Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle
St. Govor’s Well.
St. Govor’s Well
Shivsrushti
Pierced domes of Hammam Seffarine.
Hammam Seffarine
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.
Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?
3 days ago
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
3 days ago
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
4 days ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Michigan Crystal Falls Lake Ellen Kimberlite

Lake Ellen Kimberlite

Reason for Michigan's potential diamond mine.

Crystal Falls, Michigan

Added By
Daniel P.
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Lake Ellen Kimberlite. (Creative Commons)   http://www.dayooper.com/michigandiamonds.htm
Lake Ellen Kimberlite. (Creative Commons)   http://www.dayooper.com/michigandiamonds.htm
Lake Ellen Kimberlite. (Creative Commons)   http://www.dayooper.com/michigandiamonds.htm
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located along a logging road that runs through private property just west of Lake Ellen in Michigan, an 18-acre exposure of tuffaceous kimberlite breccia is driving the locals wild. This is one of the few occurrences of Kimberlite in the entire United States and micro diamonds have been known to be located in the deposit in addition to small, rounded red pyrope garnets and magnesium limenite of gem quality.

Discovered in 1971, it's not known whether or not this piece of Kimberlite would be worth mining in a traditional manner. The micro diamonds buried inside of it could be more trouble than they're worth.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Geological Oddities Geology Nature

Know Before You Go

Because the lake is on private land, there is no public access. In eastern Iron County, Michigan, between Michigamme Reservoir and Lake Ellen and Little Lake Ellen.

Community Contributors

Added By

Sculptor

Edited By

nbj914

  • nbj914

Published

May 30, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • Mindat: Lake Ellen Kimberlite Prospect, Lake Ellen, Iron Co., Michigan, USA: http://www.mindat.org/loc-28944.html
  • Da Yooper's Rockhounds Guide To Michigan Diamonds: http://www.dayooper.com/michigandiamonds.htm
Lake Ellen Kimberlite
Lake Ellen
Crystal Falls, Michigan, 49920
United States
46.165632, -88.134027
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Humongous Fungus Fest

Crystal Falls, Michigan

miles away

Badwater Ski-Ters

Florence, Wisconsin

miles away

Pine Mountain 500

Iron Mountain, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Crystal Falls

Crystal Falls

Michigan

Places 2

Nearby Places

Humongous Fungus Fest

Crystal Falls, Michigan

miles away

Badwater Ski-Ters

Florence, Wisconsin

miles away

Pine Mountain 500

Iron Mountain, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Crystal Falls

Crystal Falls

Michigan

Places 2

Related Places

  • Winona, Missouri

    Rocky Falls

    A 40-foot waterfall flows into this unique natural swimming hole.

  • Slumgullion mass wasting area

    Lake City, Colorado

    Slumgullion Earthflow

    This National Natural Landmark is one of the best examples of a “mass wasting” in the world.

  • Looking Glass Rock seen from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

    Brevard, North Carolina

    Looking Glass Rock

    This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.

  • Sasso Menicante on Monte Cimino

    Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

    Sasso Menicante (Trembling Stone)

    This massive rock balanced for thousands of years being tossed here during a volcanic eruption.

  • Macquarie Island lengthwise, the research station at center.

    Australia

    Macquarie Island

    One of the only places where Earth’s mantle lies above water.

  • Bonhomme de Bourail

    Bourail, New Caledonia

    Bonhomme de Bourail

    A beachside monolith shaped by years of waves crashing against hard quartz.

  • The metal pillars aligned to form the Old Man’s face

    Franconia, New Hampshire

    Old Man of the Mountain Profiler Plaza

    A serene plaza that commemorates one of the Granite State's most iconic figures.

  • The salt lake becomes colorful in warm temperatures because of algae growth

    Yuncheng, China

    Yuncheng Salt Lake

    Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.