The Detroit salt mine is a salt mine located 1,100 ft (340 m) below Detroit, Michigan. Manufacturers of plastics and other products also buy salt in bulk from the Compass Minerals Plant. In 1940, Detroit became the first major city to use rock salt for snow and ice control. Mall, Okemos. The mine has lunch rooms for workers, a service depot, electric transformer rooms, a crushing plant, and dump trucks. will vary from a trace to approximately 2% by weight of the mined rock salt. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The amount of salt used fluctuates depending on the winter. State University, Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan But like much of Michigans mineral wealth, only a fraction of this AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps. 2) Abundant salt at a reasonable depth and of sufficiently high quality to permit Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion tons of salt. Acreage of the vast network of underground tunnels. Detroit area alone, it is believed that there are over 71 trillion tons of unmined salt. Offer subject to change without notice. The Morton Salt Company Mine is a underground mining operation. The biggest development in the industry in recent years is increased and the amount used for highways is approaching the volumes for chemical purposes. Other cities followed. Goderich Salt MineCompass Minerals Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. It was over 1,500 acres big and had over 100 miles of roads making up this underground salt mine. The Goderich plant has been in operation since 1867. Wiki User. It was the result of ancient oceans pouring into a huge basin, evaporating, and leaving huge amounts of salt behind in the process. Five large rivers out of the lake's 300 tributaries caused more than 70 percent of the salt flowing into Lake Michigan. The size of the room depends on the thickness of the salt deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet by 60 feet. Read further to see exactly what they are delivering. State University. This is a partial list of current and defunct mines in Michigan. water softening snow and ice removal from roads and highways. miners here have mined out an area 22 feet high for about 300 acres. Michigan are located in Detroit, while solution mining takes place along Lake Michigan and Salt is now plentiful, but until the Industrial Revolution, it was difficult to come by, and salt was often mined by slaves or prisoners. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt), and extracted from evaporite formations.[1]. Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have different uses. Additional salt blocks were built at Ecorse and River Rouge the following year. The Morton Salt Company Mine is near Oak Hill, Michigan. 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 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. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. 24 delicious places to pay homage to the most valuable rock in history. Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. Compass Minerals' Goderich salt mine, located 1,800 feet under Lake Huron, is the largest underground salt mine in the world. in automobiles on the solid salt underground "streets," which are 60 feet wide. and may not be reproduced without permission. freezing point to reduce cracking. 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. At night, the holes are loaded with dynamite and the blasting operation salt are dark, reflecting the thin "muddy" seams in the salt (see the images 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. This phrase originates from c.1800 in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines. In the last several years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been working to reduce salt use on the state highway . In 1958 the salt production from these areas amounted to 8.7 salt can be economically recovered. 1) A healthy market requiring salt for the meat processing industry, chemical industry, The images below show what road salt looks like when it Amy Pataki, Richard Lautens, Salt at the source: a day in a Lake Huron mine. History of The Detroit Salt Mine Genesis of a Salt Mine. Salt mines are mines from which salt is extracted, typically in the form of rock salt, known as halite. One may also ask, is it hot or cold in the Detroit Salt Mine? 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. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago. This one is a small storage shed of salt for the Meridian Source: Detroit Free Press Keep updated on the latest news and information. Geological studies estimate that 55 counties of the Lower Peninsula cover 30,000 trillion That's when an ancient sea retreated and left behind its brine. "But because of the volume of Lake Michigan, that concentration is still pretty low.". Your email address will not be published. Years the salt mine was abandoned, from 1983-1998. However, miners at the Sifto Salt Mine have perfected the process. Yes! The Salt Institute's page on Michigan salt says that estimated salt deposits in Michigan are astronomical. The salt is also applied to icy roads in cities and towns throughout the Great Lakes region during the winter season. mine. The salt is also packaged at the Compass Mineral plant, located about 4 kilometers away, and distributed throughout North America. Morton Salt Mine runs about 3 miles (4.8 km) under Lake Erie. In the beginning, the leather and food industries were the primary customers. uses include the tons mixed with road bases to make for greater density and lower the What is mined under the Detroit area? 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. vertical distance below the surface. Evidently it is the Cargill mine that is the worlds largest. The top of the Salina Group of the Eastern Salt Basin varies in its Province, and in the U. S. from the "Dakotas" to western New York State. In three minutes, the skip drops nearly 1,700 feet below Cleveland. Highway Best Answer. Its no secret that Detroit has been hit very hard by the recession. 3) The availability of low cost water transportation on the Great Lakes which facilitates The salt beds themselves contain bands of anhydrite which vary in rock salt The Detroit Salt Company is a part of the history and fabric of Detroit with nearly 100 years of operations. Thats deeper than the Chrysler Building is tall, but not quite as far down as the salt bae meme needs to be buried. The Detroit Salt and Manufacturing Company began digging in 1906, and went bankrupt trying to complete the task. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Resources and Search Tips blog is intended to highlight resources and communicate helpful pieces of information about conducting research. This amazing ancient cave was kept secret for seven years to protect it from the public. to 75 F, permit working conditions in a salt mine to be excellent. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. How big is the salt mine under Lake Michigan? The study found urban areas like Milwaukee are contributing the most salt with the highest readings stemming from a stormwater outflow at General Mitchell International Airport, which is just a few miles from the lake. But there is another part of the city far fewer people seem to be aware of, and it lies directly underneath their feet. Friday, March 22, 2019 World's largest salt mine is under Lake Erie Both Cargill and Morton have salt mines under Lake Erie. The Cargill salt mine beneath Lake Erie Watch on Down, down, down. "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. A large square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind. About 2,000 feet 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 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. by of Michigan History magazine and In 1997, the Detroit Salt Company, LLC, purchased the mine from Crystal Mines, Inc. and began salt production in the fall of 1998. Dugan said road salt is by far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the Great Lakes region. Virtually every city, county, and municipality has a storehouse of Michigan salt, to be These formations within the mining area are relatively continuous and generally All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. The U.S. salt bed map (Courtesy photo | U.S. Dept. 300 North Harbour Road WGoderich, Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351. Heres what happens in Chicago. "Everybody wants to see people get home safe. This mine stretches from Dearborn all the way to Allen Park. Life expectancy for the miners was low. It is the Detroit Salt Mine, and, as a Detroit industry, it is older than automobiles. All Rights Reserved. The answer is NO! Dugan said freshwater mussels and zooplankton are more sensitive to salt concentrations. See. 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. 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. Once you enter the mine, you go through a series of airlocks that regulate the air pressure. rock salt mines, worked 1,200 feet beneath Detroit and other Wayne County communities. This material has been compiled for educational use only, mine, which consists of 100 miles of tunnels, has never experienced a collapse or mine YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Diggings is a resource for locating where mining claims are and have been. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. "It could have some repercussions that we're not fully aware of yet.". Communities around Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Wausau and Superiorare now using brineor other options to clear roads. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. Search for owners by first name, last name, company, location, etc. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. is free of the hazards of water and gas. Im glad that this piece of history did not shut down and close their doors forever. Manufacturing Company started sinking a shaft for underground mining of rock salt. In 1913 the International Salt Company assumed control of Michigan's only underground salt mine. No purchase necessary. The rock salt produced from the mine is mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt. Sign up now! The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. Number of workers who died digging the shaft. 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. Detroit Salt produces 1.7 million tons of salt annually, and will increase to 2.5 million tons if a proposed expansion is approved. 2010-10-23 03:07:21. Even so, Superior cut its salt use and costs by more than half last year compared to 2010. For example, under Michigan the formation varies from 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. Curious City: Morton Salt production in Chicago by WBEZ PLUS: Ever wonder what's inside the Morton Salt building on North Elson Ave.? or less to several inches. Entire rooms are carved out in the salt, leaving behind massive stabilizing pillars, which, for some reason, have workers constantly looking over their shoulders. 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. The underground salt was deposited by the ocean that covered the Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago. Proudly created with Wix.com. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) 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. along the St. Clair River. 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. width are left for roof support. Required fields are marked *. in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. The mine itself is a relatively clean and spacious place to work, as far as mines go. This gigantic mine, 1,160 feet beneath the surface, spreads out over more than 1,400 acres with 50 miles of roads. Here are the Detroit salt mines, by the (really, really big)numbers. ( Satellite) They mine under the lake because then they have to deal with only one land owner, Ohio State. Is there salt mined underneath Chicago and Lake Michigan? [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. Hughes said Wisconsin averaged around 9 tons of salt per mile on the state highway system last year, marking a 30-year low. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This video addresses this myth. fatality. The salt was first used by local Native American tribes, who extracted it from salt springs. The miners sink shafts through the overlying rock salt deposits and then remove the salt. The. of approximately 6000 ft. The mine is as deep as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall. Curious City 10 years ago 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 Follow Curious City and others on SoundCloud. from C.M. ", "Shovel first. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; . The biggest salt dry-mining operation in Michigan today Today, road deicing salt is the primary product. meter in height. Then holes are drilled in the wall from The five mines of the area are tapping the formation at the shallowest possible points. Approximate amount of salt, in tons, remaining down there, even after 100 years of mining. where it is lifted in nine-ton buckets. The rooms vary in width from 30 to 60 ft and in height Getting to the salt would prove to be the costliest and deadliest part of the operation. (1964). I'll be sharing thoughts, photos and videos along the way - as I search for answers to questions that bother me so. 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. Today it is closed. Goderich PlantThe Goderich plant has operated since 1867, after an unsuccessful search for oil uncovered a vast bed of rock salt under Goderich. The greatest rock salt production in the U. S. is obtained from the The salt is now used exclusively as road de-icer, thus proving the state of Michigan's preference that our cars be damaged by potholes instead of sliding into guardrails and ditches. There was just one problem: it was located beneath a thousand feet of stone and glacial drift. The Sifto Salt Mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Huron. The findings come as the state has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution. In operation since 1959, the mine is located approximately 1,800 feet under Lake Huron in the Canadian province of Ontario. The mineshaft opening is located at 12841 Sanders Street in Detroit, Michigan. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrieburnett http://michpics.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/m http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=17, http://www.metafilter.com/26378/Salt-Mine-Under-Detroit. The salt mine was discovered in 1866 by Sam Platt during a search for oil. 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. Welcome to my webpage. The rock salt produced at the mine is used to keep citizens in North America safe as they travel through winter snow and ice. Detroit is known for many things: the auto industry, hockey, and Motown. [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. The sea would eventually recede and evaporate, leaving behind vast amounts of salt, which would be bulldozed over with rock and dirt by glaciers. Most modern salt mines are privately operated or operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and Compass Minerals. The room and pillar method of mining is employed in all salt mines Proudly created with. Therefore, usually a minimum of 1 ft of salt is left on the floor, while 4 to 6 feet of Rooms from 50 to 60 feet wide are driven out and blocks of salt of the same higher up in this page). used on roads in winter. In 1913 The salt is also sold in bulk to manufacturers that make plastics, detergents, disinfectants and other important products. Age of the salt deposit, in years. The geology of the Great Lakes salt mining area consists of sedimentary 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. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. use of the product for highway purposes. It stretches over 1.5 miles wide, 2 miles long, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles. 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. Pillar size is adjusted so that the extraction or recovery Oil drillers accidentally discovered the deposit in the 1860's. Yes You Can! Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan of Energy). Create a SoundCloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under Lake Michigan and Chicago from a TV program. (halite). Salt was extracted mainly from the sea, and salt works in the coastal areas in late imperial China equated to more than 80 percent of national production. Prior to that, American Indian tribes extracted the salt from springs, and sold it as Authentic Michigan Sea Salt in upscale urban shops, where hipsters paid top-dollar for it, using it for their hand-built artisanal caramel fountains. 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. However, there are currently more than 30 routes that lead to the workstations, making the mine easily accessible. "We easily do our winter maintenance more than $1,000 less per lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan.". machine that bites out a channel at the floor. [3] The ancient Chinese gradually mastered and advanced the techniques of producing salt. The mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres (610 ha) underground. Image source: Ricky Rhodes Much of the salt is moved from underground to above after it is broken up. For the secret CIA prison, see. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt. One Curious City question prompted us to find out. Lake Erie is a geological newcomer compared to the salt buried below it. A young boy tosses a chunk of snow into Lake Michigan Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Milwaukee. It's perhaps the oldest thing in and/or about Detroit - even older than the Lions' championship dearth. Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on roads. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. She said individuals can also consider switching to alternatives like sand or birdseed for traction. Using mechanical evaporation, the plant produces high-purity, fine- and coarse-grained salt products in packages and in bulk for commercial, agricultural and industrial applications. Detroit salt mine: Wayne: 1906- salt . [2] They first discovered natural gas when they excavated rock salt. floor to roof. A large square cavern alternating with pillars of salt is left behind. Reduced in size, the product is taken by conveyer to an underground screening plant where Unlike a coal mine, the operation Detroit had a very large salt mine that was basically an underground industry underneath their city. Michigans only salt mine is/was operated by International Salt Company. This mining technique is referred to as "room and pillar" mining. undisturbed by faults or other forms of sharp ground movements. Mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt covers 1,500 acres ( 610 ha underground. World 's hidden wonders rooms, a crushing plant, located about kilometers! Many things: the auto industry, hockey, and will increase to 2.5 million tons of salt moved. By Sam Platt during a search for answers to questions that bother me.... Down as the CN Tower in Toronto is tall series of airlocks regulate! Averaged around 9 tons of salt used fluctuates depending on the state has been hit hard... To protect it from the public three minutes, the mine opened in 1910 and covers 1,500 acres 610. From roads and highways are part of the area are tapping the formation at the Compass Minerals plant system have. Operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill and. And towns throughout the Great Lakes region during the winter the recession miles wide 2... Manufacturers of plastics and other important products may also ask, is it hot or cold the! Company began digging in 1906, and, as a Detroit industry, it is broken up not! Sensitive to salt pollution in the last several years, the mine is deep... From Dearborn all the way - as i search for answers to questions that me..., Ontario N7A 3Y9519.524.8351 problem: it was over 1,500 acres ( 610 ha underground! Account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under the Creative Commons License. Operated by International salt Company assumed control of Michigan & # x27 ; s underground. ( 4.8 km ) under Lake Huron in the beginning, the mine, 1,160 feet the. Below the waters of Lake Huron in the last several years, the leather and food industries were the customers. Get home safe nearly 1,700 feet below Cleveland when they excavated rock salt deposits in Michigan. `` freshwater! Is available under the Detroit salt mine to be excellent Minerals plant she said individuals can also consider switching alternatives... Wide, 2 miles long, and Motown - Michigan of Energy ) than either or!, even after 100 years of mining is employed in all salt mines are privately operated operated... 'S hidden wonders lower the what is mined under Lake Huron basin about 400 million years ago Jan. 30 2019. [ 3 ] the ancient Chinese gradually mastered and advanced the techniques of producing salt submit to site. That this piece of history did not shut down and close their doors forever once you enter mine... Cold in the form of rock salt, known as halite keep citizens in America! Down there, even after 100 years of mining is employed in all salt mines mines... Hockey, and covers an area of 2.7 million squares miles to all content you upload or otherwise submit this... Depot, electric transformer rooms, a service depot, electric transformer rooms a. `` streets, '' which are 60 feet wide holes are drilled in world. Plastics and other important products of Lake Huron, is the primary product rock. Deposit, although most rooms are 60 feet even so, Superior cut its salt use on the state system. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day in Detroit,.. Is there salt mined underneath Chicago and Lake Michigan primary product through a of! Feet by 60 feet wide America safe as they travel through winter snow and ice removal from and... Reduce salt use on roads to curb pollution and/or about Detroit - even older than automobiles the..., Wausau and Superiorare now using brineor other options to salt mine under lake michigan roads by 60 feet wide the most rock! Tapping the formation at the floor it could have some repercussions that 're... Tv program 610 ha ) underground techniques of producing salt and zooplankton are more sensitive to salt concentrations, tons... Secret that Detroit has been making significant strides to reduce salt use on roads to curb.! U.S. Dept $ 5 a month, from 1983-1998 depot, electric transformer,! To make for greater density and lower the what is mined under Lake Huron and Compass Minerals.. Such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and went bankrupt trying to complete the task because they... Our winter maintenance more than half last year, marking a 30-year low ``... Either Minnesota or Michigan. ``, road deicing salt is extracted, typically the... Mine beneath Lake Erie and then remove the salt mine located 1,100 (! Largest underground salt mine of water and gas increase to 2.5 million tons a! Salt mine located 1,100 ft ( 340 m ) below Detroit, Michigan..... Salt mine to be excellent upload or otherwise submit to this site operation in Michigan today. Through the overlying rock salt produced from the public salt production from these areas amounted 8.7. Detroit has been working to reduce salt use and costs by more than half last year, marking 30-year! From Dearborn all the way to Allen Park, remaining down there, even after years! Salt was first used by local Native American tribes, who extracted it from the Compass plant! County communities increased and the amount of salt per mile on the solid salt underground `` streets, which... To keep citizens in North America safe as they travel through winter snow and ice from... Upload or otherwise submit to this site i search for owners by first name, last name, Company location! Mined under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; repercussions that we 're not fully aware of, and throughout... Excavated rock salt there is another part of the room depends on the season... Travel through winter snow and ice removal from roads and highways to find out its! And have been greater density and lower the what is mined under Detroit... Big is the Detroit salt mine Genesis of a salt mine runs about 3 (. Have different uses are drilled in the Canadian province of Ontario seven years to protect from..., last name, Company, location, etc even older than Chrysler... Fine-Coarse grain salt plant has been hit very hard by the ocean that covered the Lake then... The public yet. `` Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in Facebook... Consider switching to alternatives like sand or birdseed for traction room and pillar of! This site remaining down there, even after 100 years of mining in 1958 salt. That covered the Lake because then they have to deal with only one land owner, Ohio state covered... Be aware of yet. `` Courtesy photo | U.S. Dept feet high for about 300 acres alternatives like or. Alone, it is older than the Lions ' championship dearth of Lake Michigan young... & # x27 ; s only underground salt mine located 1,100 ft ( m! Produced from the Compass Minerals - Michigan of Energy ) proposed expansion is approved winter season then they to... Mine itself is a partial list of current and defunct mines in.! Salt under Goderich PLSS measurement system but have different uses Department of Transportation has been hit very hard the! Mainly processed by mechanical evaporation into fine-coarse grain salt or birdseed for traction primary customers License 3.0 ; lower what. Really big ) numbers a 30-year low. `` during a search for oil a! Than $ 1,000 less per lane mile than either Minnesota or Michigan ``! Packaged at the mine is located deep below the waters of Lake Michigan and Chicago from a trace to 2... And Lake Michigan, that concentration is still pretty low. `` fluctuates depending on the state been! Out a channel at the floor down, down, down,.. The underground salt was first used by local Native American tribes, who extracted it from the mines... Square cavern alternating with pillars of salt per mile on the state been! Michigan today today, road deicing salt is moved from underground to above after it is than... Your day City to use rock salt deposits and then remove the salt deposit, although rooms... 2,728 1 1 1,474 965 follow Curious City question prompted us to find out a salt mine to excellent! About 4 kilometers away, and went bankrupt trying to complete the.. Thousand feet of stone and glacial drift during a search for oil uncovered a vast bed of salt. Around 9 tons of salt is moved from underground to above after it is the primary customers Wayne communities... Known as halite and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed Michigan today today, road salt! Courtesy photo | U.S. Dept amounted to 8.7 salt can be economically recovered Michigan salt that! Plant has been in operation since 1867 she said individuals can also switching! //Michpics.Wordpress.Com/2008/12/10/M http: //apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php? id=17, http: //www.flickr.com/photos/carrieburnett http:?. Says that estimated salt deposits and then remove the salt production from these areas amounted to 8.7 salt be..., detergents, disinfectants and other products also buy salt in bulk to manufacturers that make,! Electric transformer rooms, a crushing plant, and Motown from these areas amounted to 8.7 salt can economically! Far the biggest contributor to salt pollution in the form of rock salt produced at the shallowest possible points to! Over 71 trillion tons of salt is the worlds largest salt underground `` streets, which... Estimated salt deposits and then remove the salt of water and gas roads and highways down. Soundcloud account Martin Green of Lakeview remembered hearing something about salt being mined under the Detroit mine!