The ancients were noted workers in copper and brass. In fact they knew some arts connected with working these metals that our modern scientists have been unable to discover. For example, we do not know today how to temper copper so it will make cutlery; but the ancients did this regularly. On the other hand, we have thousands of uses of copper that the early people never dreamed of . Today our telephone telegraph, and cable systems depend on a core of copper wires to carry their messages. Our whole scheme of electric lighting, street cars transmission plants, electric railways, and our automobiles all call for copper. One of the most famous copper mines in the world is the Calumet-Hecla in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Find Calumet. There is a large deposit of copper here in the old glaciated rocks. The remarkable thing about this deposit is that some of the copper is pure; that is, it is mined in large pieces of copper unmixed with other elements. The Indians knew of this copper for some of it cropped out on the surface. They worked it for some of their ornaments. Now this vein is tapped by shafts, one of which is 5,700 feet long. Another taps the lode 2,543 feet below surface. Another shaft is 4,800 feet straight up and down. The copper-bearing rock is drilled by machines, and blasted loose by dynamite. The mine is stoped; that is, cut into steps or ledges so it can be worked at different layers. These stopes are tapped by slanting chutes into which the rock is put. The rock slides down into the tram cars such as you see here. What are the heavy timbers for? How would you like to work a mile underground? Keystone ID: 22037 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.