Mineweb reported on progress being made by Duluth Metals, holder of perhaps the biggest position on the Duluth Complex which is reckoned to host one of the world's largest undeveloped repositories of copper, nickel and PGMs including the world's third largest accumulation of nickel sulphides and one of the world's largest accumulations of polymetallic copper and platinum group metals.
However by far the most advanced project development there is that of PolyMet Mining which has effectively been paving the way for the companies following behind in terms of geological data, metallurgical testing and now has published its draft Environmental Impact Statement on its NorthMet mining project, the next stage in developing a mine in this exciting area of the US. Altogether including PolyMet and Duluth Metals there are 4 prospective major mine developments in prospect on the Complex.
In effect the Polymet draft EIS becomes the start of the public comment period on its NorthMet project. US Federal rules require a minimum of 45 day public comment period. As lead Agencies covering the state and federal aspects of any development, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers have decided on 90 day public comment period ending at 4:30PM on February 3rd 2010. PolyMet is confident that the duration of the public comment period will affect its expectation of 6 month to 9 month process to complete permitting for what will be one of the most important new mine developments in the US for some years.
While there is bound to be some environmental opposition to the project no new mine can get by in the US without this in general the local population is thought to be very much in favor of this and the other potential mining projects in the area. The decline of taconite mining in this part of Minnesota means that it has a very mining aware population suffering very high unemployment levels and perhaps importantly for the developers, there is a potentially highly skilled available workforce.
PolyMet itself is a publicly traded mine development company that controls 100% of the NorthMet copper nickel precious metals ore body through a long term lease. It also owns the Erie Plant, a large originally taconite processing facility located approximately 6 miles from the ore body which would be converted to process the NorthMet ore making this part of the project a brown fields rather than a green fields, redevelopment. PolyMet has completed its definitive feasibility study and is thus seeking the necessary environmental and operating permits to enable it to commence production. The NorthMet project is expected to require approximately 1.5 million man hours of construction labor and create at least 400 long term jobs, a level of activity which the company reckons will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.
The PolyMet project is surrounded by former and active mines on the eastern end of the Mesabi Iron Range. The proposed project will reuse much of the existing infrastructure at the brown field site. Ore will be transported from the open pit mine along existing rail track to the Erie Plant. The Erie Plant and existing infrastructure include large scale crushing and grinding facilities, extensive tailings capacity that will be reused without disturbing additional land, an electrical substation and water supply.
As the pioneer on exploiting the Duluth Complex's mining potential, PolyMet has spent considerable sums not only on defining the ore body on its holdings but also in metallurgical test work on a complex ore material. The process was developed by PolyMet with SGS Lakefield laboratories in Canada to come up with a metallurgical flow sheet which will likely be followed by other producers as the various Duluth Complex projects move to production over the next few years assuming all the necessary permits are forthcoming.
(Sourced from Mineweb.com)
