MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Eagle Mine has begun its free public tours of the actual mine and the Humbolt mill. The Humboldt Mill tours show the multiple stages of processing natural iron ore.
Opened in 2014, the Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill process and separate roughly 2,000 metric tons of mostly nickel and copper metals. The tours walk through the entire process up to the finished product. There are various stages that separate the iron ore, first, the ore comes into the warehouse and gets dumped out by trucks, and then crushed up into 4 inches and then again into half-inch rocks. From there, the minerals are then grinded and put through a process called flotation.
“Sent over to the grinding and milling facility where they will see the nickel and copper being separated from the waste truck,” said Social Performance Advisor Meagan Morrison.
Bubbles are then introduced to the minerals and float to the surface. After the minerals are skimmed from the top and separated they enter what’s called a thickener, where each section of copper or nickel is sifted through and collected at the top.
“You get to really see the chemistry at work of the nickel and copper being separated from the waste material it makes these really cool-looking bubbles that people like to see,” continued Morrison.
Eagle is the only primary nickel mine in the Nation, creating that resource to make stainless steel. Eagle is able to produce more nickel and copper at lower grades and makes roughly 99.9% pure nickel and copper.
“Nickle and copper are both vital to society the way we are accustomed to living so if we can do that right here in the Upper Peninsula and do it in a safe manner that protects the environment I think that’s all you can ask for”
Tours are gonna be held throughout the summer. Click here for more details and to book a tour of the world-class Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill.
