Recent press releases have drawn attention to the discovery of significant ore deposits in Minnesota's iron mining region. The commercial development and exploitation of these deposits could conceivably revitalize and "jump-start" the economy in northern Minnesota for decades to come.
The interest seems to be centered around the area near Ely and Babbitt, Minnesota. PolyMet Corporation is contemplating an open pit mine in the Hoyt Lakes area. That mine could possibly be underway by mid-2008.
Other metals, including gold and palladium, are also part of the major mineral search underway in the area. While there's no gold rush on the Iron Range just yet, the stakes are high and several major mining companies, including Kennecott, have expressed an interest in these deposits.
On the flip side, Minnesota environmental groups are concerned about the potential for blight resulting from strip mining. And it seems certain that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will become involved in overseeing any future widespread mineral exploration, mining and processing operations.
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