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Sustainability and Stewardship of Mineral Resources in Minnesota

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

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Sustainability and Stewardship of Mineral Resources in Minnesota

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

  2. Terminology and Definitions 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. • Water Resources • unlimited • recycleable • reuseable • Biological Resources • renewable • recycleable • reuseable Stuff • Mineral Resources • non-renewable • 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)

  3. 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?

  4. Iron Ore Mining (1884-Present)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  12. The Role of Sulfur in Concentrating MetalsMost of the world’s metal comes from sulfide minerals Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 Bornite Cu5FeS4 Chalcocite Cu2S Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 Sphalerite ZnS Cinnabar HgS Molybdenite MoS2 Cobaltite CoAsS Galena PbS

  13. United States – The #1 consumer of mineral resources, but produces little for itself % Mined by US % Imported for Metalvs. 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

  14. COPPER An Important Metal in a Green Economy NW Mining Association, 2009 Cu in a Standard Car with Combustion Engine 43-55 lbs Cu in a Prius 80 lbs

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

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

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

  18. Palladium: “The Environmental Metal” Pd Uses

  19. Noril’sk, Russia Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits Supplies 60% of the World’s Palladium Sulfide Smelter in Monchegorsk, Russia In 1998, responsible for 50% of SO2 in the northern hemisphere

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

  21. PolyMet Mine Plan Re-Use as One Form of Sustainability

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

  23. Secondary Crusher Mill Primary Crusher

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

  25. The Concern and the Challenge - Acid Mine Drainage 2FeS2(s) + 7O2(g) + 2H2O(l) → 2Fe2+(aq) + 4SO42-(aq) + 4H+(aq)

  26. Building Environmental Safeguards During Mining

  27. Reclamation of Sulfide MinesFlambeau Mine, Ladysmith, WI Before (~1990) After (2005) During (1993-1997)

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

  29. 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.

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