Keweenaw Week 2023 Prospecting for Minerals in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

The Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club is sponsoring Keweenaw Week 2023. Meet old friends and make new friends as you search for copper, copper crystals, silver, greenstones, epidote, analcime, datolite, and prehnite. The event this year features five field trips on surface prepared poor rock piles and a special live auction where you can bid on exceptional specimens or artifacts. Field trips are six hours long. All registrants for the field trips must submit a 2023 liability waiver to complete your registration. Only one waiver is required per person for multiple field trips. The waiver form can be found on the club website ccrmc.info.

Keweenaw Week 2023 Information

Keweenaw Week 2023 registration is scheduled to begin 6:00 PM Eastern Time April 20 on Eventbrite

Covid 19 Statement

All participants in any Keweenaw Week 2023 event must abide by current requirements established by the Michigan Health Department at the time of the events. The Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club reserves the right to refuse any person who refuses to comply from attending the event. Attendance fees will not be refunded.

Keweenaw Week 2023

Tickets

This year we will require you to present your event ticket issued by Eventbrite. An electronic version of your ticket on your cell phone is acceptable. The CCRMC will maintain records of all participants to confirm your purchase in the event you lose your ticket but this will add time to the registration process.

Colored Wrist Bands

You will receive a different colored wrist band for each event you are registered for at the start of each event.

Fees

Field trip fees have increased from $40 to $45 per event.This is mainly due to increases in bulldozing fees. You will also be charged the Eventbrite related ticket fee.

Social Event Agenda

There will be no evening lecture this year. The Live Auction will occur on Tuesday evening without a banquet. Pasties from the local Mohawk Superette along with snacks will be available. All proceeds from the auction will support the Michigan Technological University Nathan De Cleene scholarship.

General Information

Field trip registration is open to the public and all club members who live more than 100 miles from Dollar Bay. Children are allowed if they are 12 or older. Each child below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and is required to submit a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian.

This is an opportunity for those who cannot normally attend our club field trips to experience mineral collecting on a prepared surface. After June 1 any field trips that haven’t sold will be made available to all members.

Club members can register for any or all of the evening social events at any time.

This year we are again offering advise on using metal detectors prior to each field trip. Our guides will arrive to the field trip locations an hour before the event and coach those unfamiliar with using detectors. There are a lot of different detectors on the market but they all use the same principal. We will try to give you a few pointers and have copper specimens available to see exactly how your detector reacts.

Please note that DUE TO ROAD COMMISSION CRUSHING SCHEDULES, ALL FIELD TRIP LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. All registrants will be notified ASAP of any changes.

Keweenaw Week 2023 Fees

In previous years the club has absorbed the Eventbrite fees in the ticket fee. Due to rising costs, the attendee will see that this fee will be added to the ticket purchase. Also, note that field trip fees have increased to $45.

Waiver

All field trip registrations must include a signed waiver for each participant. Only one waiver is required if you have registered for multiple field trips. Waiver forms can be found on the CCRMC web site CCRMC.info

Wrist Bands

Wrist bands with a different color for each event will be distributed to you when you register for the event. These wrist bands will be issued to you at the start of the field trip or social events.

Multiple Registrations

If you purchase multiple tickets for any event, please notify us the names of the participants that do not make the purchase. We need this info to prepare accurate lists of the attendees for each event. Email the names for multiple ticket purchases to Kweek@ccrmc.info.

Events

Sunday August 6, 2023

6 pm to 9 pm

Meet and Greet

Allouez Township Community Center, 388 Bumbletown Road, Allouez MI.

General get together for registered attendees. You can socialize with other attendees. CCRMC members will be there to answer any questions you have or offer suggestions on collecting techniques. We will have a display with examples of most of the minerals you will find. Snacks will be served.

Registration Fee - $Free

Monday August 7 2023

Cliff Mine

Mineral List - Copper, Copper Crystals, Greenstones, Epidote Crystals, Phrenite and Copper - Silver Hybrids

Metal Detector Training 9:30 - 10:30. Field Trip Hours 10:30 - 4:30

$45 Registration Fee

Tuesday August 8

Seneca Mine

Mineral List - Copper, Datolite, Copper Arsenides

Metal Detector Training 9:30 - 10:30 Field Trip Hours 10:30 - 4:30

$45 Registration Fee

Tuesday August 8 Live Auction 5 pm - 9 pm

Allouez Township Community Center, 388 Bumbletown Road, Allouez MI

There will be at least a dozen items to bid on. Past auctions included copper crystals, datolites, mohawkite, historical artifacts and memorabilia. Generally, each auction item is appraised at $75 - $150 in value Pasties from the Mohawk Superette along with snacks and beverages are served.

$15 Registration Fee

Weds August 9

Central Mine

Mineral List - Copper, Copper Crystals, Greenstones, Adularia, Analcime, Datolite Crystals, Prehnite, Copper/Silver Hybrids

Metal Detector Training 9:30 - 10:30. Field trip 10:30 - 4:30.

$45 Registration Fee

Thurs August 10

Wolverine #4

Mineral List -Mineral List - Copper, Copper Crystals, Silver, Copper - Silver Halfbreeds, Epidote

Metal Detector Training 9:30 - 10:30. Field trip 10:30 - 4:30

$45 Registration

Friday August 11

Cliff Mine

Mineral List - Copper, Copper Crystals, Copper/Silver hybrids, Epidote Crystals, Greenstones

Metal Detector Training 9:30 - 10:30. Field Trip 10:30 - 4:30

Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club Mineral Show

Friday August 11 to Sunday August 13 at the Houghton Elementary School

The Show will include presentations by Dr. Nathalie Brandes pertaining to the geological history of the Keweenaw.

Free Admittance

Show Opens 1 pm Friday and Closes 3 pm Sunday

Friday 1:00 - 8:00

Saturday 10:00 - 6:00

Sunday 10:00 - 3:00

Weather

All events will be held on schedule, rain or shine.

Weather in the Keweenaw is unpredictable and can vary from full sun with temperatures in the 90's to rainy/windy with temperatures in the 50's. Be prepared to dress accordingly. Hats and sunscreen are recommended. Bring plenty of water not only to drink but also to clean treasures you find. We will require evacuation of the rock pile in the event of severe weather conditions.

Protective Gear

Eye protection is a must. Hammering on rocks is common and rock chips can fly at the speed of a bullet. If anyone is hammering on rocks nearby make sure you have eye protection.

Good sturdy boots are highly recommended. The excavated rock piles are great for uncovering hidden specimens but the excavation creates a lot of loose rocks. Footware with good gripping soles and ankle protection reduce the risk of injury. Always test your footing before applying your full weight as you navigate the rock piles. Rain can make the rocks slippery. A sprained or broken ankle will ruin your experience.

Even with warm temperatures, long pants are recommended to help protect your legs from cuts and scratches

Collecting Etiquette

To avoid injury due to falling rocks, always be aware of your surroundings. If you are collecting on a slope always be aware of people below and above. Gas or electric powered equipment is not allowed. If a specimen cannot be moved by three people it must be left on the pile. Hammer drills and feather wedges will be allowed.

Metal Detector Etiquette

Metal detectors greatly increase your chances of finding valuable copper specimens. Unfortunately, the various makes and models can interfere with each other. Always keep your detector pointed down, especially when digging out a specimen. Maintain a reasonable distance (at least 10 ft) from other detectors.

Recommended Equipment

Metal detectors are strongly recommended.

As a result of excavating or bulldozing, the rocks will be covered with dirt and mud. Visually, it’s difficult to identify specimens. Ultimately, you need to take them home and clean them before verifying the identity of the specimen.

Pinpointer

A hand held pinpointer is a great tool to locate a specimen once it’s detected. It fits into a small hole better than your detector coil to “pinpoint” the specimen.

Small Shovel or Geo Pick

For digging out your specimens.

5 Gallon Plastic Bucket

These buckets are convenient in storing your finds while you transverse the rock pile.

Rock Hammer

Caution - Do not use a common claw or nail hammer. These hammers will chip off dangerous shards while pounding rocks. Only use hammers that are designed to split rocks. Common hammers are a 22 oz rock hammer 3lb, 4lb or 10lb rock hammers depending on how ambitious you are.

Water

For washing off your finds to help identify the specimen.

Jewelers Loupe

This is especially helpful if you are interested in micro mounting.

Drones

Drones are STRICTLY FORBIDDEN on any field trip. In high winds or a mechanical failure they can cause serious injury.

Information Package

A week or two prior to the events an email will be sent to all registrants with maps to all the events.

Contact

For additional information or questions contact Kweek@ccrmc.info