Caledonia Copper Mine Fee Digs
Mass City, Michigan
native copperdatolitenative silverepidotecalcitequartzadularia
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal
Caledonia Copper Mine Fee Digs
The Caledonia's ore piles are the most dependable native copper dig in the Keweenaw, and staff stage a fresh private pile for each booking rather than turning you loose on a picked-over heap. Copper, epidote, and calcite come up steadily; the real prize is datolite, whose dull porcelain rind hides an interior tinted pink, red, or green by trace copper. You keep everything you find — but book ahead, because the mine takes no walk-ins.
The card catalog
| What you can find | native copper, datolite, native silver, epidote, calcite, quartz, adularia |
|---|---|
| Access | Fee dig — Fee, seasonal |
| Fees | Priced by pile, all by advance reservation: tailings pile $50 for one adult (adults only, bring your own tools); single ore pile $125 for 1-2 adults, with children or seniors added at about $20 each; family ore pile $200 for 3-4 adults plus up to two children and two seniors; premium datolite pile $300 for 1-2 adults. Booking a day outside the normal schedule runs an extra $75 and depends on staff availability. |
| Season & hours | A summer operation. During the season the mine runs digs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; the operator does not publish exact opening and closing dates, so confirm the current season when you book. Reservations require 48 hours notice, online or at (906) 390-2555. Nothing here is walk-in. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — The family ore-pile package is built around groups with children and includes up to two kids alongside the adults. Staff supply the tools that suit each pile — find-hoe, hand rake, bucket, shovel, screen — and help identify what turns up; the adults-only tailings pile is the exception, where you bring your own. Metal detectors are recommended but not provided. Loose rock and hammer work mean closed-toe shoes and eye protection for everyone. |
| Official source | Caledonia Copper Mine (operator) |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Caledonia Copper Mine Fee Digs cost?
Priced by pile, all by advance reservation: tailings pile $50 for one adult (adults only, bring your own tools); single ore pile $125 for 1-2 adults, with children or seniors added at about $20 each; family ore pile $200 for 3-4 adults plus up to two children and two seniors; premium datolite pile $300 for 1-2 adults. Booking a day outside the normal schedule runs an extra $75 and depends on staff availability. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Caledonia Copper Mine Fee Digs open?
A summer operation. During the season the mine runs digs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; the operator does not publish exact opening and closing dates, so confirm the current season when you book. Reservations require 48 hours notice, online or at (906) 390-2555. Nothing here is walk-in. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Caledonia Copper Mine Fee Digs good for kids?
Yes — Caledonia Copper Mine Fee Digs works for families. The family ore-pile package is built around groups with children and includes up to two kids alongside the adults. Staff supply the tools that suit each pile — find-hoe, hand rake, bucket, shovel, screen — and help identify what turns up; the adults-only tailings pile is the exception, where you bring your own. Metal detectors are recommended but not provided. Loose rock and hammer work mean closed-toe shoes and eye protection for everyone.