As if the legal cancellation of oil and gas leases wasn’t bad enough, Brandon et al., 2021-2022 is now canceling mining leases that could lead to an increase in domestic production of “metals.” copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum groups” needed for wind turbines, EV batteries, and all the other Unicorns they believe can replace fossil fuels. For example, here are the mineral resources needed to manufacture a smartphone:
The mining contracts were canceled as part of the massive mineral resource extraction project of the Maturi mine in the Duluth complex.
The Duluth Complex is a world-class copper-nickel resource rich in cobalt and platinum group metals.
Twin Metals Minnesota’s Mine Operations Plan (MPO) is “the culmination of a decade of engineering research, environmental research and community engagement work.”
Our plan to do this right.
We at Twin Metals Minnesota are proud to have formally proposed our world-class copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metal mining project in the 21st century for environmental consideration. This is the first step to ensuring that mining will be done safely in northeast Minnesota.
Long time no see.
The submission of our Mine Action Plan (MPO) to United States Bureau of Land Administration (BLM), and submit Environmental Scope Assessment (SEAW) data to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), is the culmination of a decade of engineering, environmental and community research.
Where is as important as why.
The proposed project site is located between the cities of Ely and Babbitt – an area long-lived by mining. It is located in an area that has been designated for logging, logging, and other commercial activities in the U.S. Forest Service’s Senior National Forest Plan. The project is located outside the Wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, as well as the federal and state mining exclusion zones around BWCAW.
We will be targeting minerals in the Maturi deposit, part of the Duluth complex geological system. It is one of the largest undeveloped mineral deposits in the world, with more than 4.4 billion tons of ore containing copper, nickel and other strategic minerals.
The submission of MPO and SEAW data begins a multi-year environmental assessment that will thoroughly evaluate our proposal. The review process will include additional baseline data collection, impact analysis, and numerous opportunities for public comment.
We look forward to this process and continuing conversations with regulators, tribal governments, and the public, because at the end of the day, we all want what’s best for Minnesota.
We know this land.
We have studied it for many years.Over the course of a decade, we have studied Maturi deposits in great detail. To date, our core storage facility holds about 1.5 million feet of core samples from the mine — about half a million feet of additional core samples have been sent to state storage facilities.
After mineral resource characterization, many years of process panel engineering work led to initial concept and feasibility studies. The project design we have today minimizes potential impacts in areas of water, wetland, noise, dust, light and visual contamination.
Specific examples include:
* The overall scale of the project is only 15-20% compared to a traditional open pit mine.
* The mine will process 20,000 tons of ore per day.
* Mining will take place between 400 and 4,500 feet below the surface.
* The ore treatment will remove most of the sulfide minerals. Therefore, tailings ore waste will not generate acid rock drainage (ARD).
* Up to 50% of the waste ore will be removed from the surface storage, and will instead be used as a filler in the underground mine.
* Waste stored on the surface will be dehydrated and compacted, aka dry matter.
* Adoption of dry ore waste management approach will reduce surface impact by about 35% and impact on wetland by about 65%, compared with conventional sludge ore waste storage.
* The dry stack facility will be gradually lined and rehabilitated with native soil and vegetation.
* The project will not discharge process water and is designed to not require contact flushing. The water used in the mineral concentration process will be reused on site.
* No waste rock is stored on the surface, eliminating a potential source of ARD.
* The ore crushing will be carried out underground, limiting surface impact, dust and noise.
* There will be no mining operations under the Birch Lake reservoir.
* After the mine closes, most of its infrastructure will be dismantled and the surface area restored.
Our plan is yours to read.
Whenever possible, we strive to maintain an open dialogue with community members, stakeholders and agencies.
We look forward to this process and continuing conversations with regulators, tribal governments, and the public, because at the end of the day, we all want what’s best for Minnesota.
- A world-class mineral resource rich in metals essential for the “energy transition”.
- A meticulously handcrafted plan of action, completely transparent.
- Located within the continental United States, ensuring access to strategic minerals.
What’s not to like about this? Obviously the fact that it’s located here in the United States and will really put America first, is what Governor Harris-Biden doesn’t like about it…
Biden administration cancels Twin Metals mine lease for mining near BWCA
Dan Kraker Duluth January 27, 2022The Biden administration has canceled two federal mineral leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota, dealing a fatal blow to the company’s efforts to build copper, nickel and precious metals underground.
Those leases, located along Lake Birch in the Superior National Forest, about 7 miles east of Ely and just south of BWCA, were crucial to Twin Metals’ plans. They are required to give the company access to valuable minerals underground.
The Interior Department acted after determining that leases were improperly extended by the Trump administration in 2019.
[…]
In a statementTwin Metals called the announcement “disappointing, but not surprising given the series of actions the administration has taken to try to shut down copper-nickel mining in northeastern Minnesota.”
“We will challenge this attempt to stop our project and protect our existing valid mineral rights. The company added.
[…]
In a separate effort, The Biden administration has also proposed a 20-year moratorium about new copper-nickel mining proposals in the Boundary Waters basin, in the same area that Twin Metals wants to dig. The government says it is taking that step because of the pollution risk that mining poses to Boundary Waters.
Mining advocates say that effort, combined with the cancellation of the Twin Metals lease, has prevented projects that could provide the critical metal needed for wind turbines and electric car batteries.
“The Biden administration is running out of words,” said Frank Ongaro, executive director of Mining Minnesota.
“On the one hand, they want important domestic minerals for a supply chain to address climate change. And on the other hand, it is locking us out of much of the US supply of these metals. That is extremely hypocritical.”
[…]
The race to convert #clean energy (and its minerals) has begun
Any questions?
Well… Brandon?
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