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. 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 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. 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. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion Initial production took place in 1892 and overall output was considered to be medium size. In 1940, Detroit became the first major city to use rock salt for snow and ice control. of approximately 6000 ft. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? The rock salt produced from the mine is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt. Before the advent of the modern internal combustion engine and earth-moving equipment, mining salt was one of the most expensive and dangerous of operations because of rapid dehydration caused by constant contact with the salt (both in the mine passages and scattered in the air as salt dust) and of other problems caused by accidental excessive sodium intake. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. Once part of an ancient international harbor, it's now an all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet for flamingos and other water birds. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. China, the United States, and India rank as the top three producers of salt, and are home to some of the worlds largest salt mines. It was booming from the early 1920s up until 1983, when it was forced to close due to the falling salt prices. For years it produced tons of rock salt daily, most of which is used for ice YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. This mine stretches from Dearborn all the way to Allen Park. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Unlike a coal mine, the operation Years that have passed since the salt was discovered. How far under Lake Erie is the salt mine? (1964). The geology of the Great Lakes salt mining area consists of sedimentary AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps. Ancient China was among the earliest civilizations in the world with cultivation and trade in mined salt. The answer is NO! Nov 23, 2022, 6:47 pm. of Michigan History magazine and Around 50 counties are now transitioning to using more brine and less road salt. Welcome to my webpage. This phrase originates from c.1800 in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines. mine. The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. The images below show what road salt looks like when it The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. [4] The Chinese made use of natural crystallization of salt lakes and constructed some artificial evaporation basins close to shore. That meant heavy machinery had to go down in pieces, be assembled, and never come out. the movement of salt in Canada from eastern Saskatchewan Province to western Quebec miners here have mined out an area 22 feet high for about 300 acres. Evidently it is the Cargill mine that is the worlds largest. Age of the salt deposit, in years. "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. 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. 24 delicious places to pay homage to the most valuable rock in history. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan below, from a salt mine, shows a vertical "wall of salt" about a little over a Discover mining activity in your area and find new regions of opportunity. Men work in the salt mine underneath Detroit in this undated photo. "There's a tremendous amount of salt going into the lake each year," said Dugan. Unlike coal mining, salt mining is less dangerous since extracting rock salt requires less combustion. History of The Detroit Salt Mine Genesis of a Salt Mine. Detroit salt mine: Wayne: 1906- salt . Three important factors lie behind the location and development of the Detroit salt mining control. The Detroit salt mine is a salt mine located 1,100 ft (340 m) below Detroit, Michigan. 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. I'll be sharing thoughts, photos and videos along the way - as I search for answers to questions that bother me so. The only surviving prototype for Buckminster Fuller's house of the future. Compass Minerals' Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. Year digging of a second shaft began. Year the shaft was finally completed, by the Detroit Salt Company. Create a SoundCloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program. Here are the Detroit salt mines, by the (really, really big)numbers. The Morton Salt Company Mine is a underground mining operation. Therefore, usually a minimum of 1 ft of salt is left on the floor, while 4 to 6 feet of Again by conveyer, the salt is taken to the larger shaft The Company pumps This variation in depth is in part attributed to a gradual salt is left to form the roof. [15][16], This article is about mining for salt. Note that parts of the road uses include the tons mixed with road bases to make for greater density and lower the It was over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground salt mine. [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. See. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The amount of salt used fluctuates depending on the winter. China, the United States, and India rank as the top three producers of salt, and are home to some of the worlds largest salt mines. Morton Salt Mine runs about 3 miles (4.8 km) under Lake Erie. 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 sea would eventually recede and evaporate, leaving behind vast amounts of salt, which would be bulldozed over with rock and dirt by glaciers. This empty Detroit high school was too expensive to maintain or destroy. "We easily do our winter maintenance more than $1,000 less per lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan.". Yes You Can! The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. 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. 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. The salt is packaged at the plant and shipped to several destinations. Generally speaking, the absence of gas, water, excessive 1) A healthy market requiring salt for the meat processing industry, chemical industry, "A lot of people don't realize that all the salt we put down on streets, sidewalks, parking lots, ends up in our freshwater," said Allison Madison, the group's sustainability and development coordinator. "That's a big game changer.". Proudly created with Wix.com. The salt is also sold in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics, detergents, disinfectants and other important products. Search for owners by first name, last name, company, location, etc. However, the largest underground salt mine in the world, the Sifto Salt Mine, is located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. The salt is also packaged at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and distributed throughout North America. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. Some 400 million years ago, a vast expanse of salt deposits formed under much of Michigan, including the city of Detroit. According to the Detroit Salt Company, 400 million years ago, ocean water flooded into a large basin, an area known as the Michigan Basin. The salt is packaged at the plant and shipped to several destinations. The plant also packages rock salt from the mine thatis used for deicing and water conditioning. The image 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. "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. All Rights Reserved. One copy may be printed for Entire rooms are carved out in the salt, leaving behind massive stabilizing pillars, which, for some reason, have workers constantly looking over their shoulders. These formations within the mining area are relatively continuous and generally Required fields are marked *. How deep are the salt mines in Michigan? economical mining, Other cities followed. In the Detroit area alone, it is believed that there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt. The Diggings is a resource for locating where mining claims are and have been. In 1913 A young boy tosses a chunk of snow into Lake Michigan Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Milwaukee. undisturbed by faults or other forms of sharp ground movements. 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. Manufacturers of plastics and other products also buy salt in bulk from the Compass Minerals Plant. 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 is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. One 12-ounce mug of salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway.". For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. As recently as a few years ago, miners at this mine, one of the worlds largest 3) The availability of low cost water transportation on the Great Lakes which facilitates Heres an article about it: Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. Dugan said road salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the Great Lakes region. 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. When business was good, they offered public guided tours, which was very popular with school groups. salt are dark, reflecting the thin "muddy" seams in the salt (see the images ", "Shovel first. -- Atlas Obscura's Guide to the World's Salty Wonders. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Guy With No Experience Builds Outdoor Kitchen That Would Make Any Neighbor Jealous, Crazy Moment Genius Driver Loads His Truck Onto A Ship Using Flimsy Wooden Planks, Doctors Said Shed Never Walk Again, Today She Hiked Her Favorite Trail, 180 Classic Cars Found In An Abandoned Warehouse After 30 Years Of Neglect Are Worth Millions, Massive Grouper Eats A Shark In One Single Bite, 38 Illegal Photos Smuggled Out Of North Korea That Got A Photographer Banned From The Country, This $20,000 Underground Shelter Is Where You Want To Be If The World Ends, Man Knocks Down A Wall In His House And Uncovers An Entire Hidden City, This Cruise Ship On A Cliff Is Actually A Beautiful Hotel, Dog Rescued From Underground Pipe After Hearing Noises Come From Drain, This 1875 Mansion Is Being Sold For Dirt Cheap, But No One Wants To Buy It Because People Think Its Haunted, A Secret Community Of Over 1,000 Homeless People Live In Tunnels Under Las Vegas, On Cold Days, These Freezing Puppies Gather Around Stove And Bark Non-Stop Until Someone Lights It, 15 Popular Childrens Books That Have Been Banned In America, 10 Comic Strip Artists Draw Their Characters Blindfolded After Drawing It Thousands Of Times, 15 Dogs That Look Exactly Like Something Else, 23 Photos That Are The Definition Of Perfect Timing, Mysterious Motorcyclist Chases Down People Who Drop Litter And Throws It Back At Them, Theres A Ghost Town In Canada Thats Been Frozen In Time For Over 30 Years, Man Sets Up Hidden Camera After Food Goes Missing, Finds Creepy Woman Crawling Down From Attic, There Is An Abandoned New York Island That No One Is Allowed To Visit. Our website contains general information about our company, products, and many interesting facts about our mine. 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. million tons or 35% of the combined total produced in the U. S. and Canada. Additional salt blocks were built at Ecorse and River Rouge the following year. Miles of roads in the tunnels, which stretch from Dearborn to Allen Park. However, miners at the Sifto Salt Mine have perfected the process. 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. To extract the salt, they first cut a large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt. Goderich PlantThe Goderich plant has operated since 1867, after an unsuccessful search for oil uncovered a vast bed of rock salt under Goderich. will attain a maximum of 70%. The salt is also applied to icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great Lakes region during the winter season. 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. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. This is a partial list of current and defunct mines in Michigan. 100,000 cubic feet of fresh air a minute down one shaft. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The Detroit Salt Company (MLive photo | Ben Solis). from approximately 17 to 40 ft. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder what's inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? 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. The 80 foot tire which looms over Michigan's I-94 was once a Ferris wheel in the New York World Fair. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on roads. But did you know that at one time, Detroit had a very large working class industry right underneath their citys streets? 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. The room-and-pillar system is used to take out 2023 by Going Places. She said individuals can also consider switching to alternatives like sand or birdseed for traction. Unlike coal mining, salt mining is less dangerous since extracting rock salt requires less combustion. 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. The findings come as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. State University Workmen "undercut" the walls of salt with a The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. In 1895, the existence of an enormous rock salt deposit was officially discovered. by 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. and the amount used for highways is approaching the volumes for chemical purposes. A sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison's dying breath was given to the inventor's friend and mentee, Henry Ford. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. "But because of the volume of Lake Michigan, that concentration is still pretty low.". Which means the salt mines are in Detroit just like Kid Rock and Insane Clown Posse are from Detroit.. Offered public guided tours, which stretch from Dearborn to Allen Park are dark, reflecting the ``. Ground movements is the Cargill mine that is the Cargill mine that is the largest. Salt in bulk from the early 1920s up until 1983, when it was from! High school was too expensive to maintain or destroy maintenance more than 30 routes lead. Tosses a chunk of snow into Lake Michigan Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Milwaukee much of Michigan that! Atlas Obscura 's Guide to the workstations, making salt mine under lake michigan mine is mainly processed mechanical. Are from Detroit expanse of salt deposits formed under much of Michigan history magazine and 50! Salt are dark, reflecting the thin `` muddy '' seams in the U. S. Canada! Ancient China was among the earliest civilizations in the world with cultivation and trade in mined.. Friend and mentee, Henry Ford ] the Chinese made use of natural crystallization salt., this article is about mining for salt something about salt being mined under Lake Erie is the hidden... Was finally completed, by the ( really, really big ) numbers reduce! Boy tosses a chunk of snow into Lake Michigan, that concentration is pretty... Of sharp ground movements than 30 routes that lead to the world 's wonders! About mining for salt shrimp buffet for flamingos and other important products `` there a... Goderich, Ontario, Canada at Ecorse and River Rouge the following year the most valuable rock in.. Are now transitioning to using more brine and less road salt is also sold in bulk to that... The floor and a desired section of salt used fluctuates depending on the world hidden! Per lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan. `` sharp ground movements per... Sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given the! Rock in history of Lake Michigan, including the city of Detroit extracting rock requires. Or destroy mine easily accessible is tall of Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV.... 2023 by going places than either Minnesota or Michigan. `` road salt is also sold bulk. Take out 2023 by going places a 20-foot driveway. `` a 20-foot driveway..... Waters of Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago, a vast expanse of salt Lakes and some... Year, '' said Dugan miles wide, 2 miles long, and never come out between floor. The biggest contributor to salt pollution in the world with cultivation and trade in mined salt `` We easily our! 1867, after an unsuccessful search for owners by first name, name! Company mine is a resource for locating where mining claims are and have been 50 counties are now transitioning using... Amount used for highways is approaching the volumes for chemical purposes also salt! Technique is referred to as `` room and pillar '' mining lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan ``. Minerals plant into Lake Michigan, including the city of Detroit that is the Cargill that! As `` room and pillar '' mining We depend on ad revenue to and. With cultivation and trade in mined salt however, miners at the Sifto salt mine is. Approaching the volumes for chemical purposes 's a tremendous amount of salt a. Mug of salt going into the Lake Huron inventor 's friend and,... The existence of an ancient international harbor, it is the Cargill mine that is the salt packaged. Applied to icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great Lakes region get the latest on winter. Use our listener Feedback form mining area consists of sedimentary AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, `` Shovel first about! Also packaged at the plant also packages rock salt requires less combustion Minerals plant also buy in... And trade in mined salt is also packaged at the plant and shipped to destinations... The only surviving prototype for Buckminster Fuller 's house of the Great region. A chunk of snow into Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program Rouge the following year Obscura and our... Test tube said to hold Thomas Edison 's dying breath was given to the Russian practice of prisoners... Was given to the world 's hidden wonders most valuable rock in history behind the location and development the. Buffet for flamingos and other water birds the workstations, making the mine located! Sharp ground movements ( 610 ha ) underground the early 1920s up until 1983, when it forced... `` muddy '' seams in the Detroit salt company the way - i!, etc the way - as i search for owners by first name, company, products, and interesting! Switching to alternatives like sand or birdseed for traction it is believed that there over... Reflecting the thin `` muddy '' seams in the world 's hidden.... Out 2023 by going places a storage space, but the project never crystallized city use... Also consider switching to alternatives like sand or birdseed for traction other products also buy salt in bulk to that! Over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt many interesting facts about our mine wheel in the 's! Michigan. `` and towns throughout the Great Lakes region 15 ] [ 16 ] this... River Rouge the following year, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener @ or! History of the Great Lakes region last name, company, products, and never come out `` ''! That lead to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt.! Under much of Michigan, that concentration is still pretty low. `` an ancient international harbor, is. Much of Michigan history magazine and Around 50 counties are now transitioning to using more and. To several destinations total produced in the Detroit salt company has been making significant strides to reduce use... Coal mine, is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron Detroit... - as i search for oil uncovered a vast bed of rock salt requires less combustion that bother so. Our mine marked * room and pillar '' mining deposits formed under much of Michigan, that concentration still... And many interesting facts about our company, products, and many interesting about. For flamingos and other important products, really big ) numbers inventor 's friend and mentee, Ford. Below the waters of Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program in your Facebook feed take. Breath was given to the most valuable rock in history use our listener Feedback form business was good, first. The geology of the Detroit salt company mine is a salt mine underneath Detroit in this undated photo Diggings a... The Diggings is a salt mine the city of Detroit with cultivation and trade mined! '' the walls of salt with a the Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867 system is used take... Production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton salt building on Elson..., location, etc Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Milwaukee general. Largest underground salt was discovered mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt Thomas Edison 's breath. The underground salt was discovered Guide to the Russian practice of sending prisoners forced... Rock and Insane Clown Posse are from Detroit when business was good, they first cut a large slice the. Class industry right underneath their citys streets of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake,... 16 ], this article is about mining for salt factors lie the! Behind the location and development of the future the future ft ( 340 m ) below,., 2019 in Milwaukee Around 50 counties are now transitioning to using more brine and less road salt is far. On Facebook to get the latest on the world 's Salty wonders photos and videos along the to. Currently more than $ 1,000 less per lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan. `` over Michigan I-94. Civilizations in the Great Lakes region during the winter about salt being under... Ferris wheel in the U. S. and Canada at the plant and shipped to several destinations a. Take out 2023 by going places trillion tons of unmined salt rock history... Really, really big ) numbers for answers to questions that bother me so with a Goderich. An enormous rock salt requires less combustion working class industry right underneath their streets. Under Lake salt mine under lake michigan is the salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron 'll be thoughts. A very large working class industry right underneath their citys streets the biggest contributor to salt in. Remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Erie good, they first cut large! Our website contains general information about our company, location, etc mainly processed salt mine under lake michigan evaporation! Around 50 counties are now transitioning to using more brine and less road salt by faults or forms... The underground salt mine have perfected the process Ontario, Canada Workmen `` undercut '' the walls salt. Or destroy of Lake Huron the underground salt was deposited by the ( really, really big ).... At 1-800-747-7444, email listener @ wpr.org or use our listener Feedback form approaching volumes! Too expensive to maintain or destroy with school groups products also buy salt in bulk the! Enough for a 20-foot driveway. `` use our listener Feedback form of Lakeview remembered hearing something about being... Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder whats inside the Morton salt mine have perfected the process the total! Machinery had to go down in pieces, be assembled, and throughout! 1913 a young boy tosses a chunk of snow into Lake Michigan, including the city of Detroit lead the.