US Gypsum Company quarry in Alabaster, MI
Posted by: S5280ft
N 44° 11.517 W 083° 33.392
17T E 295692 N 4896371
Located at the end of Turtle Road, turn right (south) onto Benson Road. The mine entrance is at the gates.
Waymark Code: WM1KJ2
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 05/27/2007
Views: 249
From the Michigan Historical Marker on-site:
This area is named after a variety of gypsum, discovered offshore by Douglass Houghton in 1837. Prospectors soon began searching for other gypsum deposits, and this quarry was opened in 1862 by B. F. Smith. Used at first as fertilizer and as an ingredient in plaster, gypsum is now used principally in the manufacture of wallboard. A fire in 1891 destroyed the operation but it was rebuilt in time to supply material for the main buildings at the Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893. These buildings, with marble-like walls, earned the exposition the title, "White City," and greatly expanded gypsum sales. Incorporated into the U.S. Gypsum Company in 1902, this quarry has helped to make Michigan a leading producer of gypsum for over a century.
Mine Type: Abandoned Mine
Mineral Collecting: No
Material Mined: Other - Specify in long description
Operation: Opencast Mine
Surface Features: Yes
KNOWN DANGERS: The posted signs say....
United States Gypsum Company
DANGER: EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AREA
High risk for dirt bike crashes
Hidden sink holes, open pits, high cliffs and rough terrain.
Death or serious injury can occur due to dangerous conditions.
Violators will be prosecuted.
Any associated website: [Web Link]
Any Other information: This mine appears abandoned, but is still listed on the USG website (951 Turtle Road).
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Visit Instructions:
Optional photograph welcomed.