Great Salt City, 1200 Feet beneath Detroit
A presentation by Erik Nordberg, Ph.D.
Erik Nordberg, Ph.D., Industrial Heritage and Archaeology, Michigan Technological University; and Master of Library & Information Science (M.L.I.S.), Wayne State University.
Dr. Nordberg is past president of the Mining History Association, and incoming American vice president of the Algonquin Club; he has also held positions at the Reuther Library, W.S.U.; Michigan Technological University and Indiana University.
Dr. Nordberg will be telling the story of Michigan's underground salt mines. Michigan's lower peninsula sits atop one of North America's largest saline basins. Salt production has been a vital component of Michigan's industrial and economic history for more than 150 years. The basin was an arid area separated from the ocean by a natural bar of land. As the basin continued to sink lower into the earth, salt-laden ocean water repeatedly poured into the depression; then, gradually evaporated, forming miles of horizontal salt beds. Rock salt was discovered in the Detroit area in 1895, and has been mined for road deicing since 1910. This underground city of salt has held the fascination of many and has evolved into a modern day engineering marvel.
Date: Monday, November 12 , 2018Place: Clinton Macomb Public Library
40900 Romeo Plank Road
Clinton Twp, Mi 48038
Keep checking Facebook, the Historical Commission site (ctwphc.org) or the Historical Society web site for updates.