288 APPENDIX. 



native copper which this country has produced, however insulated, 

 or however it may have been separated from its original position, 

 appears to have been considered a sure indication of the exist- 

 ence of that metal in beds ; and hence we occasionally see, upon 

 maps of that section of our country, particular portions marked as 

 containing "copper mines," where no copper now exists. But 

 while it is certain that a combination of circumstances has served 

 to mislead the public mind with regard to the geological situa- 

 tion and existing quantity of that metal, it is no less certain that 

 a greater quantity of insulated native copper has been discovered 

 upon the borders of Lake Superior, than in any other equal por- 

 tion of North America. 



Among the masses of native copper which have engaged the 

 attention of travellers in this section of country, one, which from 

 its great size was early noticed, is situated on the Ontonagon 

 River, a stream which empties its waters into the southern part 

 of Lake Superior, 331 miles above the falls of the Ste. Marie. 

 The Ontonagon River is, with some difficulty, navigable by bat- 

 teaux 36 miles, at which place by the union of two smaller streams, 

 one from an easterly, and the other from a westerly direction, the 

 main stream is formed. The mass of copper is situated on the 

 western fork, at a distance of six or eight miles from the junction. 

 The face of the country through the upper half of the dis- 

 tance from Lake Superior is uneven, and the irregularity is given 

 it by hills of marly clay, which occasionally rise quite abruptly 

 to the height of one or two hundred feet. No rock was observed 

 in situ, except in one place, where, for a distance, the red sand- 

 stone was observed, forming the bed of the river. 



The mass of copper lies partly covered by water, directly at 

 the foot of a clay hill, from which, together with numerous 

 boulders of the primitive rocks, it has undoubtedly been washed 

 by the action of the water of the river. Although it is com- 

 pletely insulated, there is much to interest in its examination. 

 Its largest surface measures three and a half by four feet, and 

 this, which is of malleable copper, is kept bright by the action 

 of the water, and has the usual appearance of that metal when 

 worn. To one surface is attached a small quantity of rock, sin- 

 gularly bound together by threads of copper, which pass through 



