Eagle mine project
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Michigamme Township, Marquette County |
| State | Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 46°44′47″N 87°52′50″W / 46.74639°N 87.88056°WCoordinates: 46°44′47″N 87°52′50″W / 46.74639°N 87.88056°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper, nickel |
| Owner | |
| Company | Lundin Mining |
| Website | www |
The Eagle Mine is a small, high-grade nickel and copper mine owned by Lundin Mining Corporation. The mine is located on the Yellow Dog Plains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.S.). Eagle is the only primary nickel mine in the nation. The Mine began production in Fall 2014 and is expected to produce 360 million pounds of nickel, 295 million pounds of copper and small amounts of other metals (platinum, palladium, silver, gold, and cobalt) over its eight-year mine life.
Eagle is a decline-accessed underground mine, primarily utilizing long hole stoping for production. Interest in the project both locally and statewide had increased due to the submission of a mining permit application for the project. The project has garnered local opposition as well as support. The opposition groups claim that the mine will produce environmental damage, while supporters and the company claim the mine will protect the environment while producing much-needed jobs.
Surface construction at the mine started in 2010, with underground construction taking place in 2011. Production commenced in September 2014 ahead of schedule and on budget. The surface facilities for the mine will cover less than 130 acres (53 ha), and ore processing will be done off site at the nearby Humboldt Mill. The mine will be backfilled as mining progresses. Once mining ceases both facilities will be reclaimed to their natural state.
The ore deposit contains 4.1 million metric tons of rock containing 3.6 percent nickel and 2.9 percent copper. The economic minerals associated with this deposit are predominantly pentlandite and chalcopyrite.
Some Native Americans believe that the mine site is sacred. Several groups protested the development of the mine.
On July 30, 2007, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) re-issued preliminary approval for the mining permit. The permit was initially approved in January 2007, however it was found that the DEQ failed to release documents relating to the crown pillar of the mine. As a result, the preliminary approval was withdrawn and the permit process was put on hold until the issue could be further investigated. The resulting investigation cleared the DEQ of any wrongdoing and the consideration of the permit application was able to proceed.
...
Wikipedia