Learn more about mining in Minnesota with these maps.
1. Northeastern Minnesota Leases and Exploration
This map illustrates the scope of the problem. Much of the exploration for copper, nickel, and precious metals is in the Duluth Complex, near the Mesabi Iron Range, but there is exploration going on all over the state. If prices for these commodities stay high, it may be economic to try to mine in all these areas. Download a high-quality PDF of the map here.
2. Mesabi Range Facilities and Projects, 2010
This map shows the entire Mesabi Iron Range—the old abandoned natural or red ore mines, the taconite facilities, the Essar Steel direct reduction to steel project on the western end of the Range, the two US Steel facilities who have serious water pollution issues that will have to be resolved. The copper/nickel projects are on the far eastern edge of the Range. Polymet would be located right next to the old Peter Mitchell mine, the long-time source of ore for Reserve Mining, now operated by Northshore Mining, a Cleveland-Cliffs subsidiary. Download a high-quality PDF of the map here.
3. Polymet Site and Basin Divide
This map drills down to the mining projects that are furthest along in development. Polymet expects to receive its permits in 2012 and begin operations soon after that. Teck and Twin Metals are on a longer schedule, and have not yet begun any kind of environmental review process. This map also shows the Laurentian Divide clearly, putting Polymet in the St. Louis River/Lake Superior watershed and most of the other projects over the hill in the Rainy River/BWCA watershed. Polymet proposed an open pit mine; most of the others propose underground mines, because the ore with the “metals of interest” is further down. Download a high-quality PDF of the map here.
4. Wetlands Impacts Maps
These maps show the wetlands that will or may be impaired by these new mining projects. State law requires, and the US Army Corps of Engineers is likely to insist, that any converted wetlands to be replaced at a 1.5:1 or 2:1 ratio, and be functionally equivalent to what was lost. The draft EIS estimated that somewhere around 1600 acres of high-quality wetlands would be directly or indirectly affected by the Polymet project alone. The second map shows that wetlands impacts will also be an issue with any of the proposed projects on the BWCA side of the divide. Dowload a high-quality PDF of the Northmet map here.
Download a high-quality PDF of this map here.
5. Legal Protections of Areas Adjacent to the Boundary Waters
Many believe there should be no mining allowed near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or in the BWCA watershed. This map shows the current protected areas—one-fourth of a mile from the BWCA border, plus the minor watersheds directly adjacent. The proposal would be to increase the size of the buffer, as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has done with the Grand Canyon, and that would clearly affect the Teck and Twin Metals/Antofogasta proposals. Download a high quality PDF of the map here.
If you would like higher-resolution versions of any of these maps, please feel free to contact us.