Sustainability and Stewardship of Mineral Resources in Minnesota Jim Miller University of Minnesota Duluth

Terminology and Definitions Biological Resources renewable recycleable reuseable Mineral Resources non-renewable recycleable reuseable Water Resources unlimited recycleable reuseable Wind and Solar unlimited “Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (1984, United Nations Commission) Stewardship - “administration, management, control, including responsible use of resources” (Oxford English Dictionary Online) Natural Resources – materials, and energy that occur naturally within the Earth’s spheres. Many are essential for our survival, while others are used for satisfying our wants. Stuff

Talk Outline Iron Ore Mining  What is Iron Ore?  Why is it here?  What is the future? – reclamation/re-use Copper-Nickel-Precious Metal Deposits  Why are they here?  Why does do they contain sulfur?  Why do we need these metals?  How will this be mined safely?  When will this be mined? -Stewardship  What happens when the mines close?

Iron Ore Mining (1884-Present)

Iron Formations of the Lake Superior Region Ispheming, MI Vermilion Babbitt, MN Chisolm, MN Hematite Ore Taconite Ore Natural Ore

BIOGENIC ORIGIN? STROMATOLITES (Fossilized Algal Mats) Evidence of Early Life Shark Bay, Australia Mary Ellen Mine, MN LTV Mine, MN

Dunka Pit Rocheleau Natural Ore Pit Rocheleau Natural Ore Pit Hull Rust Taconite Mine Hull Rust Taconite Mine

Laurentian Vision Partnership Reclamation and Re-use of the Mesabi Range

A Looming Stewardship Question for Minnesotans: Should we develop this immense copper-nickel- precious metal mineral resource?

_______________ THE MIDCONTINENT RIFT _______________ An attempt at continental rifting 1.1 billion years ago

Cu-Ni-PGE Sulfide Deposits of the Duluth Gabbro Complex S S Cu, Ni, PGE

The Role of Sulfur in Concentrating Metals Most of the world’s metal comes from sulfide minerals Chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 Bornite Cu 5 FeS 4 Cobaltite CoAsS Sphalerite ZnS Galena PbS Chalcocite Cu 2 S Molybdenite MoS 2 Pentlandite (Fe,Ni) 9 S 8 Cinnabar HgS

United States – The #1 consumer of mineral resources, but produces little for itself % Mined by US % Imported for Metal vs. Total Mining US consumption Copper 7.7% 40% (Chile (30%), US, Indonesia, Peru) Nickel 0% 54% (Russia, Australia, Canada, Indonesia) Cobalt 0% 78% (Congo (30%), Zambia, Australia, Canada) Palladium 6.6% 78% (Russia (44%), South Africa (38%)) Statistics from US Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, Jan. 2006

Cu in a Standard Car with Combustion Engine lbs Cu in a Prius 80 lbsCOPPER An Important Metal in a Green Economy NW Mining Association, 2009

Data from USGS Mineral Commodity Summary 35% US consumption from recycled Cu 2010

PGE – Platinum Group Elements Pt – Platinum, Pd – Palladium, Os – Osmium, Ru – Ruthenium, Rh – Rhodium, Ir - Iridium

Bushveld Complex South Africa Supplying the 70% of the World’s Platinum Merensky Reef, Eastern Bushveld ComplexMerensky Reef, Amplats Mine, Rustenburg, SA

Palladium: “The Environmental Metal” Pd Uses

Sulfide Smelter in Monchegorsk, Russia In 1998, responsible for 50% of SO 2 in the northern hemisphere Noril’sk, Russia Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits Supplies 60% of the World’s Palladium

The Stillwater Mine (Montana) Only Precious Metals Mine in the U.S. (owned by Noril’sk Nickel)

PolyMet Mine Plan Re-Use as One Form of Sustainability

Re-Use of LTV Taconite Facilities Tailings Basin Rod and Ball Mills Crusher Mill

Mill PrimaryCrusher SecondaryCrusher

THEN NOW Sudbury, Ont. Hydrometallurgy Roasting/Smelting Monchegorsk, Russia Separating Metal from Sulfur

The Concern and the Challenge - Acid Mine Drainage 2FeS 2 (s) + 7O 2 (g) + 2H 2 O(l) → 2Fe 2+ (aq) + 4SO 4 2- (aq) + 4H + (aq)

Building Environmental Safeguards During Mining

Reclamation of Sulfide Mines Flambeau Mine, Ladysmith, WI Before (~1990) During ( ) After (2005)

Copper and Nickel Resources of the Duluth Complex WORLD CLASS! That will be mined.... SOMEDAY Hulbert & Ekstrand, 2008

STEWARDSHIP: the individual’s responsibility to manage his life and property with proper regard to the rights of others Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (1987) Responsible stewardship of mineral resources demands that we make sensible and fair choices of where, how, and when to acquire critical resources we need for today and for the future.