The lab concerns a mine in Northern Minnesota, called POLYMET, and your job is t

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.

Explanation / Answer

There are two major kinds of mining – surface and underground mining. While surface mining is done by open pit and open cast method, there are various methods for underground mining. Three major methods are described here.

2.a ) In the proposed Polymet mine in Northern Minnesota, an open pit mine up to a depth of 700 ft below the surface, is proposed for the exploration of the large sulfide deposit in Northmet. Copper, Nickel, Platinum, Palladium, Gold, Cobalt, and Silver can be obtained.

b) There are so many environmental concerns over the mine. I am describing only three here.

1. Sulfide mining tends to be the source of one of the greatest toxic waste. Dissolving through the rock, sulphuric acid leaches out heavy toxic metals. Acid mine drainage has proved to be devastating for aquatic animals. Water bodies are severely polluted. Aquatic animals, and also people relying on those water bodies are extremely vulnerable to severe health issues.

2. PolyMet would emit more than 4.6 pounds of mercury into the air. Mercury is already over safe limits in adjoining areas. Sulfide mining will make the environment worse.

3. Minnesota mining will make survival of several wild, already endangered animals more difficult. Moose, an iconic Minnesota animal can lead to complete extinction as only 4000 species remain now and their habitat will be lost due to mining activities. Critical habitat of another threatened species “Canadian lynx”, will also be affected.

c) After operation starts, the mine is said to continue till 20 years.    

d) As declared by the Polymet, it will perform reclamation both during mine operation and after closure. Mining is expected to close by 20 years. From the fact sheet regarding reclamation, the following points are taken directly as it gives a complete answer to your question.

· Demolishing buildings and removing equipment;

· Capturing and treating affected water using mechanical and/or non-mechanical methods for as long as needed;

· Restoring existing wetlands or establishing new wetlands, as appropriate;

· reclaiming stockpiles including placing a waste rock with a higher potential for harmful chemical reactions back into the mine pit and submerging it underwater to minimize the surface stockpile areas and potential pollution;

· Constructing various cover systems to minimize exposure and water seepage into the waste rock stockpiles, tailings basin, and hydrometallurgical residue facility;

· Managing stormwater to minimize erosion and prevent pollution from flowing off-site;

· Planting vegetation in disturbed areas to re-establish habitat; and

· Monitoring and maintaining surrounding bodies of water, wetlands, vegetation, and other features of the environment.

3. I did an extensive study on the PolyMet mine plan and what I found out left me unhappy again. Although PolyMet claims to be perfectly balancing environmental conservation with sustainable development, there are so many major issues to be concerned. Going through all the problems and finding out negligence and insufficiency in PolyMet’s proposal, I stand against the mine operation. I am giving my points here –

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