Operations began in 1715, making it the earliest copper mine in New Jersey and one of the oldest in the United States.

[9] Even though nothing remains of the mining operations above ground, the collapse of the underground shafts and tunnels caused damage as recently as 1989.

[14] In 1748, flooding in the mine led John Schuyler to order a Newcomen steam engine and pumping equipment from Jonathan Hornblower of Cornwall, England.

Instead of buying steam engines from England, the owners set up a foundry and machine shop in nearby Belleville.

[19] Minor amounts of gold and silver were also produced from the copper ore.[20][21] The mine is located in the shales and sandstones of the Passaic Formation where a Triassic diabase sill has intruded.