The Calcite limestone/dolomite quarry, near Rogers City, is the largest limestone quarry in the world. The images below will attempt to give you an idea of the size of the open pit mine that exists there, but obviously do not do it justice. Please go their web site for more details.
The mine is within the Rogers City limestone, which is part of the Dundee Limestone.
Source: Michigan
State University Department of Geography
Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University
The quarry sits on Lake Huron--the proximity to the lake allows easy access to ore carriers and hence, cheap transportation for the bulky limestone cargo. The image below shows the Calcite Dock area, on Lake Huron.
Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan
State University
Limestone quarries tend to be aerially-large operations. Hence, this type of
activity has left a large "footprint" on the state.
Source: Michigan Trend Futures Report, Michigan Society of Planning, 1997
This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission. One copy may be printed for personal use. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.