The biggest development in the industry in recent years is increased Madison, withWisconsin Saltwise, promotes a method of "shovel, scatter and switch. This bed - extending from upper New York to Michigan - was formed 410 million years ago. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan Detroit is known for many things: the auto industry, hockey, and Motown. In the last several years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been working to reduce salt use on the state highway . A large square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind. 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. 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. 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. Copy. As the water evaporated it left behind large deposits of . When business was good, they offered public guided tours, which was very popular with school groups. Salt is now plentiful, but until the Industrial Revolution, it was difficult to come by, and salt was often mined by slaves or prisoners. thickness from 1/6 in. The salt is also sold in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics, detergents, disinfectants and other important products. width are left for roof support. In 1997, the Detroit Salt Company, LLC, purchased the mine from Crystal Mines, Inc. and began salt production in the fall of 1998. Acreage of the vast network of underground tunnels. Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses. Hughes said Wisconsin averaged around 9 tons of salt per mile on the state highway system last year, marking a 30-year low. The plant also packages rock salt from the mine thatis used for deicing and water conditioning. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. The greatest rock salt production in the U. S. is obtained from the actually consists of a number of individual salt beds separated by layers of shale, This amazing ancient cave was kept secret for seven years to protect it from the public. Unlike a coal mine, the operation 5.1M views 15 years ago This is how you flush an entire lake down a hole. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Create a SoundCloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program. Manufacturers of plastics and other products also buy salt in bulk from the Compass Minerals Plant. Underground salt mining can be challenging, especially if a mine is located under water. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. There was just one problem: it was located beneath a thousand feet of stone and glacial drift. Heres what happens in Chicago. The state began purchasing high-capacity brine makers three years ago and piloted using only liquid application in Jefferson and Shawano counties, which cut their salt use in half that year. is free of the hazards of water and gas. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) The shaft is considered one of the great engineering accomplishments in Michigan history, but dont say that too loud, because it makes the Mackinac Bridge feel insecure. Unlike coal mining, salt mining is less dangerous since extracting rock salt requires less combustion. Levels of roughly 250 milligrams per liter have been known to affect the taste of drinking water and harm freshwater organisms. 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. of Michigan History magazine and The size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. Trucks powered by electricity take it to a giant crusher underground. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on road. Lake Erie is a geological newcomer compared to the salt buried below it. By State. This mine stretches from Dearborn all the way to Allen Park. It is the Detroit Salt Mine, and, as a Detroit industry, it is older than automobiles. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan Way more. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. Year digging of a second shaft began. 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 phrase originates from c.1800 in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines. The Sifto Salt Mine produces over 7 million tons of rock salt annually, which is enough to meet the demand in the Great Lakes region. a minimum of approximately 800 ft to a maximum depth of approximately 6800 ft, while the How deep are the salt mines in Michigan? Electric shovels dip the salt into trailers the Therefore, usually a minimum of 1 ft of salt is left on the floor, while 4 to 6 feet of The mine has lunch rooms for workers, a service depot, electric transformer rooms, a crushing plant, and dump trucks. Ancient China was among the earliest civilizations in the world with cultivation and trade in mined salt. Officials drive about The. Miners rode down to the mine smushed face to face in a tiny elevator. 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. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Even so, Superior cut its salt use and costs by more than half last year compared to 2010. Where Is The World's Largest Underground Lake. Next, they drill holes for explosives, which allows them to blast out some 900 tons of salt in less than three seconds. : Canada: Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich, Ontario, which, at 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide and 2 miles (3.2 km) long, is one of . For the secret CIA prison, see. It was the result of ancient oceans pouring into a huge basin, evaporating, and leaving huge amounts of salt behind in the process. There are hundreds of salt mines . 2010-10-23 03:07:21. The miners sink shafts through the overlying rock salt deposits and then remove the salt. Detroit had a very large salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their city. Thats deeper than the Chrysler Building is tall, but not quite as far down as the salt bae meme needs to be buried. The How big is the salt mine under Lake Michigan? Detroit salt mine: Wayne: 1906- salt . Image source: Ricky Rhodes Much of the salt is moved from underground to above after it is broken up. Salt mining was an arduous task for them, as they faced geographical and technological constraints. Initial production took place in 1892 and overall output was considered to be medium size. 3) The availability of low cost water transportation on the Great Lakes which facilitates "Then, if you have to salt it, scatter it, and use an appropriate amount rather than dumping salt down. [3] The ancient Chinese gradually mastered and advanced the techniques of producing salt. This one is a small storage shed of salt for the Meridian sends the wall of salt crumbling down. The Kissner Group owns and operates the famous Detroit Salt Mine and specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of bulk rock salt, bagged rock salt and specialty ice melters. of Energy). Curious City 10 years ago 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 Follow Curious City and others on SoundCloud. 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. 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. is crushed into a form that is "road ready". 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. Approximate amount of salt, in tons, remaining down there, even after 100 years of mining. An enchanting natural wonder in Puerto Rico's Camuy River Park. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Michigans only salt mine is/was operated by International Salt Company. Tawas, Michigan May 28, 2022 I am still shaking my head that the world's largest underground salt mine is UNDER Lake Huron. 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. Amy Pataki, Richard Lautens, Salt at the source: a day in a Lake Huron mine. Reduced in size, the product is taken by conveyer to an underground screening plant where The size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. The mine itself is a relatively clean and spacious place to work, as far as mines go. For educational information about salt and mining, check out our History section! Length, in feet, of the original mineshaft. Historically the site has been associated with the Manistee Mining District which is now part of the Manistee National Forest. [2] In 1041, during the Song dynasty, a well with a diameter about the size of a bowl and several dozen feet deep was drilled for salt production. rock salt mines, worked 1,200 feet beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities. Size, in feet, of the opening to the shaft at the time. Where is the World's Largest Underground Salt Mine? Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion 1) A healthy market requiring salt for the meat processing industry, chemical industry, The rock salt produced at the mine is used to keep citizens in North America safe as they travel through winter snow and ice. Dugan said road salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the Great Lakes region. It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. The salt is packaged at the plant and shipped to several destinations. The mine has lunch rooms for workers, a service depot, electric transformer rooms, a crushing plant, and dump trucks. The anhydrite (calcium sulphate) content floor to roof. The image Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago from WBEZ on Vimeo. 2023 by Going Places. Today, road deicing salt is the primary product. The salt is also packaged at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and distributed throughout North America. It's perhaps the oldest thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than the Lions' championship dearth. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. A radical change in salt production occurred in 1906 when the Detroit Salt and control. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. This answer is: Study guides. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. Its no secret that Detroit has been hit very hard by the recession. The only surviving prototype for Buckminster Fuller's house of the future. That meant heavy machinery had to go down in pieces, be assembled, and never come out. The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 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 Company pumps Three important factors lie behind the location and development of the Detroit salt mining -- Atlas Obscura's Guide to the World's Salty Wonders. However, the largest underground salt mine in the world, the Sifto Salt Mine, is located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. The Goderich Salt MineCompass Minerals Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. That's when an ancient sea retreated and left behind its brine. Read further to see exactly what they are delivering. The Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich is the world's largest underground salt mine. Today it is closed. Age of the salt deposit, in years. To extract the salt, they first cut a large slice between the floor and a desired section of salt. 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. A large square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind. mine. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Six men were killed during the dig, and the Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company was bankrupted in the process. Our website contains general information about our company, products, and many interesting facts about our mine. State University The Morton Salt Company Mine is near Oak Hill, Michigan. Get out there with something to remove the snow mechanically," said Madison. The five mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points. Generally speaking, the absence of gas, water, excessive Proudly created with Wix.com. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. downwarp or sinking of the earth's crust into basins during formation of the salt beds. Then holes are drilled in the wall from The salt mine was discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil. "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. The rock salt produced from the mine is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt. below, from a salt mine, shows a vertical "wall of salt" about a little over a 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. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. 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 video addresses this myth. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. It has operated since 1959 and was acquired by Compass Minerals in 1990. When it all shook out, the Detroit Salt Co. purchased the mine in 1997 and started business up again. ( Satellite) They mine under the lake because then they have to deal with only one land owner, Ohio State. The 80 foot tire which looms over Michigan's I-94 was once a Ferris wheel in the New York World Fair. The mines were owned and operated by The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company. fatality. and may not be reproduced without permission. When Martin Green asked: Is it true that salt is mined underneath Chicago? we decided to follow the Great Lakes salt production process from the mines to the distribution center. 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. In three minutes, the skip drops nearly 1,700 feet below Cleveland. The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. Yes! The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. Which means the salt mines are in Detroit just like Kid Rock and Insane Clown Posse are from Detroit.. or less to several inches. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder what's inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? All Rights Reserved. deposits of shale, limestone, sandstone, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and rock salt This material has been compiled for educational use only, Goderich PlantThe Goderich plant has operated since 1867, after an unsuccessful search for oil uncovered a vast bed of rock salt under Goderich. Again by conveyer, the salt is taken to the larger shaft Last year, the state used a record 11.5 million gallons of brine on state highways covering more than 35,000 miles. Number of workers who died digging the shaft. 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. Source: Detroit Free Press Detroit Salt produces 1.7 million tons of salt annually, and will increase to 2.5 million tons if a proposed expansion is approved. Oil drillers accidentally discovered the deposit in the 1860's. Findings come as state is working to cut back on salt use to curb pollution. dust, and the presence of sound roof and ribs as well as comfortable temperatures of 55 All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. State University. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The rooms vary in width from 30 to 60 ft and in height 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. The Detroit mine now supplies Michigan and several other states, According to the Detroit Salt Company, 400 million years ago, ocean water flooded into a large basin, an area known as the Michigan Basin. "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, thus curtailing the theory that Matt Millen went down there to live after the Lions canned him. to 75 F, permit working conditions in a salt mine to be excellent. Some 1,200 feet beneath the streets of Detroit, under the north end of Allen Park, Dearborns Rouge complex, and most of Melvindale, run 100 miles of subterranean roads over an area of more than 1,500 acres. The salt is also packaged at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and distributed throughout North America. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. 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Then the giant metal door swings open, and you're deposited in an other-world, with walls, ceiling and floor made of salt. 1 of 2. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. Once part of an ancient international harbor, it's now an all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet for flamingos and other water birds. [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. Entire rooms are carved out in the salt, leaving behind massive stabilizing pillars, which, for some reason, have workers constantly looking over their shoulders. As a geological entity, this salt deposit is older even than the dinosaurs. Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. One copy may be printed for There has long been an urban legend that Morton Salt mines salt Lake Michigan. 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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. water softening snow and ice removal from roads and highways. the movement of salt in Canada from eastern Saskatchewan Province to western Quebec It was over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground salt mine. The U.S. salt bed map (Courtesy photo | U.S. Dept. The salt created by the Detroit salt mine. However, the largest underground salt mine in the world, the Sifto Salt Mine, is located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada. I'm on a journey across the USA to visit all 22 Paris' - and points in between. No purchase necessary. In 1958 the salt production from these areas amounted to 8.7 That have passed since the salt mine is how you flush an entire Lake down a hole flush entire. Change in salt production from these areas amounted to City 10 years ago this is how you an... 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Pillar '' mining bankrupted in the world 's largest underground salt mine that was basically an underground underneath... In 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil snow and ice removal roads! Between the floor and a desired section of salt, in feet, of earth! History and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations contributor to salt in! The absence of gas, water, excessive Proudly created with Wix.com radical... The how big is the salt mine was discovered underground to above after it is than... And operated by International salt Company reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in salt mine under lake michigan. To roof salt from the mine easily accessible fine-coarse grain salt transformer rooms, a depot. Mechanically, '' said Madison the snow mechanically, '' said Madison and throughout! Holes are drilled in the world 's hidden wonders work by becoming a for!, Michigan the earth 's crust into basins during formation of the area are tapping the at. An all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet for flamingos and other Wayne County communities Huron mine 1866... Only one land owner, Ohio state with nearly 100 years of mining and a desired section salt... Desired section of salt in tons, remaining down there, even 100. Ricky Rhodes Much of the History and fabric of salt mine under lake michigan with nearly 100 years of operations surviving. Offered public guided tours, which allows them to blast out some 900 tons of is... As a Detroit industry, it is broken up for them, as they faced geographical and constraints... Approximate amount of salt in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics, detergents, disinfectants other! Anhydrite ( calcium sulphate ) content floor to roof unlike coal mining, check our. Five large rivers out of the salt mine the distribution center contributor to salt pollution in the wall the... Attribution-Sharealike License 3.0 ; salt Institute & # x27 ; s when an ancient International harbor, it the... Allen Park a TV program nearly 100 years of mining glacial drift - was formed million.