Copper Country Mineral Retreat©

Details of 2013 Events

Safety is always first for all events!

All collecting requires safe practices and use of common sense.
No children on rock piles unless registered.

2013 is the last Copper Country Mineral Retreat sponsored by the museum
For 2014 planning is well underway for a similar mineral collecting event sponsored by a partnership between the museum, Keweenaw Gem and Gift, and Red Metal Minerals. The tentative name of the next event will be:
KEWEENAW PENINSULA MINERAL COLLECTING

--Each year we strive to provide an affordable and quality experience for participants. You only pay for events you attend.

--Each participant will receive a Copper Country Mineral Retreat badge from the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum.

--We strongly encourage you to register early to avoid disappointment if the event you really want to attend fills to maximum capacity before you register.

-- Please keep a copy of your registration form for your information as this is your itinerary. No mailing will be done, pick up registration package at the museum. Your registration package will contain name badge, maps for the museum collecting events, and receipt.

--All week registered retreat participants will get Free Admission to the Museum and All Museum Gift Shop Merchandise will be discounted 15 % to registered retreat participants. During the Museum Open House on Thursday evening the museum’s Mineral Preparation Annex will be open with surplus minerals at a special discount of 20 %.  Retreat badge is required for discount.

A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum Registration Details
Download registration form from this web site
Registration during the event at the Museum 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
or by phone 906-487-2572

Prepared Surface Collecting Events

The retreat organizers have obtained legal permission to access and prepare old mine rock piles for surface collecting. You may be on the site legally ONLY during the times of the event. We contract heavy equipment (bulldozer or excavator) to move rock to expose new materials for collecting. The newly moved rock will be coated with fine particles, “muck”, which will make finding minerals more challenging. Your eyes are the essential tool for mineral collecting. For finding minerals such as datolite or greenstone, your eyes are the only tool! For finding native copper and native silver a metal detector can be quite valuable and many would consider it essential to finding copper. But you can find native copper without a metal detector too! Metal detectors can interfere with each other, so there can be problems when too many people have similar metal detectors too close together in a collecting area. We try to prepare sufficient area to accommodate everyone allowed on the site. We also limit the number of participants per site. We want your collecting experience to be fun and rewarding, but there is no guarantee of finding a treasure.

You must provide your own transportation to the collecting sites, and you must provide the skill and luck of collecting.

All Day Seneca and Central Mine All Surface Collecting Events

We are offering two special all day events because of the continuing popularity of an extended collecting opportunity at a great collecting site.

This year we are offering an ALL DAY collecting event for the Central and Seneca Mines. We have been “assured” that Central Mine rock pile will be available. The recent success of mineral collecting at Seneca has lead us to conclude that an all day event at Seneca would be good for participants too.

Both sites will be prepared twice; once in the morning prior to the beginning of the event and around noon for the second time. You may need to vacate a part of the pile during the second preparation.

Lapidary Class: How to Polish “Problem” Datolites at Mageia Minerals in Chassell

Nodular datolite can be difficult to polish to a high gloss finish and can be prone to rippling distortion. Datolite from Centennial Mine, Mandan Gravel Pit, Isle Royale Mine (Houghton), and any specimens from under water can be ‘problem” datolites. This class will illustrate the use of select media and techniques to bring out the best in these “problem” datolites. Students will then have a chance to practice the methods demonstrated. All materials, including datolite, and personal safety equipment are provided. You are welcome to bring your own datolite specimens for evaluation or treatment during class. Hosted by Mageia Minerals in its basement shop in Chassell, eight miles southeast of Houghton on US 41. Class size is limited. Proceeds to benefit the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. Students may shop at Mageia Minerals before or after the class that day with benefit of a 15% discount. Visit www.mageia.com for additional information.

Wire Wrap Class: Cabochon Rings at Mageia Minerals in Chassell

Museum Mineral Sale All Week and Thursday Evening

The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum will offer All merchandise in the gift shop at a 15 % discount for the entire retreat week to those who are paid CCMR registrants. The minerals area will be restocked as needed during the week.

On Thursday from 7 pm to 9 pm the museum will have surplus minerals for sale in the Museum’s Mineral Preparation Annex. The Annex sale discount will be 20 %. The week long 15 % discount  will apply to merchandise in the gift shop for Thursday evening.

Open House at Keweenaw Gem and Gift in Houghton

Keweenaw Gem and Gift open house is a regular event of the mineral retreat. They will open their doors for sale of minerals and hands-on demonstrations on Saturday August 10 from 6 pm to 10 pm. The demonstrations will include copper cleaning, bead working, and cutting and cab making for datolite and agate. You can bring your datolite or agate for cutting and maybe even get them to clean small amounts of native copper too. There will be complimentary food, beverages and door prizes too!! Keweenaw Gem and Gift is located on M-26 in Houghton near Pizza Hut.

Red Metal Minerals Events
Red Metal Minerals Event Registration and Details
Via the Web: www.caledoniamine.com
Via Phone: 906-884-6618
In Person at: 202 Ontonagon St. Ontonagon, MI 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday

Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club Events
Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club Event Details
Pre-Registration For Sellers Required for Participation

Raffle by Mageia Minerals to Benefit Museum

A trio of cabinet size, collector grade datolites donated by Mageia Minerals (photos at www.mageia.com) will be offered in a Copper Country Mineral Retreat Week Raffle to benefit the Seaman Museum. Ticket sales will be limited to 100 chances at $5 each. Tickets can be purchased at Mageia Minerals which is located eight miles southeast of Houghton on U.S. 41. Mageia is openAugust 5 (Monday) to August 10 (Saturday) from 10 am to 6 pm. All merchandise purchased at the same time as raffle tickets will receive a 15% discount. Drawing will be Saturday, August 10, 6 pm. It is not necessary to be present to win.

Updated March 16, 2013