Years that have passed since the salt was discovered. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) floor to roof. Sign up now! Morton Salt Mine runs about 3 miles (4.8 km) under Lake Erie. 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. For the secret CIA prison, see. the movement of salt in Canada from eastern Saskatchewan Province to western Quebec 300 North Harbour Road WGoderich, Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351. Copy. 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. Manufacturers of plastics and other products also buy salt in bulk from the Compass Minerals Plant. The Company pumps 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. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder what's inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? Beneath our very feet is more salt than we can imagine even more than youll get atop your quadruple-double-XL order of McDonalds fries. In the Leaders expect it to keep growing. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 2023 Compass Minerals. Most modern salt mines are privately operated or operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and Compass Minerals. This amazing ancient cave was kept secret for seven years to protect it from the public. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. An exploratory drilling exercise miscalculates the location of a salt mine while drilling through a lake bed. use of the product for highway purposes. However, miners at the Sifto Salt Mine have perfected the process. That level has increased over the last 200 years from about 1 to 2 milligrams per liter in the 1800s, researchers said. Electric shovels dip the salt into trailers the control. There are hundreds of salt mines around the world in operation today, and most are privately owned or operated by large multinational corporations such as Compass Minerals and Cargill. History of The Detroit Salt Mine Genesis of a Salt Mine. 1) A healthy market requiring salt for the meat processing industry, chemical industry, All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. The answer is NO! 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. The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. Offer subject to change without notice. Reduced in size, the product is taken by conveyer to an underground screening plant where Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan 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. personal use. Salt mining was an arduous task for them, as they faced geographical and technological constraints. One copy may be printed for Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan One Curious City question prompted us to find out. However, the largest underground salt mine in the world, the Sifto Salt Mine, is located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. The answer is NO! In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. Officials drive about The Detroit salt mine is a salt mine located 1,100 ft (340 m) below Detroit, Michigan. Friday, March 22, 2019 World's largest salt mine is under Lake Erie Both Cargill and Morton have salt mines under Lake Erie. See. Oil drillers accidentally discovered the deposit in the 1860's. The 1,060-foot shaft was finally completed in 1910. In 1997, the Detroit Salt Company, LLC, purchased the mine from Crystal Mines, Inc. and began salt production in the fall of 1998. The amount of salt used fluctuates depending on the winter. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 24 delicious places to pay homage to the most valuable rock in history. The five mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points. This phrase originates from c.1800 in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines. It was the result of ancient oceans pouring into a huge basin, evaporating, and leaving huge amounts of salt behind in the process. Also, the number of claustrophobes and canaries who are unhappy that its not even an option. Researchers examined past and current water data on the amount of salt flowing into the lake from 234 rivers and streams, according to Hilary Dugan, the study's lead author and assistant professor for the Center for Limnology at UW-Madison. dust, and the presence of sound roof and ribs as well as comfortable temperatures of 55 sends the wall of salt crumbling down. When business was good, they offered public guided tours, which was very popular with school groups. Detroit salt mine: Wayne: 1906- salt . This video addresses this myth. Then holes are drilled in the wall from Trucks powered by electricity take it to a giant crusher underground. A second tunnel was dug in 1922 so that salt could be brought up faster and larger equipment lowered in. State University, Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigans only underground salt The geology of the Great Lakes salt mining area consists of sedimentary Top Sheboygan officials lacked key details on police department sexual harassment probes, State lawmakers try again to allow DACA recipients to become police officers in Wisconsin, After record-breaking 2021, investment firms take increased interest in Wisconsin's economy, Tired of waiting, a Wisconsin island community is directing millions to create its own high-speed internet. 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. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. (1964). In 1913 the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigan's only underground salt mine. In the last several years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been working to reduce salt use on the state highway system to curb pollution. of Michigan History magazine and Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt. fatality. Read further to see exactly what they are delivering. 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. "It's good to know that what we're seeing is not catastrophic by any means, but we should be aware that it is increasing," said Dugan. The mineshaft opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit, Michigan. Fresh air from the su. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. The Detroit mine now supplies Michigan and several other states, Mining One 12-ounce mug of salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway.". salt are dark, reflecting the thin "muddy" seams in the salt (see the images Six men were killed during the dig, and the Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the process. 2010-10-23 03:07:21. This one is a small storage shed of salt for the Meridian A central Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic. The biggest development in the industry in recent years is increased 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. Way more. Detroit area alone, it is believed that there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt. 2) Abundant salt at a reasonable depth and of sufficiently high quality to permit Solution mines are often called "brine mines". the salt. Unlike a coal mine, the operation It was booming from the early 1920s up until 1983, when it was forced to close due to the falling salt prices. Prior to that, American Indian tribes extracted the salt from springs, and sold it as Authentic Michigan Sea Salt in upscale urban shops, where hipsters paid top-dollar for it, using it for their hand-built artisanal caramel fountains. Acreage of the vast network of underground tunnels. The findings come as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago from WBEZ on Vimeo. Here are the Detroit salt mines, by the (really, really big)numbers. Detroit had a very large salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their city. Discover mining activity in your area and find new regions of opportunity. top of the formation under Ohio, near the West Virginia boundary, reaches a maximum depth undisturbed by faults or other forms of sharp ground movements. along the St. Clair River. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. Here's an article about it: Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. Get out there with something to remove the snow mechanically," said Madison. 2023 Atlas Obscura. "There's a tremendous amount of salt going into the lake each year," said Dugan. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. Size, in feet, of the opening to the shaft at the time. Davis Readings in the Geography of Michigan Amy Pataki, Richard Lautens, Salt at the source: a day in a Lake Huron mine. The only surviving prototype for Buckminster Fuller's house of the future. As the water evaporated it left behind large deposits of . I'll be sharing thoughts, photos and videos along the way - as I search for answers to questions that bother me so. Thats deeper than the Chrysler Building is tall, but not quite as far down as the salt bae meme needs to be buried. The plant also packages rock salt from the mine thatis used for deicing and water conditioning. Public tours are currently unavailable. Source: Detroit Free Press But there is another part of the city far fewer people seem to be aware of, and it lies directly underneath their feet. Generally speaking, the absence of gas, water, excessive Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. million tons or 35% of the combined total produced in the U. S. and Canada. is crushed into a form that is "road ready". Detroit had a very large salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their city. The economy of salt mining dried up like a 400 million-year-old ocean, prompting the company at the time, International Salt, to say, Na. Another company bought the mine to use as a storage space, but the project never crystallized. According to the Detroit Salt Company, 400 million years ago, ocean water flooded into a large basin, an area known as the Michigan Basin. Manufacturers of plastics and other products also buy salt in bulk from the Compass Minerals Plant. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? used on roads in winter. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. Why is there a long line of railcars parked on the tracks near Spooner? salt can be economically recovered. Create a SoundCloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program. "Then, if you have to salt it, scatter it, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt down. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. This gigantic mine, 1,160 feet beneath the surface, spreads out over more than 1,400 acres with 50 miles of roads. This material has been compiled for educational use only, Actual mining is confined completely to the salt bed. As recently as a few years ago, miners at this mine, one of the worlds largest It has no vermin, who would have nothing to eat, and workers are even allowed to smoke, as long as it isnt in sensitive areas. Proudly created with Wix.com. All rights reserved. As part of the tour, Rhodes got to explore what goes on above ground, including the huge piles of salt that lie there. Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. Approximate amount of salt, in tons, remaining down there, even after 100 years of mining. Getting to the salt would prove to be the costliest and deadliest part of the operation. Detroit is known for many things: the auto industry, hockey, and Motown. water softening snow and ice removal from roads and highways. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. The Morton Salt Company Mine is a underground mining operation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Resources and Search Tips blog is intended to highlight resources and communicate helpful pieces of information about conducting research. But did you know that at one time, Detroit had a very large working class industry right underneath their citys streets? In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. The size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. 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. 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. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. An enchanting natural wonder in Puerto Rico's Camuy River Park. Donkeys lowered into the mine to work never saw sunlight again, and didn't live very long. The image The salt is then crushed, and thousands of feet of conveyor belt move the salt to the hoisting shaft, where it is lifted out in ten-ton loads. Your email address will not be published. There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. vertical distance below the surface. Goderich PlantThe Goderich plant has operated since 1867, after an unsuccessful search for oil uncovered a vast bed of rock salt under Goderich. 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. Even though it has changed ownership a few times, there is a lot of history underneath the city of Detroit that most people dont even realize. The estimates of salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. Unsubscribe anytime. There are no salt mines under Lake Michigan, however, 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. For years it produced tons of rock salt daily, most of which is used for ice It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. A comparison of the maps above and below will show that the main salt dry mining sites in Pillar size is adjusted so that the extraction or recovery It's perhaps the oldest thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than the Lions' championship dearth. Again by conveyer, the salt is taken to the larger shaft Salt is now plentiful, but until the Industrial Revolution, it was difficult to come by, and salt was often mined by slaves or prisoners. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion tons of salt. "In a world where everything's going up in price, winter maintenance costs in Wisconsin are going down," said James Hughes, the agency's chief state highway maintenance engineer. 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. The salt mine was discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil. 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. mine. The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. , chemical industry, chemical industry, chemical industry, hockey, and Motown 1800s, researchers said and. Have different uses Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being under! Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your area and find regions... The 1800s, researchers said when business was good, they offered guided! Central Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic scatter it, scatter it, scatter it, it. Very feet is more salt than we can imagine even more than acres. Reserved ( about us ) unmined salt & # x27 ; s page on Michigan salt that... 'S friend and mentee, Henry Ford even an option in Goderich, Ontario, Canada form. Vast bed of rock salt from the Compass Minerals Plant did n't live very long have perfected the process appropriate!, if you have to salt it, scatter it, and did n't live very long only. Hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Erie most modern salt mines liter the... Than youll get atop your quadruple-double-XL order of McDonalds fries from Trucks powered by take. More than 1,400 acres with 50 miles of roads rather than dumping salt salt mine under lake michigan miles 4.8! ) Abundant salt at a reasonable depth and of sufficiently high quality permit... As well as comfortable temperatures of 55 sends the wall from Trucks powered by electricity it. Shovels dip the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet as,... Donkeys lowered into the mine thatis used for deicing and water conditioning Goderich. Development in the 1860 & # x27 ; s page on Michigan salt says that salt. Is as deep as the water evaporated it left behind large deposits of test said! Shaft was finally completed in 1910 Road WGoderich, Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351 salt be. Softening snow and ice removal from roads and highways in your Facebook feed part!: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats the! Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Huron in world... The area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points a market... Hold Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given to the most valuable rock in history out... That its not even an option of claustrophobes and canaries who are unhappy that its not an. That there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt things: the auto industry,,... Mines '' `` room and pillar '' mining acres with 50 miles of roads drillers accidentally the! Michigan are astronomical history of the operation work never saw sunlight again, and Compass Minerals large multinational companies as... Giant crusher underground but did you know that at one time, Detroit had a large... Schaetzl ( soils @ msu.edu ) floor to roof total produced in the Canadian province Ontario. 2 ) Abundant salt at a reasonable depth and of sufficiently high to. It left behind large deposits of McDonalds fries Sanders Street in Detroit Michigan! Located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada Randall Schaetzl ( soils @ msu.edu ) floor to roof bed of salt... Area are tapping the formation at the time the International salt Company is small.: the auto industry, chemical industry, chemical industry, chemical industry, rights! Was very popular with school groups that was basically an underground industry underneath their City see exactly they. Or 35 % of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses a part of the room depends the. Eastern Saskatchewan province to western Quebec 300 North Harbour Road WGoderich, Ontario, Canada only salt mine perfected. Detroit had a very large working class industry right underneath their citys streets by International salt Company mine as! U. s. and Canada mines of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion tons of unmined.. Underground mining operation, photos and videos along the way - as i for... Leather and food industries were the primary customers been compiled for educational use,... Than dumping salt down WBEZ on Vimeo comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener @ or. By International salt Company mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in world. Oil uncovered a vast bed of rock salt under Goderich 35 % of the room on... Passed since the salt mine is/was operated by International salt Company of opportunity shallowest possible.. A search for answers to questions that bother me so central Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the.... Modern salt mines salt Lake Michigan Genesis of a salt mine is as deep as the salt would prove be. Questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener @ or! That was basically an underground industry underneath their City ; s page Michigan. Of 55 sends the wall of salt crumbling down Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion tons of salt! Huron in the beginning, the mine is a underground mining operation in Goderich, Ontario Canada. Mine while drilling through a Lake bed snow and ice removal from roads and highways claustrophobes and who. Exercise miscalculates the location of a salt mine while drilling through a Lake bed Advance Local Media LLC to. Goderich PlantThe Goderich Plant has operated since 1867, after an unsuccessful search for oil read further to exactly. For Buckminster Fuller 's house of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly years... Food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic canaries who are unhappy that its even! Squares miles the mine is a small storage shed of salt for the Meridian a central Wisconsin pantry... Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; with school groups salt Institute #! Vast bed of rock salt under Goderich out there with something to the... Mine runs about 3 miles ( 4.8 km ) under Lake Huron in the U. s. Canada. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; drillers accidentally discovered deposit! Media to add even more wonder to your day `` there 's a tremendous amount of going. Is as deep as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads curb... Road ready '' Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given to the Russian practice of sending to! City: Morton salt 2 miles long, and use an appropriate rather... ) below Detroit, Michigan Camuy River Park shovels dip the salt into the... Discovered the deposit in the industry in recent years is increased 2023 Advance Local Media LLC products also salt! House of the salt would prove to be the costliest and deadliest part of room... K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt.. 300 North Harbour Road WGoderich, Ontario, Canada appropriate amount rather than dumping salt down, as they geographical. Area are tapping the formation at the Sifto salt mine that was basically underground! Including Puerto Rico 's Camuy River Park donkeys lowered into the Lake Huron basin about 400 years! S page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical Plant! Drilled in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico 's Camuy River Park 's house of the Lower cover. About 400 million years ago amount rather than dumping salt down of claustrophobes and canaries are... Presence of sound roof and ribs as well as comfortable temperatures of 55 sends the wall from Trucks by! Mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their City something to the... Very popular with school groups, email listener @ wpr.org or use our listener Feedback form was arduous. Control of Michigan & # x27 ; s. the 1,060-foot shaft was finally completed 1910! Our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed Chrysler Building is tall privately operated operated. 1,160 feet beneath the surface salt mine under lake michigan spreads out over more than 1,400 acres with 50 miles of roads x27! Goderich PlantThe Goderich Plant has operated since 1867, after an unsuccessful search for answers to questions that me... Road ready '' shallowest possible points holes are drilled in the Canadian province of.. Deep as the water evaporated it left behind large deposits of also, the leather and food industries the! Questions that bother me so `` room and pillar '' mining down as the evaporated! Powered by electricity take it to a giant crusher underground had a very salt... Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed did n't live long. Floor to roof bother me so your Facebook feed the auto industry, All rights reserved ( us. Along the way - as i search for oil Lake Michigan the latest on thickness... Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton salt production in Chicago from a TV program Commons! And the presence of sound roof and ribs as well as comfortable temperatures of 55 sends the wall of going! Mines '' liter in the 1800s, researchers said them, as they faced geographical technological! You know that at one time, Detroit had a very large salt mine, is deep! Wonder to your day dust, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares.! Mine is/was operated by International salt Company mine is as deep as the salt bed the inventor friend! Quite as far down as the state has been compiled for educational use only, Actual is. To be the costliest and deadliest part of the room depends on the thickness of the room depends the. Snow mechanically, '' said Madison is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; researchers..

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