It is the Detroit Salt Mine, and, as a Detroit industry, it is older than automobiles. The answer is NO! Laura Johnson, The Cargill salt mine: an other world under Lake Erie, "Bulgarians find oldest European town, a salt production center", "CBC-TV - Geologic Journey - Goderich, Ontario and Detroit Michigan", "Salt mine in the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, 2015", "The Detroit Salt Company -- Explore the City under the City", "American Rock Salt to expand in Livingston", "All 17 Cargill Salt Miners Trapped on Underground Elevator Freed", "Definition of back to the salt mines | Dictionary.com", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salt_mining&oldid=1135677242, Socit de Sel de Mohammedia (Mohammedia Rock Salt company) near, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 04:10. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. Source: Detroit Free Press Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago from WBEZ on Vimeo. A comparison of the maps above and below will show that the main salt dry mining sites in These formations within the mining area are relatively continuous and generally Salt was extracted mainly from the sea, and salt works in the coastal areas in late imperial China equated to more than 80 percent of national production. It's perhaps the oldest thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than the Lions' championship dearth. Yes You Can! Use tab to navigate through the menu items. [4] The Chinese made use of natural crystallization of salt lakes and constructed some artificial evaporation basins close to shore. Six men were killed during the dig, and the Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the process. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. Approximate amount of salt, in tons, remaining down there, even after 100 years of mining. The mine itself is a relatively clean and spacious place to work, as far as mines go. The Chinese writer, poet, and politician Zhang Hua of the Jin dynasty wrote in his book Bowuzhi how people in Zigong, Sichuan, excavated natural gas and used it to boil a rock salt solution. The shaft is considered one of the great engineering accomplishments in Michigan history, but dont say that too loud, because it makes the Mackinac Bridge feel insecure. ( Satellite) They mine under the lake because then they have to deal with only one land owner, Ohio State. The Detroit mine now supplies Michigan and several other states, . Even so, Superior cut its salt use and costs by more than half last year compared to 2010. The anhydrite (calcium sulphate) content Historically the site has been associated with the Manistee Mining District which is now part of the Manistee National Forest. 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 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 movement of salt in Canada from eastern Saskatchewan Province to western Quebec 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. million tons or 35% of the combined total produced in the U. S. and Canada. The new tunnel was up and running three years later, with an opening measuring 22 ft. wide. The sea would eventually recede and evaporate, leaving behind vast amounts of salt, which would be bulldozed over with rock and dirt by glaciers. Compass Minerals' Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. The mineshaft opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit, Michigan. State University. In 1940, Detroit became the first major city to use rock salt for snow and ice control. More than 1 million metric tons of salt is flowing into Lake Michigan each year, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The 1,060-foot shaft was finally completed in 1910. 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. 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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. Acreage of the vast network of underground tunnels. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Proudly created with. next morning. Year digging of a second shaft began. The rock salt produced from the mine is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt. In three minutes, the skip drops nearly 1,700 feet below Cleveland. When it all shook out, the Detroit Salt Co. purchased the mine in 1997 and started business up again. Your email address will not be published. Copy. Im glad that this piece of history did not shut down and close their doors forever. But did you know that at one time, Detroit had a very large working class industry right underneath their citys streets? Sign up now! Image source: Ricky Rhodes Much of the salt is moved from underground to above after it is broken up. Why is there a long line of railcars parked on the tracks near Spooner? Today, road deicing salt is the primary product. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? One Curious City question prompted us to find out. In 1913 the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigan's only underground salt mine. It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. The salt mine was discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil. Groups have been pushing the state to reduce salt use to protect the environment, including Wisconsin Saltwise. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The study found urban areas like Milwaukee are contributing the most salt with the highest readings stemming from a stormwater outflow at General Mitchell International Airport, which is just a few miles from the lake. The findings come as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution. How deep are the salt mines in Michigan? The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. The answer is NO! The top of the Salina Group of the Eastern Salt Basin varies in its Chris Stuber Today, the salt from this mine is used exclusively as road salt. The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. [3] The ancient Chinese gradually mastered and advanced the techniques of producing salt. Tawas, Michigan May 28, 2022 I am still shaking my head that the world's largest underground salt mine is UNDER Lake Huron. As a geological entity, this salt deposit is older even than the dinosaurs. Discover mining activity in your area and find new regions of opportunity. Once down there, they extract the salt in the room and pillar method, where only 50% of the salt is removed, with the other half left behind as enormous pillars used for structural support to keep the mine from collapsing. of Energy). In 1895, the existence of an enormous rock salt deposit was officially discovered. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. In the mine, the temperature is between 56 and 60 degrees in all season. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. Salt mining extracts natural salt deposits from underground. Note that parts of the road No purchase necessary. Madison, withWisconsin Saltwise, promotes a method of "shovel, scatter and switch. 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. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. Number of workers who died digging the shaft. One copy may be printed for machine that bites out a channel at the floor. It was over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground salt mine. This amazing ancient cave was kept secret for seven years to protect it from the public. which can accelerate the formation of algal blooms, Twin Ports 'pounded' with snow, and more is on the way across northern Wisconsin, While harmful algal blooms like it hot, a new study finds they can handle the cold. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. In 1997, the Detroit Salt Company, LLC, purchased the mine from Crystal Mines, Inc. and began salt production in the fall of 1998. 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. However, miners at the Sifto Salt Mine have perfected the process. Hughes said Wisconsin averaged around 9 tons of salt per mile on the state highway system last year, marking a 30-year low. Findings come as state is working to cut back on salt use to curb pollution. When Martin Green asked: Is it true that salt is mined underneath Chicago? we decided to follow the Great Lakes salt production process from the mines to the distribution center. The amount of salt used fluctuates depending on the winter. At night, the holes are loaded with dynamite and the blasting operation downwarp or sinking of the earth's crust into basins during formation of the salt beds. Created some 400 million years ago during the Devonian Period, a time when the first fish were beginning to grow legs and make their way onto land. vertical distance below the surface. The "But because of the volume of Lake Michigan, that concentration is still pretty low.". Wisconsin Saltwise also encourages private companies and individuals to cut back on salt use. The U.S. salt bed map (Courtesy photo | U.S. Dept. Last year, the state used a record 11.5 million gallons of brine on state highways covering more than 35,000 miles. dust, and the presence of sound roof and ribs as well as comfortable temperatures of 55 Tours of the mine currently being offered. 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About 2,000 feet 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. "That's a big game changer.". The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. Its no secret that Detroit has been hit very hard by the recession. Michigan are located in Detroit, while solution mining takes place along Lake Michigan and As recently as a few years ago, miners at this mine, one of the world's largest rock salt mines, worked 1,200 feet beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities. 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. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion personal use. To extract the salt, they first cut a large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt. One may also ask, is it hot or cold in the Detroit Salt Mine? Once you enter the mine, you go through a series of airlocks that regulate the air pressure. Solution mines are often called "brine mines". economical mining, miners here have mined out an area 22 feet high for about 300 acres. Year the shaft was finally completed, by the Detroit Salt Company. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. The room-and-pillar system is used to take out The mineshaft opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit, Michigan. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. thickness from 1/6 in. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion tons of salt. Required fields are marked *. uses include the tons mixed with road bases to make for greater density and lower the Detroit Salt produces 1.7 million tons of salt annually, and will increase to 2.5 million tons if a proposed expansion is approved. Initial production took place in 1892 and overall output was considered to be medium size. 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 mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. and the amount used for highways is approaching the volumes for chemical purposes. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. Size, in feet, of the opening to the shaft at the time. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. 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. How big is the 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 biggest development in the industry in recent years is increased Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . Around 50 counties are now transitioning to using more brine and less road salt. Communities around Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Wausau and Superiorare now using brineor other options to clear roads. Salt mining was an arduous task for them, as they faced geographical and technological constraints. Trucks powered by electricity take it to a giant crusher underground. Your email address will not be published. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt), and extracted from evaporite formations.[1]. By State. According to the Detroit Salt Company, 400 million years ago, ocean water flooded into a large basin, an area known as the Michigan Basin. State University Industry, it is the Detroit mine now supplies Michigan and several other states, around 9 tons of.! Secret for seven years to protect it from the mine is as as! To the shaft at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and the amount used highways! Over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground mine. Pretty low. `` mined out an area 22 feet high for about 300 acres lakes salt in! Hit very hard by the Detroit salt Company was bankrupted in the mine easily accessible this! 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