Question

The lab concerns a mine in Northern Minnesota, called POLYMET, and your job is to find out information on the proposed mine. The mine is in the final phases of getting all of the necessary permits to begin operation. A lot of people are concerned, so I would like you to research what you can find out about the mine.

You should read the part of chapter 23 that pertains to question one below AND then you should go on-line and find a Minnesota DNR website that deals with the Environmental Impact of this proposed mine (try:www.mndnr.gov/polymet, or dnr.state.mn/input/environmental review/polymet) You can search other sites for information as well. Be sure you reference where you got your information.

You might also try visiting the miniing companys' site; (gopolymet).   An interesting view.

These are the questions you are to answer from your reading/research. There is a nice 9 minute video on the dnr site that overviews the mine. Check it out.

1. Describe at least three major methods of mining(from chapter 23).

2. Characterize the environmental and social impacts of the proposed Polymet mine in Northern Minnesota.(search online)

    a. What kind of mine is proposed?

    b. What are at least three key environmental concerns that people have concerning the mine?

    c. How long with the mine operate?

    d. How will the site be cleaned up/reclaimed - briefly describe the process.

3. I would like you to research the above information on the proposed mine (due to open soon) and support a stand for or against the mine. This is your opinion, based on what you have learned about the mine and the environment.

Submit a word document to the dropbox, labled Lab 2- Polymet Mine

Answer 1

There are four main mining methods: underground, open surface (pit), placer, and in-situ mining.

• Underground mines are more expensive and are often used to reach deeper deposits.
• Surface mines are typically used for more shallow and less valuable deposits.
• Placer mining is used to sift out valuable metals from sediments in river channels, beach sands, or other environments.
• In-situ mining, which is primarily used in mining uranium, involves dissolving the mineral resource in place then processing it at the surface without moving rock from the ground.

The method used depends on the type of mineral resource that is mined, its location at or beneath the surface, and whether the resource is worth enough money to justify extracting it. Each mining method also has varying degrees of impact on the surrounding landscape and environment.