Presented at the Presented at the

66thth Annual Annual Conference on Conference on

Ancient Ancient America, Sept America, Sept

18, 201018, 2010Holiday Inn, MarquetteHoliday Inn, Marquette(c) 2010 Ancient Artifact Preservation Society(c) 2010 Ancient Artifact Preservation Society

www.aapsCopper.comwww.aapsCopper.com

Moving the CopperMoving the CopperSeptember 3, 2010September 3, 2010

Several Billions of Years Several Billions of Years Ago, Volcanoes and Ago, Volcanoes and

Terrific Hot Water/Steam Terrific Hot Water/Steam from Deep Within the from Deep Within the

Earth, Created Earth, Created Conditions for forming Conditions for forming Nearly Pure Copper In Nearly Pure Copper In the Keweenaw Range.the Keweenaw Range.

Plate Tectonics Pushed Plate Tectonics Pushed up the Mountain Range, up the Mountain Range,

now Beautifully Filled now Beautifully Filled with Copper!with Copper!

Many miles of copper Many miles of copper still lie beneath Lake still lie beneath Lake

Superior.Superior.

Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula was the recipient of the Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula was the recipient of the largest, purest deposits of copper in the world.largest, purest deposits of copper in the world.

This sliced chunk from the Seaman Mineral Museum on MTU Campus, This sliced chunk from the Seaman Mineral Museum on MTU Campus, shows the brilliant purity of Keweenaw Range coppershows the brilliant purity of Keweenaw Range copper

Four Glacial Ages scrubbed down the copper rich Four Glacial Ages scrubbed down the copper rich Keweenaw Mountains, dragging and dropping off Keweenaw Mountains, dragging and dropping off

hunks of nearly pure copper. Note varying lake levels.hunks of nearly pure copper. Note varying lake levels.

Ancient miners worked the copper, picked up Ancient miners worked the copper, picked up pieces lying on the surface, worked in small pits, pieces lying on the surface, worked in small pits,

& broke hunks off from larger pieces.& broke hunks off from larger pieces.

5720 pound piece of pure 5720 pound piece of pure copper found in ancient copper found in ancient mine pit at McCargo mine pit at McCargo Cove, Isle Royale, Cove, Isle Royale, raised on oak cribbing.raised on oak cribbing.

Copper solutions kept the Copper solutions kept the wood from deteriorating wood from deteriorating over the centures. over the centures.

Note how the piece may Note how the piece may have been heated and have been heated and hammered to break off hammered to break off smaller ingots.smaller ingots.

Some very large pieces are left as evidence of glacial Some very large pieces are left as evidence of glacial drops: On display in public places such as- drops: On display in public places such as-

Calumet City Park, Quincy Mine (17 tons)Calumet City Park, Quincy Mine (17 tons)

This 17 ton piece was removed from the waters of Lake This 17 ton piece was removed from the waters of Lake Superior- by the state and donors- & put on display (for Superior- by the state and donors- & put on display (for

Seaman Mineral Museum) at Quincy Mine Seaman Mineral Museum) at Quincy Mine

Here’s a giant pure float copper found a few years ago on Here’s a giant pure float copper found a few years ago on private land south of Houghton, 1.5 tons larger than "ours" private land south of Houghton, 1.5 tons larger than "ours"

but it was sold as scrap metal, now it’s gone forever!but it was sold as scrap metal, now it’s gone forever!

Oct, 1996 Mr. K & Mr. M found on their own land (prev. Quincy Oct, 1996 Mr. K & Mr. M found on their own land (prev. Quincy Mine land) this magnificent "float" copper. Mine land) this magnificent "float" copper.

What a thrilling day that wasWhat a thrilling day that was ! !

Enter Fred Rydholm. He believed this piece should be saved, Enter Fred Rydholm. He believed this piece should be saved, and AAPS should do it! We thought he was overly optimistic. and AAPS should do it! We thought he was overly optimistic.

He said his new book would “change everything.” He said his new book would “change everything.” It helped but not as fast as he’d hoped.It helped but not as fast as he’d hoped.

Fred fell in love with the copper & convinced AAPS officers and Friends Fred fell in love with the copper & convinced AAPS officers and Friends that it would be the perfect centerpiece for a future museum…but FIRST it that it would be the perfect centerpiece for a future museum…but FIRST it had to be saved from industrial melt.had to be saved from industrial melt.

We said good-bye to Fred, April 2009, and vowed to keep his dream alive.We said good-bye to Fred, April 2009, and vowed to keep his dream alive.

Oct. 2009, some board members & advisors saw the Oct. 2009, some board members & advisors saw the copper for themselves and fell under it's spell.copper for themselves and fell under it's spell.

Carl LindquistCarl Lindquist, Friend of AAPS, Executive Dir. of Superior Watershed , Friend of AAPS, Executive Dir. of Superior Watershed Partnership wondered: How to broaden interest in saving the copper?Partnership wondered: How to broaden interest in saving the copper?

Carl's office moved to Presque Isle Park Spring 2010. Carl was inspired. Carl's office moved to Presque Isle Park Spring 2010. Carl was inspired. Maybe the City of Marquette would host the copper? Maybe the City of Marquette would host the copper? YES they would! How wonderful! Now THOUSANDS could see it!YES they would! How wonderful! Now THOUSANDS could see it!

Carl on the copper in the woods, Oct ‘09 New Offices @ Presque IsleCarl on the copper in the woods, Oct ‘09 New Offices @ Presque Isle

Carl Coordinated! Copper owners, city council, truckers, movers, Carl Coordinated! Copper owners, city council, truckers, movers, permits, architects, builder, sign-maker, crane, press... permits, architects, builder, sign-maker, crane, press...

3 months work, & off we go!3 months work, & off we go!

First, it had to get out of the woods! First, it had to get out of the woods! TreesTrees, scrub brush and dirt were , scrub brush and dirt were knocked out of the way, and plowed on top of the copper as it was knocked out of the way, and plowed on top of the copper as it was

dragged along, making a road behind the big dozer.dragged along, making a road behind the big dozer.

The dozer dragged the copper out through the woods, The dozer dragged the copper out through the woods, making a smoothed out road as it went...making a smoothed out road as it went...

and polished the copper's bottom! and polished the copper's bottom! Which we saw on the 8Which we saw on the 8thth when the crane moved it onto it’s display @ Presque Isle Parkwhen the crane moved it onto it’s display @ Presque Isle Park

Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 MOVING DAY! Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 MOVING DAY! First significant move since the glacier moved it 12,000 years ago!First significant move since the glacier moved it 12,000 years ago!

Moyle got it out of the woods, onto Oberstar's flatbed trailer.Moyle got it out of the woods, onto Oberstar's flatbed trailer.It was not an easy operation! Gravel was dumped to create a ramp to It was not an easy operation! Gravel was dumped to create a ramp to “slide” the copper on up to the flatbed trailer. There were a few snags.“slide” the copper on up to the flatbed trailer. There were a few snags.

It rained….a lot! The wind blew, it got cold, it got really muddy.It rained….a lot! The wind blew, it got cold, it got really muddy.TV-6 Ashley Palumbo, and TV-6 Ashley Palumbo, and

Ford Movie folks; Bob KreipkeFord Movie folks; Bob Kreipkeand Janine McFadden wereand Janine McFadden weresoaked along with the rest!soaked along with the rest!

Glenn and Judy went to breakfast, after a few hours in the Glenn and Judy went to breakfast, after a few hours in the elements. Back…and the copper was on the trailer and elements. Back…and the copper was on the trailer and

headed out of the woods toward the road!! YAY! headed out of the woods toward the road!! YAY! (We’d had some doubts.)(We’d had some doubts.)

The copper was scaled at Moyle Gravel, Houghton, at about The copper was scaled at Moyle Gravel, Houghton, at about 28.5 tons...less than hoped. Then we followed the very 28.5 tons...less than hoped. Then we followed the very

speedy truck to Marquette. speedy truck to Marquette. He He had a highway permit deadline to had a highway permit deadline to

meet!meet! Here it passes Here it passes Da Yoopers Tourist TrapDa Yoopers Tourist Trap where the largest copper in where the largest copper in

the world briefly meets the largest rifle and largest chain saw in the worldthe world briefly meets the largest rifle and largest chain saw in the world..

All the way to Presque Isle, and the truck couldn’t make the bend in the road All the way to Presque Isle, and the truck couldn’t make the bend in the road toward the prepared site! It had to drive slowly all around the island.toward the prepared site! It had to drive slowly all around the island.

The copper remained on the trailer for a few days till the crane could come to put it The copper remained on the trailer for a few days till the crane could come to put it in it’s place. Meanwhile it enjoyed being out of the woods, and hosting many in it’s place. Meanwhile it enjoyed being out of the woods, and hosting many visitors, photographs, and TV and news media attention. Everyone Loves it!visitors, photographs, and TV and news media attention. Everyone Loves it!

Fred K Rydholm kneels where his dad posed many years earlier. Fred K Rydholm kneels where his dad posed many years earlier. Hundreds of people felt the thrill of actually standing on top of such a Hundreds of people felt the thrill of actually standing on top of such a

large specimen. Some children were heard to say they could feel large specimen. Some children were heard to say they could feel “something” moving beneath their touch.“something” moving beneath their touch.

Sept 8th, the 100 ton crane came from Lindberg and Sons Sept 8th, the 100 ton crane came from Lindberg and Sons to lift the copper to it’s berm.to lift the copper to it’s berm.

Conference 2010: The biggest thrill was when Conference 2010: The biggest thrill was when members & friends of AAPS gathered with the copper!members & friends of AAPS gathered with the copper!

NOWNOWTo RaiseTo Raise

the Funds the Funds toto

SAVE IT!SAVE IT!

SINCERE THANKS!SINCERE THANKS! AAPS Board, Advisors & Friends,AAPS Board, Advisors & Friends, The City of MarquetteThe City of Marquette Superior Watershed Partnership & Carl LindquistSuperior Watershed Partnership & Carl Lindquist Superior Film Productions, Superior Film Productions, Ford Motor Company Film/HistorianFord Motor Company Film/Historian Lindberg and SonsLindberg and Sons TV-6 Marquette Mining Journal,TV-6 Marquette Mining Journal, Oberstar Excavating, Tri-Star EngineeringOberstar Excavating, Tri-Star Engineering Gary Moyle Contracting, Pride Printing, Gary Moyle Contracting, Pride Printing, Nagelkirk Landscaping, Cook SignsNagelkirk Landscaping, Cook Signs

© 2010, AAPS/Ancient Artifact Preservation Society© 2010, AAPS/Ancient Artifact Preservation SocietyMay be used and presented for educational purposes at no charge May be used and presented for educational purposes at no charge

with approval of AAPS. Ph 906-942-7865with approval of AAPS. Ph 906-942-7865