Birch Lake mining site from the air
Mike Possis, wildthingphoto.com
Birch Lake Mining (Franconia Minerals)
The Birch Lake sulfide mine would be underground, under Birch Lake. The project has also been promoted by Ernie Lehmann for the past 20 years. It is in the Superior National Forest. Some sulfide waste rock was excavated to get at the taconite in the 1960s (Dunka Pit) and the acid drained into Birch Lake and then to the Kawishiwi River and the BWCAW. The company is planning a 12 ft diameter tunnel to gather bulk samples of ore, with permits being applied for this summer and work planned to start in the spring of 2006. Such a large tunnel would create a significant pile of waste rock that is likely to be acid producing. Sierra Club will be commenting on the permits and reclamation plans.
- Site tour, January 2006
- Franconia Minerals