Mesabi Iron Range/ Duluth Complex

[tdbowieknife]

Mining needs electrical power and more mines will be coming on line...

http://www.businessnorth.com/briefing.asp?RID=6353

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[tdbowieknife]

So, what's happening with mining on Range?

Lots of production and planning.

So, what's happening with mining on Range?


Minntac mining operation

There’s a lot of activity going on at all Iron Range taconite plants, the innovative Magnetation business that is producing concentrate from iron ore waste going back 100 years and at companies currently in development for copper/nickel/precious metals ventures.

Here we take a snapshot look in a roundup of mining on the Iron Range. This feature will be a regular page of all future MINE editions.

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ESSAR STEEL MINNESOTA:

The past year for Essar Steel Minnesota has been a slow moving machine as the company works toward the development of a new facility outside of Nashwalk. In July, 2013, the Hibbing Daily Tribune featured an article on the benefits of the location on the west end of the Iron Range, including what advantages such a project would have for the mining industry in northern Minnesota. At the time, the facility was slated to be open by June 2014.

A couple weeks later, it was announced that the Essar Steel plant opening would be delayed, though it would still be operational in the second half of 2014, and that pellets would be out for distribution by early 2015.

In May 2014, Essar closed on $450 million in bond sales for the Nashwalk plant, and is still currently processing the bond paperwork and ensuring the conditions of the bonds are met. A timeline for operations won’t be made public until the bond sales are fully processed.

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TWIN METALS:

• Twin Metals Minnesota (TMM) is pursuing the development and operation of an underground mining project in northeastern Minnesota, seeking to recover copper, nickel, gold, silver, and platinum and palladium (PGM) mineral resources.

• TMM is focusing its efforts on the potential mining of the Maturi and Maturi SW mineral deposits, located approximately 15 miles to the southeast of Ely, and 10 miles to the northeast of Babbitt. The Maturi and Maturi SW deposits are located within the Duluth Complex, one of the largest untapped sources of copper, nickel and PGM resources in the world.

• TMM is nearing completion of its Prefeasibility Study (PFS), an internal effort focused on refining mineral resource estimates, narrowing options for underground mine development and potential future mine operations, and selecting a “preferred option” to move forward for further detailed study and design. Completion of the PFS is an important milestone in eventually proposing a detailed “Mine Plan of Operations” to state and federal regulatory agencies for environmental review and permitting.

• TMM currently has approximately 40 employees with offices in Ely and St. Paul.

• To date, TMM has invested more than $250 million in exploration and project development activities, supporting more than 100 direct, consultant and contractor jobs within Minnesota.

• TMM is a joint venture company, 60 percent owned by Duluth Metals Ltd. and 40 percent by Antofagasta PLC.

• TMM received Finance and Commerce’s 2012 Progress Minnesota award, which recognizes companies that are driving business growth and development in Minnesota in unique and innovative ways.

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POLYMET:

Q. Thoughts on the SDEIS process still in comment review; total number of comments and when they are expected to be finished?

A. The Department of Natural Resources and co-lead agencies are sorting through the approximately 55,000 comments they received during the 90-day public comment period and is beginning to address them. While they have not yet provided a timeline for completion of the EIS, PolyMet anticipates the document will be finalized by the end of this year. According to PolyMet: “We expect the DNR to provide a schedule for finalization of the EIS sometime this summer. The good news is that there does not appear to be any surprises or new information in the comments that would require additional work on our part that would lead to delays. We’re doing everything we can to support the process and keep it moving forward.”

Q. What is PolyMet doing as far as getting prepared for going operational?

A. In addition to supporting the finalization of the EIS, PolyMet Mining is talking with financial institutions in preparation for obtaining the capital that will be needed to build the mine and processing facilities. “We’re also conducting pre-engineering work so we’re ready to start building as soon as we have permits in hand. The plans for how we’re going to manage that capital, order and schedule materials, hire and manage contractors and attend to all the details that are associated with building a project of this size and complexity are all in the works right now.”

Q. Update on timelines and whether they’ve changed.

A. “It’s difficult to provide a timeline because we do not control the schedule for when the environmental review will be completed,” according to PolyMet. “But we believe the environmental review will be completed by the end of this year and permitting finished by mid-year 2015. We would then begin construction, which is expected to be about 15 months. We continue to make good and steady progress.”

Q. Total investment at this point and how much for environmental review.

A. As of April 30, 2014 PolyMet had spent a total of $67 million on costs associated with environmental review and permitting out of a total of $205 million since 2006.

Q. Any additional comments regarding employees and hiring.

A. “We are humbled by the numerous applications and resumés we’ve received from men and women who want to work at PolyMet. We’re doing everything we can to get to a point where we can start hiring them, unfortunately, that’s still many months off as we work through finalization of the EIS and then permitting. We are keeping all the applications on file and look forward to the day when we can start putting people to work.”

Q. General comments.

A. “This continues to be a great project that will bring economic benefit to the region by producing essential metal we all use every day all while meeting Minnesota’s strict environmental standards. We are very grateful for all the support we have received as we work our way through the environmental review and permitting process.”

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CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES:

The company does not provide specific production numbers on its plants on the Iron Range.

However, spokeswoman Jennifer Huetter said Northshore Mining, United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite are all on schedule for the year.

Northshore received the Cliffs President’s Safety Award for its 2013 performance. “Safety is the number one core value at Cliffs, so to receive recognition for safety performance is reflective of the commitment put forth by Northshore employees,” Huetter said in an email.

Julie Lucas, environmental manager at Hibbing Taconite, received SME’s Minerals Education Coalition Leadership Award.

Julie Varichak, senior mine engineer for Cliffs North American Iron Ore, received the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce’s Range Young Professional Award.

And Cliffs Natural Resources was awarded the Pro Patria Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

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MESABI NUGGET:

• Steel Dynamics Inc., is the majority owner (81 percent) of Mesabi Nugget.

• First product produced in January of 2010.

• Employs new technology and is the only facility in the world that manufactures iron nuggets.

• Uses Mining Resources concentrate to produce high purity, metallic iron nuggets that are perfectly suited for use in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) — ushering in a “New Age of Iron for Minnesota’s Iron Range.”

• Reclaiming previously abandoned natural ore tailings to produce concentrate for use in a value-added iron product that services the growing part of the steel industry — the Electric Arc Furnace segment of the industry.

• The EAF segment for the steel industry comprises nearly two-thirds of the U.S. steel industry. Mesabi Nugget is the only Iron Range company that can supply that steel-making segment.

• Plant availability and production rates continue to improve — 2010: 75,000 metric tons; 2011: 156,000 metric tons ; 2012: 178,000 metric tons; 2013: 214,000 metric tons.

• Current focus is to improve the overall cost structure by reducing raw material consumption rates and improving product yield.

• Recently completed a maintenance outage to make further investments in the facility and to allow for further cost-reduction activities.

• More than 130 current full-time employees.

• This past March, Mesabi Nugget received a Certificate of Commendation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the performance of the wastewater treatment facility recognizing its efforts to help protect and preserve the waters of Minnesota.

• Employees at Mesabi Nugget and Mining Resources and their parent company, Steel Dynamics, have been significant contributors to the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota. Employees contributed more than $62,000 in 2013; the companies matched their generosity, resulting in a total contribution just shy of $125,000.

• Strong donations/contributor to the United Way’s Arctic Splash event last March. Mesabi Nugget and Mining Resources were the top two donation contributors.

• Mesabi Nugget is hiring, currently seeking entry level operators, electricians, mechanical engineers, and warehouse clerks. Visit www.mesabinuggetmn.com to submit a resumé.

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KEETAC:

Production at Keewatin Taconite is progressing as would be expected at this time of year, according to Courtney A. Boone, manager of media relations for United States Steel Corporation.

Specific numbers of how far into this year’s production aren’t available, as U.S. Steel only provides annual numbers.

There are currently no new projects underway at Keetac nor has U.S. Steel announced any new projects, said Boone.

While Keetac has earned safety awards in past years, the facility and its employees have not received any this year, she said.

Keetac was awarded the Sentinels of Safety Award in 2013 by the National Mining Association (NMA) for achieving outstanding safety performance.

It was also recognized in the large open pit category for its 2012 safety record and received an internal award, the Chief Executive Officer’s Safety Award, in 2013 in recognition of its safety record.

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MAGNETATION:

During the last year, both major and minor strides have been made by Magnetation as the company progresses in taconite reprocessing on the Iron Range.

Using magnetic separation technology, Magnetation has created a new business that captures the iron ore particles from the waste of previous mining operations.

In September 2013, a partnership was formed with the Itasca Gun Club so that Magnetation could begin work on Plant 4 in Coleraine. The gun club received a $10,000 donation from Magnetation President Matt Lehtinen to assist in its relocation.

Besides displacing the Itasca Gun Club, the location of Plant 4 is also over a small portion of the Mesabi Trail. At its own expense, the mining company is having the trail rerouted to keep it usable.

In a letter to the editor that ran in the Grand Rapids Herald-Review on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, representatives of Get Fit Itasca commended Magnetation for its effort to maintain the Mesabi Trail to preserve recreation in the area.

The building of Plant 4, for which ground was broken in May, will employ as many as 500 workers during peak construction season during the summer. Overlooking the Canisteo Pit, the plant, otherwise known as Mag 4, will take advantage of the leftover ore from nearly two dozen mines that were in operation at the pit.

Reynolds Ind., will be the location of Magnetation’s iron ore pellet plant. Grand Rapids-based Northern Industrial Erectors (NIE) was awarded the job of erecting the steel for the new plant, whose site was chosen based on regulation expediency and proximity to AK Steel blast furnaces in Ohio and Kentucky.

http://www.virginiamn.com/mine/so-what-s-happening-with-mining-on-range/article_6666cb38-fca7-11e3-9d3a-0019bb2963f4.html


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[tdbowieknife]

Minnesota For Mining....

http://minnesota4mining.wordpress.com/

[tdbowieknife]

Two important scientific studies, from the University of California, Berkley, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, provide scientific evidence that waters with elevated levels of iron significantly reduce mercury methylation, which is harmful to humans and animals, while reducing the sulfides that inhibit growth of wild rice seedlings.

Iron: The Elephant in the River:


“Reduction of Net Mercury Methylation by Iron... Implications for Engineered Wetlands” published in Vol. 37, No.13, 2003 Environmental Science & Technology provides extremely detailed research, conducted both in test tubes and sediment, that mercury methylation actually decreases with increasing concentrations of iron. The researchers write, “These experiments provide evidence that the concentration of (iron), a variable not previously c! onsidered in mercury methylation studies, influences the extent of net (mercury) methylation.” More recently, the March 2014 publication MPCA Wild Rice Sulfate Standard Study Preliminary Analysis revealed that water iron levels greater than 1 milligram per liter bonds to sulfide, making it nontoxic to wild rice. The MPCA testing revealed whopping levels of 8.0 to 84.6 mg/L of iron are present in waters throughout the proposed future copper/precious metals mining area in northeastern Minnesota.


Updated Environmental Standards are Needed for Iron Range:


In 1999, Minnesota’s Department of Health published the fact sheet Sulfate in Well Water, which recommends a sulfate limit of 400 milligrams per liter for water used in infant formula, but sets a 10mg/L in wild rice waters. According to the MPCA, no other state has this wild rice water standard.


In the absence of iron, bacteria in sediment can convert 10 mg/L of sulfate into about 150 micrograms per lite! r of sulfide and begin to affect the growth of wild rice seedlings .


However, with new scientific evidence that sufficient iron makes sulfide non-toxic, the MPCA notes, “Considerable data suggest that in some cases the development of a site-specific standard would be protective of wild rice production.”


The MPCA study even contains a chemical formula that determines the level of sulfate needed to overwhelm the ability of iron to precipitate harmful sulfides from wild rice waters, which can be used to establish water sulfate standards based on regional levels of iron content.


In a recent Star Tribune article, Kathryn Hoffman, an attorney with nonprofit law firm Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said the state’s environmental standard remains in place because the state’s research supports it. “And this is science,” she said. “Not democracy.”


This IS science, chemistry to be more exact.


The 10mg/L sulfate standard is d! efensible in waters that contain no iron content. But Ms. Hoffman appears to ignore the scientific evidence that invalidates her organization’s steadfast opposition to precious metals mining. Iron range waters are loaded with iron.


Updating our wild rice sulfate standards will benefit towns in northeast Minnesota whose water treatment facilities cannot meet the current standard. Chris Vreeland, a Hoyt Lakes city councilor, in a recent WDIO interview explained, “I managed a waste water treatment facility for 33 years, and we always had issues with sulfates. We learned today that it could cost $130 per household if we have to build a reverse osmosis plant to treat the water further.”


There is sufficient scientific evidence to support the contention that precious metals mining in the iron-rich Minnesota arrowhead region can be done without harming wild rice. PolyMet Mining explains on their website how protecting wild rice is important to them because wild rice is sacre! d to tribes who live in the region.


Twin Metals recently published its proposal for revitalizing Minnesota’s mining industry for at least 100 years while protecting the environment.


Based on this new scientific evidence , Gov. Dayton should direct MPCA to update Minnesota’s antiquated and unreasonable “one-size-fits-all” 1973 wild rice sulfate standard.


Updated regulations will ensure the environment is protected. The enormous tax benefits of mining an estimated $3 trillion in copper and precious metals will pay for improving our schools, our roads and many other projects important to voters.


For Minnesota, this IS a Win-Win Scenario.


Harlan Christensen


Inver Grove Heights, Minn.


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Harlan Christensen is a PolyMet Shareholder, formerly of Duluth who resides in the Twin Cities.


http://www.virginiamn.com/opinion/letters/polymet-win-win-scenario-for-state/article_a04ebdd2-de3a-11e3-bf48-0019bb2963f4.html

[tdbowieknife]

New player...

Teck watching, and waiting: With an eye on PolyMet permitting process, and global markets, region's third copper-nickel mining venture takes shape near city of Babbitt

http://www.elyecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=12959

[cheme3093]

Hi there, I am with a new grass-roots pro-mining group called Citizens for Responsible Mining in Minnesota. Please join our group of the same name on Facebook for developments, action alerts, petitions, information, and discussions on mining in Minnesota. Hopefully we can grow this group to represent the overwhelming public support for responsible mining that is currently underrepresented.

[tdbowieknife]

It's time for the dirt to fly with the copper miners of Minnesota.


By Rolf Westgard, for the News Tribune

In 2010, we humans extracted and burned about 15 billion tons of coal, oil and natural gas. That was the equivalent of 4,200 pounds for every person on Earth. We put more than 30 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Nature passed over Minnesota on its way to states like North Dakota and Texas, where it placed the sedimentary basins in which fossil fuels formed. Minnesota was not totally forgotten, and we got minerals such as iron ore and the nonferrous group of copper, nickel, cobalt, palladium, platinum, etc. We’ve dug up most of the iron.

But nestled in a band, meandering along the Archean granite of the Iron Range, is a world-class, undisturbed deposit of nonferrous metals worth billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

Total world annual production of these metals is just 30 pounds or so per person, and their demand and price are rising. Manufacturing wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, catalytic converters and smart-grid power lines requires copper, nickel, cobalt, palladium and platinum.

The state of Minnesota owns more than 6,000 acres of land in the region, and it stands to collect $2.5 billion in royalties in the coming decades if mining proceeds. This state property is known as “school trust lands.” Under the Minnesota Constitution, income from such lands is earmarked for the Permanent School Fund, which now contributes about $60 per pupil to every school district. An analysis by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources projected that the school fund, with assets of $720 million, could more than triple in size with copper royalties over 25 to 30 years.

Two mining ventures have long-term, federal and state government leases to mine those metals. The largest venture is the open-pit NorthMet Project by PolyMet Corp. of Canada with its partner, the big Swiss metals company Glencore. This project expects annual metal production of 38,800 tons of copper, 9,000 tons of nickel, 400 tons of cobalt, 22,200 ounces of platinum, 87,100 ounces of palladium, and 13,800 ounces of gold.

The other mine is the underground Nokomis Project, a partnership of Duluth Metals of Canada, Twin Metals Minnesota LLC and Chile’s Antofagasta, the world’s largest copper producer.

Environmentalists are lined up in opposition to these projects, viewing them as a serious threat to water quality. The issue is that these ores are reactive sulfide minerals. When mined, the sulfur comes in contact with water and oxygen, forming sulfuric acid. This acid can then dissolve and carry away toxic elements, polluting water supplies in a process known as acid rock drainage.

In the past, acidic, metal-rich waters from mining have damaged the environment when mining companies did not follow safe practices. Today, mining companies have to be good stewards of the environment, and our laws are made to ensure this happens.

At Ladysmith, Wis., in the 1990s, Kennecott operated an open-pit, copper-sulfide mine 140 feet from the Flambeau River. During the mining operation, all of the surface-area drainage and pit-pumping water went into a treatment plant that successfully purified the water so it could be safely returned to the environment. Upon closure, to avoid acid rock drainage, the pit was backfilled with the waste rock that had been stripped from the pit along with 30,000 tons of limestone. Limestone was added as an ingredient to neutralize any acid rock drainage that formed while the pit was exposed. There were no violations of permits in construction, operation or closure. These are the kinds of practices that are required in Minnesota.

Project advocates include U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and area mayors who want quality jobs for the depressed Iron Range.

The 714-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the NorthMet Project from the Minnesota DNR and the U.S. Corps of Engineers confirmed good practices, and generally is positive about the project. It states that if all commitments are met, there would be no serious impact on the environment. The following quote from the draft statement on the Partridge River applies to the total area involved: “Therefore, even using relatively conservative assumptions, the Proposed Action is not predicted to result in any exceedances of surface water quality standards for the Partridge River at the modeled locations.”

It is time for the dirt to fly.

Rolf Westgard of St. Paul is a professional member of the Geological Society of America and teaches classes on energy for the University of Minnesota Lifelong Learning program. He wrote this exclusively for the News Tribune.


http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/210846/group/opinion/

[tdbowieknife]

Mining Subcabinet Set Up

Gov. Dayton directed four commissioners to devise a plan
following jobs forum in Virginia; they quickly responded.

By BILL HANNA
Executive Editor - Mesabi Daily News (09/16/11)

ST. PAUL — A subcabinet on mining has been created as directed by
Gov. Mark Dayton. “It will not be a ceremonial group. It will be hands-on with mining development projects and will report directly to the governor,” Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board Commissioner Tony Sertich said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

Dayton heard from several people at an economic development forum in Virginia on Tuesday that delays on mining projects are frustrating developers and investors and keeping payroll checks from being earned in a more timely fashion for workers.

Sertich said Dayton, whose campaign mantra was “jobs, jobs, jobs,” turned to him during the forum and said he wanted to work immediately on the issue. He wasted no time. A conference call was set up on Wednesday and continued Thursday with Sertich and
Commissioners Paul Aasen of the Pollution Control Agency, Tom
Landwehr of the Department of Natural resources and Mark Phillips of the Department of Employment and Economic Development. They form the mining subcabinet.

They will decide soon on a point person hired in that new position. That person will:
• Make sure the agencies that deal with mining issues are hitting their deadlines.
• Keep lines of communication open with federal agencies involved and ensure there is state and federal coordination on projects.
• Make sure the mining subcabinet is hitting its marks for the governor.

“There will now be a single point of contact for mining companies and developers to go to,” Sertich said. IRRRB official Brian Hiti, who currently deals with community development and mining issues at the agency, will start right away as the point person until a permanent hire is in place, Sertich said. “The IRRRB will be taking the lead,” Sertich said.

The Iron Range taconite mining industry currently has upgrades
underway at plants, and new projects ranging from an Essar Minnesota mineto-steelmaking venture on the West Range to several copper/nickel/precious metals initiatives on the East Range.

What has triggered the most debate and controversy has been the PolyMet nonferrous project slated for the former LTV Mining Co. plant near Hoyt Lakes. That venture, which is being fought
by preservationist groups, has now had more than six years of environmental review. Yet it remains in the supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement phase. The project would create 360 permanent jobs, hundreds more spin-off positions and 1.5 million hours of construction work.

“Job number one will be to look at where all the projects are currently at. A key piece will be our relationships with
federal regulations,” Sertich said. The IRRRB commissioner said
“everybody’s fully on board and supportive of our recommendations to the governor,” referring to all members of the subcabinet.

“The expectation is that the government needs to work well. We’re
not predisposing the outcomes. But we are saying that if we say we’re going to do something, then we’ll do it,” Sertich said. “With big developments there are so many layers of government involved. We need somebody committed to see the whole picture.”

Sertich had high praise for the governor’s decision to move quickly on the mining issue. “I think this is a positive step
forward. It shows commitment to making sure these projects meet
deadlines and timelines. It shows Gov. Dayton’s leadership to solve problems.

He is solutions-oriented to get jobs done. “He said get me a plan. That’s the sign of a good leader,” the commissioner said.

[tdbowieknife]

More Exploration in the Duluth Complex.


On the hunt for copper and other valuable metals, five exploration companies hope to prospect on 44,000 acres of the Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area over the next two decades.

The details of their plans are described in a draft environmental review released last week by the U.S. Forest Service, which is seeking public comments on it.

If ore is discovered, it could bring new mining projects to the national forest -- a prospect that worries environmentalists and has been cheered by economic development officials in northern Minnesota.

The exploration is driven by high metal prices and hopes of finding copper, nickel, platinum and other ores in the heart of a geological formation called the Duluth Complex in Minnesota's Arrowhead region. If all 44,000 acres are explored, it would represent more than double the area previously prospected in the formation, industry officials said.

"Very little of the Duluth Complex has been explored," said geologist Ernest Lehmann, whose company is among five planning to look deeper into the formation using core-drilling rigs and other techniques.

For decades, geologists have been finding copper and other metals south of Babbitt and Ely, Minn., on the edge of the complex. That's where PolyMet Mining Corp. is proposing an open-pit mine, and Twin Metals LLC is considering an underground mine. Past exploration for metals in the interior of the formation hasn't been fruitful, Lehmann said.

"That doesn't mean it isn't there," said Lehmann, who estimated the odds of finding mineable ore at 100 to 1, which he considers good.

Geologists are armed with better data about the complex, said Dean Peterson, senior vice president for exploration at Duluth Metals Ltd., which is seeking permits to prospect on 16,500 acres of the forest.

"We have better chances than in the past, but it is still a high-risk business," he said.

Encampment Resources, based in Atlanta, wants to prospect on 18,100 acres of the forest. Twin Metals, a joint venture with Duluth Metals, is interested in 5,700 acres, and Prime Meridian of Calgary, Alberta, has applied to explore 720 acres. Lehmann Exploration applied for 3,140 acres.

All have waited five years for Superior National Forest to complete its first environmental study of prospecting. It found no major problems, and estimated that prospecting would temporarily disturb about 186 acres a year. Drilling rigs would need up to 860 miles of temporary roads over 20 years, and drill noise could reach some BWCA campers, the study found.

Environmental groups say mining in sulfide ores poses a pollution risk to waters leading to Lake Superior and the BWCA, a subject not included in the prospecting review.

"It is by far the biggest environmental concern in the state right now," said Marc Fink, a Duluth attorney who pressed the Superior National Forest to conduct the prospecting review while on the staff of the nonprofit Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. He now works for the Center for Biological Diversity, which has challenged the PolyMet project.

Industry officials say prospecting has gone on in the region for 60 years without damaging the forest. Each drill site must be separately approved by the forest service, and roads must be blocked off with downed trees after drills pull out. If a mine eventually is proposed, the project would be studied extensively.

Bill Travis, president of Idea Drilling of Virginia, Minn., said the company's 14 core-drilling rigs already are "basically running at 100 percent capacity" at other explorations in the region. The company has ordered three more rigs, which are quieter than older models, and plans to buy more, he said. Employment is up 50 percent to 100 workers, he added.

Companies that find ore under prospecting permits are not guaranteed a mining lease.

"We have a decision in the future, which is kind of a risk on the companies' part," said Loretta Cartner, a Forest Service geologist who headed the study. "They are spending all this money on exploration, but they are not guaranteed they can move to a lease."

Cartner said the environmental study should be completed by the end of the year. Permits could be issued after that, unless the agency's actions are appealed or challenged in court, she said.

David Shaffer • 612-673-7090


http://www.startribune.com/business/119811144.html

[tdbowieknife]

Looks like a done deal.

http://www.startribune.com/business/117332758.html

[tdbowieknife]

Duluth Metals to buy Franconia

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Duluth-Metals-and-Franconia-ccn-805340965.html?x=0&.v=1

[tdbowieknife]

Nice Article:

http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/article_72d20e90-0594-11e0-84dc-001cc4c03286.html

[tdbowieknife]

Kent Kaiser says it very well.

Link:

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/110490874.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUvDEhiaE3miUsZ

[tdbowieknife]

Nice Artical, Let's show them how it is done.

Link:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/16/miller/

[tdbowieknife]

Started building iBox. Check it out.

[tdbowieknife]

Yes, they do. Recent drill results.

Link:

http://www.cardero.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=416871&_Type=News&_Title=Cardero-Intersects-Massive-Iron-Titanium-And-Copper-Mineralization-At-Titac...

[potentiallydangerous]

Doesn't Cardero have an iron-titanium deposit in Minnesota?

[tdbowieknife]

China's appetite for copper

Link:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/number-cruncher/junior-producers-likely-to-benefit-from-chinas-appetite-for-copper/article1707675/

[deniseann]

Great post.

denise.

[tdbowieknife]

The Mesabi Iron range is coming back to life. And a new resource in the area is about to come alive, the Duluth Complex. With Polymet mining in the lead , Duluth Metals and Franconia minerals not to far behind.