LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR DISCOVERS A GEM OF AN IDEA
by Janis Stein

Interested in a unique and educational experience where you can feel the same rush of excitement our forefathers experienced when they traveled west in search of gold? Steve Emerick of Port Hope introduces The Mine, an opportunity for Michigan residents to discover gems and fossils in an authentic expedition.

Emerick's 15-foot van trailer serves as The Mine. Inside the trailer there are approximately 100 holes hidden within the walls, which contain polished stones, shells, fossils and even some raw gem stones just waiting to be discovered. To complete the experience, miners are fitted with a miner's hat and light before they enter the darkness of the "cave" and are provided with a bucket to hold their finds. Miners keep the 16 treasures they discover and, at the same time, reflect on an era in history when mining and prospecting was a way of life. Admission to The Mine is $7.50 per person, tax included.

According to Emerick there are quite a few "mines" in the United States, but he may have the only one in Michigan.

"I have semi-precious stones, including rubies, emeralds and quartz. The rubies and emeralds are real and all are in a raw state as they come from the ground. I also have about 32 different types of real fossils," added Emerick.

Embedded on another wall of the cave, miners can view fossil replicas from bygone eras. These reproductions include the skeleton of the first animal that came out of the ocean having vertebrae, raptor claws and a trilobite, a member of the king crab family. A fossil replica of a fish found in Utah, belonging to the piranha family and extinct for approximately 120 million years, completes the exhibit.

Emerick gained his own mining experience last year while working in Massachusetts.

"My mine was a bit different in Massachusetts," stated Emerick. "It was a blow-up tent with pockets in the walls."

Through his experiences, Emerick realized a 15-year-old girl's smile was far more valuable than the most exquisite gemstone.

"I had a young lady come through my mine, and she was completely blind. I left her in the mine with her younger brother, and when she came out, she had the biggest smile. She liked the feel of the semi-polished stones - they have texture but are really very smooth," explained Emerick.

And ever since, for Emerick, it's been all about the kids.

Emerick has had miners range in age from four years of age to 84, but recommends the ideal age for children to begin mining is about seven. Children need not have all the fun; Emerick estimates 10% of his clients are kids at heart!

"Some kids are really interested, and I like to pick those children out and elaborate. I show them what a fossilized wooly mammoth bone looks like and the size of shark teeth. I also have pictures as well as teeth from a creature that ruled the ocean when the tyrannosaurus ruled the land. Some kids may never get a chance to see these things, so it's fun to be able to show it to them," added Emerick.

After completing the mining experience, prospectors may wish to learn how to pan, too, using Emerick's gemstone panning sluice. Purchase a bag of mining rough and discover gems, arrowhead, crystal fossils, emeralds and rubies. Emerick buys his fossils and gemstones from a gentleman in Massachusetts, who in turn, purchases the product from brokers all over the world.

"Many of the fossils come from Morocco," added Emerick. "Other items come from as far away as Argentina, Brazil and Africa."

The whole family will have fun watching the water wash away the mining rough to reveal hidden treasures. Both miners and panners will receive an identification brochure to keep, aiding them in identifying their finds.

Panners can choose from three mining rough bags. The medium mining rough bag, priced at $7.50, tax included, contains up to eight ounces of gems and minerals in a 3 ½ pound bag. The medium bags may include arrowhead and crystal point.

The large mining rough bag contains up to 10 ounces of gems and minerals in a 4 ½ pound bag. Large bags, priced at $8.50, tax included, may include rubies and emeralds in their raw state as well as arrowhead and crystal point; the fossil rough bag contains up to 14 different specimens in a 4 ½ pound bag priced at $8.50, tax included.

After Emerick opens up a bag of mining rough, he explains to his prospectors how to pan. First a portion of the mining rough is dumped into the sift tray. The sift tray is then put into the water, the water removing the mining rough and exposing the gemstones.

"Some of the kids who pick stones out of the sifter can identify the stones faster than I can - they're really into rock collecting," added Emerick. "They're a lot of fun!"

Those who'd like to experience the thrill of prospecting on their own may be interested in ordering a Starter Pack. Emerick's Starter Pack includes everything a new collector needs to get started. Prospectors will be supplied with a gold pan; a how-to book; up to 10 ounces of assorted gemstones in mining rough; up to 14 different fossils in mining rough; real placer gold with sifter and display bottle; and a gemstone and fossil chart to help with identification. In most cases, the gem bag will include rubies, emeralds, arrowhead, crystal point and an assortment of gemstones and minerals.

A little closer to home, Emerick is working with Al's Restaurant in Harbor Beach, so those planning birthday parties or other events can eat at Al's and then visit The Mine, which will be located nearby.

Perfect for birthday parties, scouting events, schools, festivals, 4-H functions, fundraisers and family reunions, Emerick will bring The Mine and the panning sluice experience to your location. Large event bookings must be arranged 30 days in advance.

Visit The Mine and be rewarded with an experience the young and the young at heart will be talking about for years to come.

For private party pricing information and to learn more about The Mine, please visit http://themine.lakeshoreguardian.com; call Steve Emerick at 989-428-3100; or send an e-mail to themine@lakeshoreguardian.com. Be sure to look for The Mine at the Harbor Beach Maritime Festival, July 14, 15 & 16.