Domtar mine facts for kids
| Location | |
|---|---|
 Domtar Mine
Location in Michigan
|
|
| Location | Walker, Michigan |
| State | Michigan |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Coordinates | 42°54′0″N 085°42′0″W / 42.90000°N 85.70000°W |
| Production | |
| Products | gypsum |
| History | |
| Opened | before 1860 |
The Domtar Mine was once an important underground mine in Walker, Michigan. This town is a suburb near Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mine used to dig up a mineral called gypsum. It was created by combining two older mines from the Grand Rapids Gypsum Company. Today, the Domtar Mine is no longer active.
The Mine's Story
The Domtar Mine has a long history. It started even before 1860. That's when the Grand Rapids Gypsum Company officially formed. The mine is located in Walker, Michigan. This area is southwest of Grand Rapids. It's also north of the Grand River.
Early Beginnings
The first mine entrances were on both sides of Butterworth Drive. This road was named after R.E. Butterworth. He was a very important person in mining. Mr. Butterworth opened the first gypsum mines in this area. These mines were north of the Grand River.
Pellerito Cave Discovery
During the mining work, something cool was found! A small cave was discovered. It was named the Pellerito Cave. This cave was named after Russell Pellerito, who found it. It's a special type of cave. It formed when water dissolved the gypsum rock.
Domtar Takes Over
In 1983, a company called Domtar bought the mine. They reopened it in 1984. It was then known as the Domtar Mine. Domtar later sold its gypsum businesses. They sold them to another company, Georgia-Pacific. In 1999, Georgia-Pacific decided to close the mine. The Domtar Mine was the last underground gypsum mine still working in Michigan.
