A aerial view of the Eagle Mine is seen. (Journal file photo)

CHAMPION — A series of public tours of Eagle Mine facilities will be offered during the summer. Tour locations will alternate between the Eagle Mine in Big Bay and the Humboldt Mill in Champion on Thursdays from July to September.

Tours of the Eagle Mine will be offered on the following dates from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: June 19, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7, Aug. 21, Sept. 4, and Sept. 18.The Eagle Mine Tour is primarily a driving surface tour of the mine site with a walking tour through the water treatment plant.

The mine tour does not go underground. You will see where the ore is brought up from underground and where it is stored and loaded into the haul trucks. Other surface facilities include the storage area for development (or waste) rock, the backfill plant, the truck repair shop and the water treatment plant.

Eagle Mine tour participants meet at the Eagle Mine Information Center at 153 A W. Washington St., in downtown Marquette and bus transportation is provided for the tour. Tours of the Humboldt Mill will be offered on the following dates from 10 a.m.-noon: June 26, July 17, July 31, Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Sept. 25.

On the Humboldt Mill Tour, you will see what happens to the ore after it leaves the mine site. The tour is a walking tour that begins at the administrative office. It follows the circuit of crushing, grinding, and flotation processes, taking the ore from a haul truck to a rail car. Visitors should be prepared to walk on-site for about an hour, including up and down stairs and over metal grating.

Transportation is not provided for the Humboldt Mill tour. Participants will park in the Visitor Parking lot and meet inside the Administration Building.