Vintage Solid Native Copper Michigan Tech Paperweight Houghton MI University For Sale

Up for sale is a wonderful piece of Upper Peninsulacollegiate and mining heritage: an original Vintage Solid Native CopperMichigan Technological University Desk Paperweight Puck from Houghton,Michigan. Cut from pure Keweenaw mass copper ore, this rugged deskaccessory features an incredible, highly aesthetic crystalline grain structurethat looks spectacular on display.

⚙️ Design & Material Details:

• The Composition: Solid native Michigan copper cross-section disc displaying a stunning, raw sunburst-style crystalline grain pattern across the face, showcasing the natural geological beauty of the local lodes.
• The Stamping: Deeply impressed with bold, clean vintage typography reading: "MICHIGAN / TECH / HOUGHTON".
• Dimensions: Measures approximately 2.25 to 2.5 inches in diameter and features a heavy, substantial thickness in the hand (as cross-referenced with the machinist's ruler in the listing photographs).
• Weight:140 grams

The following is additional AI generated information:

This is an antique solid native copper desk paperweightor commemorative puck from Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton,Michigan.

What makes this particular piece highly distinctive comparedto a standard machined brass or aluminum office weight is the extraordinary,raw crystalline grain pattern radiating outward across the stamped face.

⚙️ Artifact Breakdown &Technical Identification

• The Metallurgy (Native Mass Copper): The unique, sunburst-like crystalline structures and fine linear striations crossing the face suggest this puck was sliced directly from a solid block of pure native Upper Peninsula mass copper. When miners chiseled out multi-ton copper boulders from the deep shafts of the Keweenaw, specialized souvenir shops and university engineering departments would use industrial diamond saws to cut cross-sections from the raw metal to preserve these gorgeous, organic crystalline flow formations.
• The Typography: The face is deeply hand-stamped or machine-pressed with inverse block lettering reading: "MICHIGAN / TECH / HOUGHTON". The style of the lettering font indicates it was produced as an official university souvenir, engineering department keepsake, or alumni presentation piece.
• Dating the Piece: While Michigan Tech was originally founded in 1885 as the Michigan Mining School, it underwent several name changes. The text layout matches the era after it officially dropped "Michigan College of Mining and Technology" to become Michigan Technological University in 1964. Given its heavy industrial production style and classic aged warm-brown oxide patina, this piece dates from the mid-1960s to the 1970s.