Sustainability and Stewardship of Mineral Resources in Minnesota Jim Miller University of Minnesota...
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Transcript of Sustainability and Stewardship of Mineral Resources in Minnesota Jim Miller University of Minnesota...
Sustainability and Stewardship
of Mineral Resources in Minnesota
Jim MillerUniversity 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.
StuffStuff
Talk OutlineTalk Outline
Iron Ore MiningIron Ore Mining What is Iron Ore?What is Iron Ore? Why is it here?Why is it here? What is the future? – reclamation/re-use What is the future? – reclamation/re-use
Copper-Nickel-Precious Metal DepositsCopper-Nickel-Precious Metal Deposits Why are they here?Why are they here? Why does do they contain sulfur? Why does do they contain sulfur? Why do we need these metals?Why do we need these metals? How will this be mined safely?How will this be mined safely? When will this be mined? -StewardshipWhen will this be mined? -Stewardship What happens when the mines close?What happens when the mines close?
Iron Ore Mining (1884-Present)
Iron Formations of theIron Formations of theLake Superior RegionLake 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, AustraliaShark Bay, Australia Mary Ellen Mine, MNMary Ellen Mine, MN
LTV Mine, MNLTV Mine, MN
Mesabi-type Iron FormationDepositional Environment (~ 2.0 Ga) - Organically mediated deposition
at the margin of the Animikie Basin
Occurrence - Minor structural disruption in northern Minnesota
Offshore Algal Reef
Si,Fe
O
Nearshore
Archean Crust
ANIMIKIE SEA
(sand, silt, mud)(iron oxide, chert)(pelagic mud, turbidites)Detrital sediment
Biwabik Fe-Fm.
Virginia Fm.
Pokegama Qtzt.
glacial till S N
~ 1 km
Hydrothermal Fluids
Taconite Ore
Natural Ore
Surficial Waters
Magnetite Hematite Goethite/Limonite
OXIDATIONLEACHING NATURAL ORENATURAL ORETACONITE ORETACONITE ORE
Fe3O4 Fe2O3 FeO•OHFe3O4 Fe2O3 FeO•OH
Dunka Pit
Rocheleau Natural Ore PitRocheleau Natural Ore Pit
Hull Rust Taconite MineHull Rust Taconite Mine
Laurentian Vision PartnershipReclamation 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 THE MIDCONTINENT MIDCONTINENT RIFTRIFT_______________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 MetalsMost of the world’s metal comes from sulfide minerals
ChalcopyriteCuFeS2 Bornite
Cu5FeS4
CobaltiteCoAsS
SphaleriteZnS
GalenaPbS
ChalcociteCu2S
MolybdeniteMoS2
Pentlandite(Fe,Ni)9S8
CinnabarHgS
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
43-55 lbs
Cu in a Prius80 lbs
COPPERCOPPER 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 ElementsPt – Platinum, Pd – Palladium, Os – Osmium, Ru – Ruthenium, Rh – Rhodium, Ir - Iridium
Bushveld ComplexSouth Africa
Supplying the 70% of the World’s Platinum
Merensky Reef, Eastern Bushveld ComplexMerensky Reef, Amplats Mine, Rustenburg, SA
Palladium: Palladium: ““The Environmental Metal”The Environmental Metal”
PdUses
Sulfide Smelter in Monchegorsk, RussiaIn 1998, responsible for 50% of SO2
in the northern hemisphere
Noril’sk, RussiaNi-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 PlanRe-Use as One Form of Sustainability
Re-Use of LTV Taconite Facilities
Tailings Basin
Rod and Ball MillsRod and Ball Mills
CrusherMill
MillMill
PrimaryPrimaryCrusherCrusher
SecondarySecondaryCrusherCrusher
THEN
NOW
Sudbury, Ont.
Hydrometallurgy
Roasting/Smelting Monchegorsk, Russia
Separating Metal from
Sulfur
The Concern and the Challenge - Acid Mine Drainage
2FeS2(s) + 7O2(g) + 2H2O(l) →
2Fe2+(aq) + 4SO42-(aq) +
4H+(aq)
Building Environmental Safeguards During Mining
Reclamation of Sulfide MinesFlambeau Mine, Ladysmith, WI
Before (~1990)
During (1993-1997)
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.