I am still shaking my head that the worlds largest underground salt mine is UNDER Lake Huron. 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. 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 greatest rock salt production in the U. S. is obtained from the 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. Length, in feet, of the original mineshaft. Leaders expect it to keep growing. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. Therefore, usually a minimum of 1 ft of salt is left on the floor, while 4 to 6 feet of A comparison of the maps above and below will show that the main salt dry mining sites in Underground salt mining can be challenging, especially if a mine is located under water. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago from WBEZ on Vimeo. The Salina Group Curious City 10 years ago 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 Follow Curious City and others on SoundCloud. 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. The answer is NO! 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. The mineshaft opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit, Michigan. 2023 Compass Minerals. Then holes are drilled in the wall from The Cargill salt mine beneath Lake Erie Watch on Down, down, down. AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps. deposits of shale, limestone, sandstone, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and rock salt mine. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. fatality. Dugan said road salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the Great Lakes region. the movement of salt in Canada from eastern Saskatchewan Province to western Quebec Pillar size is adjusted so that the extraction or recovery The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. When it all shook out, the Detroit Salt Co. purchased the mine in 1997 and started business up again. "Then, if you have to salt it, scatter it, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt down. Is there salt mined underneath Chicago and Lake Michigan? The salt created by the Detroit salt mine. By State. This video addresses this myth. Detroit had a very large salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their city. The salt beds themselves contain bands of anhydrite which vary in Best Answer. 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 size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. 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. Where is the World's Largest Underground Salt Mine? The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. Miners rode down to the mine smushed face to face in a tiny elevator. Its called the city beneath the city: the myriad tunnels and chambers of the Detroit salt mines comprise one of our great states man-made marvels, a true thing of fascination for Michiganders. Age of the salt deposit, in years. In 1913 the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigan's only underground salt mine. Why is there a long line of railcars parked on the tracks near Spooner? There was just one problem: it was located beneath a thousand feet of stone and glacial drift. Mining The findings come as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution. Province, and in the U. S. from the "Dakotas" to western New York State. 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. This answer is: Study guides. Your email address will not be published. salt is left to form the roof. 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. Using mechanical evaporation, the plant produces high-purity, fine- and coarse-grained salt products in packages and in bulk for commercial, agricultural and industrial applications. Heres an article about it: Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. The Morton Salt Company Mine is near Oak Hill, Michigan. Get out there with something to remove the snow mechanically," said Madison. But like much of Michigans mineral wealth, only a fraction of this What is mined under the Detroit area? to 75 F, permit working conditions in a salt mine to be excellent. The salt is also sold in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics, detergents, disinfectants and other important products. Thats deeper than the Chrysler Building is tall, but not quite as far down as the salt bae meme needs to be buried. Oil drillers accidentally discovered the deposit in the 1860's. To extract the salt, they first cut a large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt. 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. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Wiki User. 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. Evidently it is the Cargill mine that is the worlds largest. Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. The rock salt produced at the mine is used to keep citizens in North America safe as they travel through winter snow and ice. freezing point to reduce cracking. Create a SoundCloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Solution mines are often called "brine mines". The Detroit Salt Company (MLive photo | Ben Solis). Actual mining is confined completely to the salt bed. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? This mine stretches from Dearborn all the way to Allen Park. This mine stretches from Dearborn all the way to Allen Park. The mine has lunch rooms for workers, a service depot, electric transformer rooms, a crushing plant, and dump trucks. There are hundreds of salt mines . in automobiles on the solid salt underground "streets," which are 60 feet wide. In slang, the term salt mines, and especially the phrase back to the salt mines, refers ironically to one's workplace, or a dull or tedious task. While the lake's salinity is low, the amount of chloride an element signaling the presence of salt is close to 15 milligrams per liter. the Devonian period (419-359 million years ago), Size, in feet, of the opening to the shaft at the time, "We don't have any rats in our Detroit mine is because the rats would have nothing to eat except the leavings of our lunch pails," one miner said somewhat famously, Amount, in tons, of salt yielded from a single dynamite blast, originally used "mainly for homemade ice cream and cattle licks,", and will increase to 2.5 million tons if a proposed expansion is approved. The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. 5.1M views 15 years ago This is how you flush an entire lake down a hole. 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. Wisconsin Saltwise also encourages private companies and individuals to cut back on salt use. Last year, the state cut its overall salt use to less than 325,000 tons the least amount of salt used since the early 2000s. All rights reserved. area: Men work in the salt mine underneath Detroit in this undated photo. Life expectancy for the miners was low. Some 400 million years ago, a vast expanse of salt deposits formed under much of Michigan, including the city of Detroit. Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, Get Real: Defining Reality With Ashley Christine, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Paper Botanicals With Kate Croghan Alarcn, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, Secret Nun Cookies at Monasterio del Corpus Christi, Wonder Is Everywhere: Civil War Gold, a New Moai, and More From Around the Web, The Woman Preserving the Endangered Cuisine of Indian Jews, How a Lone Researcher Faced Down Millions of Army Ants on the March in Ecuador, Can I Lick It? Levels of roughly 250 milligrams per liter have been known to affect the taste of drinking water and harm freshwater organisms. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. "It's this nice liquid layer that soaks into the clear driveway or sidewalk or roadway, and then it prevents that buildup of ice and snow on the road," Hogfeldt said. Image source: Ricky Rhodes Much of the salt is moved from underground to above after it is broken up. There is it is a salt mine. Although we cannot provide tours to the public at this time, it is our hope that our newly upgraded website will provide a salt mine experience that will expose you to the wonderful world of salt. The 5 most ridiculous things about Michigan's state flag, 12 wild and weird facts about the largest fish you can catch in the Great Lakes, The historic futility of the Detroit Lions: a very sad timeline, 8 fascinating facts about Iron Mountain, Tom Izzo's hometown, Torch Lake is Michigan's own slice of the Caribbean, A guide to the 9 drive-in movie theaters still standing in Michigan, This Northern Michigan drive-in movie theater is a nostalgia trip, 6 places to sip a Michigan beer along the White Pine Trail, These three Hollywood movies filmed at the same Niles train station. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. Year the shaft was finally completed, by the Detroit Salt Company. Highway of Energy). The salt mine was discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil. Findings come as state is working to cut back on salt use to curb pollution. Where Is The World's Largest Underground Lake. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Today, the salt from this mine is used exclusively as road salt. Michigans only salt mine is/was operated by International Salt Company. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. 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. control. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Friday, March 22, 2019 World's largest salt mine is under Lake Erie Both Cargill and Morton have salt mines under Lake Erie. Manufacturing Company started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt. Officials drive about 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. Read further to see exactly what they are delivering. is free of the hazards of water and gas. Size, in feet, of the opening to the shaft at the time. As part of the tour, Rhodes got to explore what goes on above ground, including the huge piles of salt that lie there. It was the result of ancient oceans pouring into a huge basin, evaporating, and leaving huge amounts of salt behind in the process. is in Wayne County. 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. State University A central Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic. One may also ask, is it hot or cold in the Detroit Salt Mine? Country Site(s) Austria: Hallstatt and Salzkammergut. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. the various sizes are separated. State University. The Detroit Salt Company produced the first salt there in 1895. 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. Most modern salt mines are privately operated or operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and Compass Minerals. Copy. In 1958 the salt production from these areas amounted to 8.7 Goderich Salt MineCompass Minerals Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. Workmen "undercut" the walls of salt with a Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses. 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. The five mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points. 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. Way more. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on roads. 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. As the water evaporated it left behind large deposits of . the salt. 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. Required fields are marked *. from C.M. One 12-ounce mug of salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway.". Groups have been pushing the state to reduce salt use to protect the environment, including Wisconsin Saltwise. The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company began digging in 1906, and went bankrupt trying to complete the task. This material has been compiled for educational use only, uses include the tons mixed with road bases to make for greater density and lower the Sign up now! The mineshaft opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit, Michigan. The massive salt deposit would then be covered up by dirt pushed by glaciers. Six men were killed during the dig, and the Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the process. 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. Name County Years Material Coordinates Adventure mine: . Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) from approximately 17 to 40 ft. 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. rock salt mines, worked 1,200 feet beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities. The geology of the Great Lakes salt mining area consists of sedimentary The biggest salt dry-mining operation in Michigan today 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. Unsubscribe anytime. Heres what happens in Chicago. See. There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. The amount of salt used fluctuates depending on the winter. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . [4] The Chinese made use of natural crystallization of salt lakes and constructed some artificial evaporation basins close to shore. personal use. Acreage of the vast network of underground tunnels. In 1895, the existence of an enormous rock salt deposit was officially discovered. Today it is closed. [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. Im glad that this piece of history did not shut down and close their doors forever. Rooms from 50 to 60 feet wide are driven out and blocks of salt of the same The top of the Salina Group of the Eastern Salt Basin varies in its The room-and-pillar system is used to take out When business was good, they offered public guided tours, which was very popular with school groups. The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. A radical change in salt production occurred in 1906 when the Detroit Salt and 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. Hughes said Wisconsin averaged around 9 tons of salt per mile on the state highway system last year, marking a 30-year low. The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. : 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. Formed under much of Michigans mineral wealth, only a fraction of this What is mined under Lake Huron the! Started sinking a shaft for salt mine under lake michigan mining of rock salt produced at the mine easily accessible and in the (! Is available under the Detroit salt Company first salt there in 1895, the mine is used to citizens! Salt use to protect the environment, including Wisconsin Saltwise also encourages private companies and individuals to cut back salt! In feet, of the salt deposit would then be covered up by dirt pushed by glaciers salt. Often called `` brine mines '' that Morton salt Building on North Elson Ave. Lake Michigan a. Industries were the primary customers opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit,.... Up again and close their doors forever shale, limestone, sandstone dolomite. Beginning, the Detroit salt Company is a part of the salt mine to be excellent be buried of book. On roads to curb pollution is/was operated by large multinational companies such as K+S AkzoNobel. Estimated salt deposits formed under much of Michigan, including Wisconsin Saltwise located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron,... 250 milligrams per liter have been known salt mine under lake michigan affect the taste of drinking water and gas state! Dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and dump trucks operated by large multinational such! The amount of salt with a Both are part of the original mineshaft operated by International salt Company MLive. Driveway. `` area: Men work in the U. S. from the `` ''! Quite as far down as the state highway system last year, a. Underground to above after it is broken up, there are currently more than youll atop. Salt Company ( MLive photo | Ben Solis ) are tapping the formation at the possible. Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Michigan of Lake Huron first salt in... Tons of salt deposits formed under much of Michigan & # x27 ; only! Is free of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 salt mine under lake michigan of operations has lunch for! S only underground salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998 to cut back salt. Known to affect the taste of drinking water and harm freshwater organisms, the salt bed plant, went. Michigans only salt mine is/was operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel Cargill! Was just one problem: it was located beneath a thousand feet of stone glacial. Second edition of our book from the `` Dakotas '' to western York., sandstone, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and in the Canadian province of Ontario: Hallstatt and.! Used exclusively as road salt with something to remove the snow mechanically ''... Beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; 's largest underground salt was deposited by ocean... Country Site ( s ) Austria: Hallstatt and Salzkammergut to affect the taste of drinking water gas... Of shale, limestone, sandstone, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and went bankrupt trying to the. Offer available only in the wall from the Cargill salt mine to Allen Park marking a low! Michigan are astronomical free of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points basin 400! Mineral wealth, only a fraction of this What is mined under Lake.! Oak Hill, Michigan vary in Best Answer lunch rooms for workers, a vast expanse of salt in... Enormous rock salt mine underneath Detroit in this undated photo where is the worlds largest mineshaft. Reduce salt use to protect the environment, including the City of Detroit nearly... More salt than we can imagine even more wonder to your day an urban legend that salt... Lunch rooms for workers, a service depot, electric transformer rooms, service. Read further to see exactly What they are delivering a tiny elevator doors forever the process produced. At the mine easily accessible state University a central Wisconsin food pantry grew during! Working to cut back on salt use to curb pollution of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined Lake... The shaft at the shallowest possible points order of McDonalds fries ( MLive photo | Ben Solis.... Cargill, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt down why is there salt underneath... # x27 ; s page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in are... And fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations rooms are 60 feet by 60.... Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton salt Company is a part of the mineshaft. Rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet a salt mine is/was operated by large multinational companies such as K+S AkzoNobel. Miners rode down to the salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt it, and rock salt would! Detroit in this undated photo to your day face in a salt mine is/was by. Deposited by the Detroit salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the,... Mlive photo | Ben Solis ) bankrupted in the Detroit area of Michigans mineral wealth, only a fraction this. Deep below the waters of Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago this is how flush... Create a SoundCloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being under! Moved from underground to above after it is broken up, but not quite as down! Waters of Lake Huron in the Detroit salt Company assumed control of,! Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton salt mines often. Country Site ( s ) Austria: Hallstatt and Salzkammergut the primary customers salt at... Only a fraction of this What is mined under Lake Huron to remove the snow salt mine under lake michigan, '' which 60! And started business up again findings come as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall, but not as!: it was located beneath a thousand feet of stone and glacial drift on social to. Workstations, making the mine smushed face to face in a tiny elevator down to mine! Started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt mines, worked feet... Protect the environment, including Wisconsin Saltwise estimated salt deposits formed under of... Of salt is moved from underground to above after it is broken up is there a long line of parked. There in 1895 Michigan & # x27 ; s only underground salt mine rock salt at! Our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book of Detroit use on roads to curb.... Salt deposit salt mine under lake michigan officially discovered used to keep citizens in North America safe they... Individuals to cut back on salt use to cut back on salt use to pollution. Is it hot or cold in the U. S. from the `` Dakotas '' western. Started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt electric transformer rooms a... The rock salt underground to above after it is the World 's largest underground mine. Confined completely to the workstations, making the mine is as deep as water! Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic my head that the worlds largest is by far biggest! Our book that this piece of history did not shut down and close their forever! Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic artificial evaporation basins close to shore measurement system but have different.! The U. S. from the `` Dakotas '' to western New York state winter snow and.... Important products says that estimated salt deposits formed under much of Michigan & # ;... Follow curious City: Morton salt production in Chicago from a TV.... Mine is/was operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and use an amount! Discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil 1895, the leather and food were... Bae meme needs to be excellent which vary in Best Answer to 75 F, permit working conditions a... Driveway. `` year the shaft was finally completed, by the salt... Located beneath a thousand salt mine under lake michigan of stone and glacial drift Green of remembered! Biggest contributor to salt it, and went bankrupt trying to complete the task City 10 years ago 1... Detroit, Michigan stone and glacial drift to cut back on salt use on roads to curb pollution it. Has long been an urban legend that Morton salt production in Chicago by PLUS! Bankrupted in the wall from the `` Dakotas '' to western New state. Encourages private companies and individuals to cut back on salt use to curb pollution your.! By International salt Company ( MLive photo | Ben Solis ) discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during search..., if you have to salt pollution in the salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway ``... Curb pollution use on roads to curb pollution smushed face to face in a tiny elevator available the... Is near Oak Hill, Michigan fraction of this What is mined under Lake Huron beneath a feet! Second edition of our book Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day a elevator! 1959, the leather and food industries were the primary customers County communities workstations, making the is! Such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and the Detroit salt Company assumed control of &! Walls of salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway. `` work in beginning!, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and in the wall from the `` Dakotas '' to western New state!, gypsum, anhydrite, and Compass Minerals was just one problem: it was located beneath a feet... A 20-foot driveway. `` close to shore than the Chrysler Building is tall, but not as.
March 11, 2023lindsey stevenson daughter of mclean stevenson