Save Our Sky Blue Waters

Northern Minnesota's Waters and Forests Threatened by Sulfide Mining and Industrial Expansion

Located between the North Shore of Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Arrowhead Region is Minnesota's most loved recreation area and a place that millions visit for rejuvenation. This region faces an unprecedented industrial expansion that is certain to affect the qualities that draw people here. One of the worst threats from this expansion is from the mining of sulfide ores, a particularly harmful type of mining that has not been conducted in Minnesota before. PolyMet Mining's NorthMet Mine, located between Babbitt and Hoyt Lakes, is the first of what may become many sulfide mine proposals. (see PolyMet)

Acid Mine Drainage, PA-DEP

What is Sulfide Mining?

Sulfide ores are ores containing heavy metals (such as copper or nickel) that are bonded to sulfur, forming sulfide minerals. When exposed to air and moisture, a chemical reaction generates sulfuric acid that can leach into the surrounding environment and cause the release of the metals into streams and lakes at levels that are toxic to fish and other aquatic life. (See Video) This phenomenon is known as Acid Mine Drainage. In a surface mine like the one proposed by PolyMet, mining leaves huge piles of waste rock and a huge pit exposed to the elements. Like the ore that has been removed, the waste rock and the pit walls contain sulfide minerals. The potential for Acid Mine Drainage and for contamination of surface and ground water by heavy metals remains for centuries, and even millennia, into the future.

What is the track record for Sulfide Mining

Acid mine drainage has already polluted more than 12,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 180,000 acres of lakes and impoundments in the United States. According to the U.S. EPA, acid mine drainage from coal mining is the leading source of water pollution in the Mid-Atlantic States. Acid Mine Drainage from metal mines in Western states has caused some of the country's largest and most contaminated Superfund sites. Mining companies argue that modern mining methods can protect against Acid Mine Drainage, but they cannot point to a single mine that is more than a few years old that has not resulted in contamination. Because Acid Mine Drainage often takes several years to develop, recent mines that have not yet contaminated nearby waters do not provide proof that these ores can be mined safely.

State Mineral Lease Map

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image Explore Minnesota: Minerals MN Has Excellent Mineral Potential

Mining Interests are exploring for Metallic Sulfide Minerals Across All Of Minnesota

MN DNR Metallic minerals lease sale

Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI)

UMD's Precambrian Research Center

Iron Range Resources (formerly IRRRB)

PolyMet Mining

Glencore International AG (PolyMet JV)

Xstrata/ Falconbridge (Glencore JV)

Cleveland Cliffs, Inc. (PolyMet JV)

Kennecott Exploration (Rio Tinto)

Rio Tinto (Kennecott Parent)

Teck Cominco

Franconia Minerals

Lehmann Exploration, Inc (Franconia)

Beaver Bay Joint Venture ("BBJV"), North Central Mineral Ventures (Franconia)

Duluth Metals Limited

Antofagasta (Duluth Metals Limited JV)

Twin Metals (Duluth Metals- Antofagasta JV)

Wallbridge Mining Company (Parent of Duluth Metals Limited)

Encampment Minerals, Inc.

Prime Meridian Resources Corp

WMC Exploration Inc (BHP Billiton)

BHP Billiton

608457 B.C. LTD

Rainy River Resources Ltd (608457 B.C. LTD)

Platinex Inc.

RENDRAG; Gardner Management Services Inc (Yawkey Minerals Management LLC)

Superior Mineral Resources LLC

Solway Resources LLC

Minerals Processing Corporation (Aquila)

RGGS Land and Minerals Ltd (PolyMet Leases)

Cardero Resource Corporation

HTX Minerals Corporation

BARR Engineering-mining facilitators

*Note - Above is a partial list of those interested in Minnesota's metallic sulfide mineral potential

Click on image to see larger view of the "Duluth Complex" DNR

Mining Minnesota Links

News Archives

Minnesota's Mineral Lands Statutes

Minnesota's Mining Laws

MN Administrative Rules CHAPTER 6132 NON-FERROUS METALLIC MINERAL MINING

Mineral Rights Ownership in Minnesota

Public Land and Mineral Ownership in MN

2007 Minnesota Mining Tax Guide

State Owned Lands In MN by Land Type Map

Governor's Committee on MN's Mining Future

Governor's Committee on MN's Mining Future update - October 2008

Minnesota DNR Lands & Minerals: Publications

Minnesota DNR Preference rights lease list

Iron Range, Cities and Towns - Macalester

Laurentian Vision Partnership

The Minnesota Regional Copper-Nickel Study
Publisher: Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) 1976-1979

Index to the Minnesota Regional Copper-Nickel Study (5 MB)

Volume 1: Executive Summary 1976 (large file 8 MB)

Volume 3 - Chapter 4: Water Resources (very large file 24 MB)

Volume 3 - Chapter 5: Noise in the Environment (4 MB)

Volume 4 - Chapter 1: Aquatic Biology Resources (large file 11 MB)

Mining The World

Click on image to see larger view of Acid Mine Drainage in the Rio Tinto River (Spain)

ARSENIC AND CADMIUM PRESENCE IN AMD-AFFECTED RIVER WATERS

Environmental impact of mining activities in the Odiel river basin (SW Spain)

ABANDONED MINES Problems, Issues and Policy Challenges for Decision Makers-UN

The Earth's Open Wounds: Abandoned and Orphaned Mines

Mines,Minerals & PEOPLE is a growing alliance of individuals, institutions and communities who are concerned and affected by mining

FIGHTING BACK - At mines in Peru and Indonesia, Denver-based gold company Newmont faced bitter,sustained opposition and discovered

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive, Why Societies Collapse: Jared Diamond at Princeton University

Click on image to see larger view of Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy's (MCEA) Mineral Exploration Map of Northeastern Minnesota

Click on image to see: USFS Hardrock Mineral Exploration in the Superior National Forest

Duluth Complex of Northeastern Minnesota

Extensive and advanced exploration for copper-nickel sulfide mineralization is occurring throughout Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, as well as other parts of the state. Sulfide mining, if allowed, would threaten Minnesota's waters with toxic heavy metal contamination and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).

See Wikipedia "Duluth Complex" references linked HERE

Click on image to see: Western Lake Superior Region: Midcontinent Rift and known Ni-Cu-PGM Sulfide mineralization in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Source-USGS

Article Series

Seattle POST-INTELLIGENCER Reporters Special Report-The Mining Of The West

New York Times-Toxic Waters Series

Minneapolis - Fedgazette on Mining

High Country News - Mining

Mother Jones - Mining

National Geographic - Mining

Click on image to see larger view of Midcontinent Rift System

Lick Run Watershed-Pennsylvania Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) EPA

Fact Sheets

(1) PolyMet (2) Track Record

(3) Projects (4) MN Mining

Events & Happenings

Questions Linger in Aftermath of Pagami Creek Fire - by Elanne Palcich

Found HERE

Sulfide Mining Petitions

Keep Sulfuric Acid Out of Minnesota's Waters - Center For Biological Diversity

Minnesota Policymakers: Protect Our Waters, Wilderness & Jobs From Sulfide Mining

Protect Northeastern Minnesota Wilderness From Big Mining

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Events and Happenings archived here...

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!!! ACTION ALERTS !!!

AA! Federal Hardrock Mineral Prospecting Permit Draft EIS (EIS) - USFS

Broadscale analysis to address FS consent and BLM issuance of federal hardrock mineral prospecting permits and operating plans (present and future). Comment Period Closed

See More Here

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Streamlining Pollution in Minnesota by Elanne Palcich

"On March 3, 2011 Governor Dayton signed into law legislation designed to streamline the environmental review process for businesses and industries seeking permits to operate in Minnesota (House File 1, Senate File 42). This legislation directly fast-tracks proposed
copper-nickel mining in Minnesota." Here

Popping the PolyMet Propaganda Pill by Elanne Palcich

"PolyMet, Inc. is a Canadian company with Swiss ties that is currently undergoing environmental review as it seeks permitting to open the first copper-nickel sulfide mine in the state of Minnesota. Found HERE

Kawishiwi Building Disposition EA - The Forest Service is proposing to eliminate the historic Kawishiwi Research Station and "K" Lab near Ely and the BWCAW. The USFS Halfway Ranger Station Historic District, which includes the lands and buildings used by the Kawishiwi Research Lab, are slated to be demolished as well. The destruction of these Superior National Forest cultural and scientific landmarks, would pave the way for the impending sulfide mining projects located near the BWCAW.

SEE MORE HERE...

Kawishiwi Demolition: The Pen and the Bulldozer By Elanne Palcich

"The mine plan as presented on the Duluth Metals website puts the entrance to its proposed underground mine precisely in the location of the Kawishiwi Research Station."

READ IT HERE...

USFS Halfway Ranger Station Historic District and "K" Lab near Ely -2010 photo

PolyMet Update

PolyMet Fails "EPA has determined that PolyMet's NorthMet Project DEIS is; Environmentally Unsatisfactory and Inadequate... our review has identified adverse environmental impacts that are of sufficient magnitude that EPA believes the proposed action must not proceed as proposed." From the Department of the Interior "The anticipated environmental impacts of the proposed action are not fully and fairly addressed in the DEIS."

SEE MORE HERE...

News

MINING NEWS AND RELATED ARTICLES

!!! ALERT ARCHIVES!!!

AA! Proposed NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange EIS Scoping - The Superior National Forest is currently developing scoping materials for the land exchange portion of the PolyMet Mine Project. There is a 45 day comment period, which was noticed in the Federal Register: October 13, 2010 Comment Period Closed

See More HERE

AA! Send PolyMet To Summer School Closed

See More HERE

AA! PolyMet's NorthMet Mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) released. Public comment period ends at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Comment Period Closed

See More HERE

AA! Support the "Safe Mines To Protect Our Water" Bill. House Bill: HF0916; Senate Companion: SF0845 Withdrawn

See More Here

AA! Oppose Rep. Oberstar's HR 4292, Senators Klobuchar and Coleman's S 3411 Superior National Forest Land Adjustment Act of 2007-2008 Stalled

See More Here

Click on image or HERE to see larger view of Archived Drill Core and Data

MINING MINNESOTA - The purple dots on this image of Minnesota show drill cores, which indicate the extent to which mining companies are planning to conduct metallic sulfide mining operations in the state.