LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – 2024 has a lot on the horizon for mining across the Upper Peninsula. With lawmakers incentivizing the electrification movement across the country, companies in the critical mineral space are working to increase the production of metals used in manufacturing.
The economy in the Upper Peninsula was built around the mining industry. Though it’s seen some dips, ore extraction up north is still thriving. Nathan Manser, a professor in mining and geologic engineering explained that Michigan is number nine in the U.S. within the mining industry.
“People always ask the question ‘do we still mine here’ and that is kind of a crazy statement because we’re top 10 in the country in terms of what we’re capable of,” Manser explained. “100 years ago the big focus was copper and iron but now the portfolio has expanded into several industrial minerals as well as nickel and cobalt.”
With investments across the state, 2024 is already set to bring new activity to mines all over the peninsula.
Nickel and cobalt are materials that play a critical role in manufacturing batteries for energy storage and electrification.
Eagle Mine in Big Bay mines copper, but holds a unique space nationwide when it comes to nickel. Rob Beranek, environmental and water services manager with the mine, explained that Eagle is the only operating nickel mine in the United States.
The mine was set to close in 2021, but because of some new procedures, they’ve extended the life of the mine to 2029. Beranek explained that they are looking at changing the way they extract nickel to make it safer while harvesting more product.
“We’re at a critical nexus for the electrification of a lot of common goods,” Beranek said. “There’s a move by the U.S. government to shore up our production of these critical minerals and nickel is on that list.”
With the Eagle Mine and Cleveland-Cliffs in the Marquette area, and Carmuese in the east, the Canadian company, Highland Copper, is on the west side of the U.P.
Highland’s focus is on copper extraction, with a new drilling project that’s broken ground in Ontonagon County. The company is also seeking around $50 million in state funding to assist with site preparations, with the help of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
“It’s a really big commodity that’s coming back online now in the Upper Peninsula,” Manser said. “Its legacy is copper but its future is definitely copper as well.”
