Modern Mining - How Eagle Mine produces nickel and copper

Summary

The video script details the intricate process of mining nickel and copper at Eagle Mine, Michigan, highlighting the journey from raw minerals to finished products. It starts with the discovery of these minerals, which is as challenging as finding a needle in a haystack, and continues through drilling, extraction, and transportation to the mill. The ore is then crushed, ground, and processed to separate the valuable metals using flotation and chemistry. The end result is high-purity nickel and copper, essential for various everyday items. The script also emphasizes the mine's commitment to safe practices and environmental protection, including the restoration of the land post-mining.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Cars, stethoscopes, eyeglasses, and airplanes all contain nickel and copper, which are essential minerals.
• ⛏ Mining is crucial for extracting raw materials like nickel and copper, which are vital for many everyday items.
• 🌍 Nickel and copper originate from deep within the Earth, and their extraction involves complex processes.
• 🔍 Locating mineral deposits is challenging, akin to finding a needle in a haystack, with only a tiny fraction of anomalies being valuable.
• 🚁 Eagle Mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the only primary nickel mine in the United States, producing a significant portion of the world's nickel.
• 🏭 The mining process includes drilling, blasting, and mucking to extract ore, followed by backfilling to stabilize the ground.
• 🚧 A 1-mile long tunnel with a 13% grade serves as the main access route for trucks, equipment, and miners within the mine.
• 🚛 Ore is transported to a mill, where it undergoes multiple stages of crushing and grinding to become a fine slurry.
• 🔬 Flotation and filtration techniques are used to separate nickel and copper from other materials, resulting in concentrates.
• 🔄 The concentrates are then sent for further processing through smelting and refining to achieve high purity levels.
• 🌱 Post-mining, the land is restored to its original condition, demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility.

Q & A

What materials are cars, stethoscopes, eyeglasses, and airplanes commonly made from?

Nickel and copper are the common materials used in the manufacturing of cars, stethoscopes, eyeglasses, and airplanes.

Where do nickel and copper originate from?

Nickel and copper are natural minerals that originate from deep inside the Earth.

What is the role of Eagle Mine in relation to nickel and copper?

Eagle Mine is responsible for the safe removal of minerals like nickel and copper from the ground, including finding, mining, and processing them.

How is the process of extracting nickel and copper from the ground described in the script?

The process is described as challenging and more complex than it might initially seem, involving finding the minerals, extracting them, and ensuring the process is safe for employees and the environment.

What is the significance of the Eagle nickel and copper ore deposit?

The Eagle nickel and copper ore deposit is significant because it was formed one billion years ago from magma that cooled and is now a source of these important minerals.

How does Eagle Mine locate nickel and copper deposits?

Eagle Mine uses aircraft equipped with special instruments to detect anomalies in the Earth's crust, which may indicate the presence of minerals.

What is the success rate of finding useful anomalies during the exploration process?

The success rate is very low, with only one in 10,000 discoveries being useful anomalies and only one in 100,000 being worth mining.

How does Eagle Mine determine if the rock contains valuable minerals?

After pinpointing the location, Eagle Mine drills into the Earth to extract core samples, which are then tested to determine the presence and quantity of minerals.

What is the estimated production of nickel and copper from Eagle Mine?

Eagle Mine is expected to produce approximately 360 million pounds of nickel and 295 million pounds of copper.

How does Eagle Mine ensure the mining process is safe and environmentally friendly?

Eagle Mine uses advanced technology, science, and engineering to remove minerals in a manner that is safe for employees and protective of the environment.

What is the process like once the ore is extracted from the mine?

The extracted ore is transported to a mill where it is crushed, ground into a slurry, and then subjected to flotation to separate the nickel and copper from other materials.

How does Eagle Mine contribute to the production of nickel on a global scale?

Eagle Mine, being the only primary nickel mine in the United States, contributes to 1.5% of the world's nickel production.

What happens to the land after mining is completed at Eagle Mine?

Eagle Mine commits to restoring the surface back to its original natural condition after mining operations are concluded.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Role of Nickel and Copper in Everyday Life

The narrator introduces how essential nickel and copper are in creating many everyday items like cars, airplanes, and stethoscopes. These minerals come from the Earth and are extracted by companies like Eagle Mine. The process involves locating, mining, and processing the minerals, which is more complex than it sounds. The importance of these natural resources is emphasized, as they are integral to modern life.

05:00

🌋 The Geological Origins of Nickel and Copper

Nickel and copper at Eagle Mine were formed a billion years ago through volcanic activity that pushed magma through the Earth’s crust. The process of discovering the Eagle deposit required advanced techniques, including using aircraft to identify anomalies beneath the Earth's surface. Despite extensive efforts, only a small percentage of anomalies turn out to be valuable mineral deposits, making Eagle Mine a rare find.

⛏️ Mining Exploration and Core Sampling

After locating a potential deposit, drilling begins to extract core samples that are tested to confirm the presence and quantity of minerals. Once confirmed, the mine is prepared using advanced technology to ensure the safety of workers and protect the environment. Eagle Mine is currently the only primary nickel mine in the United States and plays a crucial role in global production.

🚚 Extracting Minerals from Deep Underground

Eagle Mine uses a mile-long tunnel, declining at a 13% grade, to transport trucks and equipment safely underground. The mining process involves drilling holes, blasting rock, and removing the ore, which is then hauled to the surface. The mine is reinforced with a mixture of rock and concrete to maintain structural integrity as new areas are mined.

🏗️ Transporting and Crushing the Ore

Once the ore is extracted, it is transported 60 miles to a mill where it undergoes three stages of crushing, reducing the rock to marble-sized pieces. It is then ground down further to a sandy consistency in ball mills with the help of chrome balls. At this point, water is added to the mixture, creating a slurry that contains both nickel and copper.

🌊 Flotation and Separation of Nickel and Copper

The slurry undergoes flotation, a chemical process that separates the nickel and copper from the surrounding material. This is achieved using air bubbles, which help extract the valuable minerals. The resulting nickel and copper concentrates are then filtered to remove water, creating a solid product ready for transport.

🏭 Final Steps: Smelting, Refining, and Environmental Restoration

The final nickel and copper concentrates are transported for smelting and refining to achieve 99.9% purity. Eagle Mine also commits to restoring the land to its natural state once mining operations are complete. The video concludes by highlighting how mining is a fascinating process that starts deep within the Earth and ends with products we use daily.

Keywords

💡Nickel and Copper

Nickel and copper are natural minerals that play a vital role in the manufacturing of various everyday items. In the video, they are highlighted as essential raw materials that originate from deep within the Earth. The mining of these minerals is central to the video's theme, illustrating the process from extraction to final product. The script mentions that Eagle Mine is responsible for extracting these minerals, emphasizing the importance of nickel and copper in modern society.

💡Eagle Mine

Eagle Mine is the central location in the video where the mining of nickel and copper takes place. It is described as a facility that safely removes these minerals from the ground using advanced technology, science, and engineering. The video script highlights that Eagle Mine is the only primary nickel mine in the United States and contributes to 1.5% of the world's nickel production, showcasing its significance in the global supply of these minerals.

💡Anomalies

In the context of the video, anomalies refer to irregularities detected in the Earth's crust by special instruments on aircraft. These could potentially indicate the presence of valuable minerals like nickel and copper. The script explains that finding useful anomalies is a challenging process, with only one in 10,000 discoveries being potentially valuable, and one in 100,000 being worth mining, emphasizing the difficulty and rarity of discovering mineral deposits.

💡Core Samples

Core samples are rock samples extracted from the Earth during the mining process to determine the presence and concentration of minerals. The video script describes how the team pinpoints the exact location of the deposit and drills into the Earth to obtain these samples. Core samples are crucial for understanding the composition of the rock and planning the mining operation, as they provide data on the type and amount of minerals present.

💡Mining Process

The mining process outlined in the video script involves three stages: drilling holes and loading them with explosives, detonating the explosives to break apart the ore, and scooping the loosened ore into haul trucks. This process is fundamental to extracting nickel and copper from the ground and is depicted as a complex and methodical operation, highlighting the technical aspects of mining.

💡Environmental Protection

Environmental protection is a key aspect of the mining process discussed in the video. It emphasizes the importance of conducting mining operations in a manner that is safe for employees and protective of the environment. The script mentions that after mining an area, it is filled with a special mix of rock and concrete to prevent ground instability, demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability.

💡Haul Trucks

Haul trucks are used in the mining process to transport the loosened ore from the mining site to the surface. The video script specifies that each truck can carry roughly 100,000 pounds of ore, illustrating the scale of operation at Eagle Mine. These trucks are an essential part of the mining logistics, ensuring the efficient movement of extracted materials.

💡Humble Mill

The humble mill is where the ore is processed after being extracted from the mine. The video script describes the process of crushing the ore into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually turning it into a semi-liquid slurry. This facility is crucial for the transformation of raw ore into a form that can be further processed to separate the valuable nickel and copper.

💡Flotation

Flotation is a key step in the ore processing stage mentioned in the video. It is a process where chemistry and air bubbles are used to separate nickel and copper from the rest of the material. The script highlights the use of flotation cells to float the valuable minerals, which is a critical part of the purification process before the minerals are ready for further refinement.

💡Smelting and Refining

Smelting and refining are the final processes that the extracted nickel and copper undergo before they are ready for use in products. The video script mentions that these processes result in 99.9% pure nickel and copper, indicating the high level of purity achieved through these methods. These processes are essential for transforming the concentrates into a form that can be utilized in manufacturing.

💡Restoration

Restoration refers to the process of returning the mined land to its original natural condition after mining operations are completed. The video script emphasizes the commitment to environmental responsibility by stating that unlike the old days, the surface will be restored, which is an important aspect of modern mining practices and reflects the industry's awareness of its environmental impact.

Highlights

Nickel and copper are essential minerals for modern technology.

Everything around us is made from raw materials from the Earth.

Eagle Mine's mission is to safely extract nickel and copper.

The process of mining minerals is more complex than it seems.

Locating mineral deposits is a challenging task.

Eagle Mine's nickel and copper ore deposit formed one billion years ago.

Finding the Eagle deposit required extensive aerial surveys and drilling.

Only one in 10,000 anomalies are useful for mining.

Eagle Mine is a rare and valuable anomaly for nickel and copper mining.

Core samples determine the presence and quantity of minerals in the rock.

Advanced technology, science, and engineering are used for safe and environmentally friendly mining.

Eagle Mine produces a significant amount of nickel and copper, comparable to the weight of the Empire State Building.

Eagle Mine is the only primary nickel mine in the United States.

The mining process involves drilling, blasting, and transporting the ore.

The mine is accessed through a one-mile-long tunnel.

The ore is mined from the bottom up, with filled areas to maintain ground stability.

The ore is transported to a mill for further processing.

The milling process involves crushing, grinding, and flotation to separate nickel and copper.

Air bubbles are used in the flotation process to separate minerals.

Nickel and copper concentrates are the end product at Eagle Mine before further processing.

The mining process ends with the restoration of the surface to its original condition.

Mining is crucial for the production of many everyday items.

Transcripts

(upbeat music)

(tires screeching)

- [Narrator] What do cars, stethoscopes,

eyeglasses, and airplanes have in common?

- [Man] Hey!

- [Narrator] Nickel and copper.

Nickel and copper are natural minerals

that come from deep inside the Earth.

In fact, everything around us is made from raw materials

that come from the Earth.

(phone ringing)

Here at Eagle Mine, it is our job to safely remove minerals

like nickel and copper from the ground.

First, we have to find them, mine them,

and finally, process them.

Sounds pretty simple, right?

The process of getting these minerals out of the ground

is much more challenging than that,

and without mining, we wouldn't have

the many things we rely on everyday.

But before we get into how we remove nickel and copper

from the ground, let's start at the beginning.

One billion years ago, magma came up

through the Earth's crust, cooled and formed the present day

Eagle nickel and copper ore deposit.

While most understand the importance of nickel and copper,

what many don't realize is that locating them

can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Finding the Eagle deposit required a lot of flying,

drilling, testing, and most importantly, patience.

The first step is to send up an aircraft

equipped with special instruments

to detect irregularities in the Earth's crust.

We call these irregularities anomalies.

Anomalies may not always be minerals,

sometimes while looking for minerals,

we discover things such a buried pipe,

steel buildings, and every once in a while,

an antique tractor.

Here's where it starts to get challenging.

Only one in 10,000 discoveries are useful anomalies

and only one in 100,000 are worth mining.

Based on those odds, it's safe to say

that the Eagle Mine is truly an anomaly.

So once found, our team arrives,

pinpoints the exact location and drills into the Earth

to extract core samples.

The core samples and further testing

tells us that the rock has minerals,

what kind and in what amounts.

Based on this, we can begin the process

of preparing to mine.

And thanks to advanced technology, science and engineering,

we are able to remove these minerals from the ground

in a matter that is safe for our employees

and protects the environment.

Eagle Mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

will produce approximately 360 million pounds of nickel

and 295 million pounds of copper.

That's roughly the same weight as the Empire State Building.

In fact, now in production, Eagle Mine

is the only primary nickel mine in the United states

and produces 1.5% of the world's nickel.

So how do we get all of this out

from 1,000 feet below the surface?

First, we make a tunnel underground

that's one mile long declining at a 13% grade

and 18 feet in diameter.

This tunnel serves as our main route for trucks,

equipment and miners to get safely in and around the mine.

The mining process is done in three stages,

first, holes are drilled and loaded with explosives.

Second, the explosives are set off and the ore breaks apart.

Third, the loosened ore is now mucked or scooped

and put into special underground haul trucks.

Each truck delivers

roughly 100,000 pounds of ore to the surface.

We mine from the bottom up and once an area is mined,

we fill it with a special mix of rock and concrete.

This helps the ground stay nice and solid

so we can continue to mine the other areas.

Now, semi-trucks get loaded with the rock

and drive over 60 miles to the humble mill

using the same roads we use everyday

to go to school, work, and the store.

When the trucks arrive at the humble mill,

these basketball size ore pieces are crushed,

not one, not twice, but three times

reducing them to marble size.

Next, the ground up ore heads to the ball mills

which contain three-inch or baseball-sized chrome balls

that grind the ore down to the size of beach sand.

At this point water is added and both the nickel and copper

are now a slushy semi-liquid blend called slurry.

Next we use several stages of flotation

where we use finely tuned chemistry

to separate the nickel and copper

from all of the rest of the material.

The secret ingredient: air bubbles.

After floating the nickel and copper

through a series of flotation cells,

we thicken the slurry and filter out most of the water.

Finally, we have nickel and copper concentrates.

All of this because of a needle in the haystack.

The nickel and copper concentrates

are loaded into train cars, covered, and sent on their way.

This is where the process ends at Eagle.

But before the concentrates can be used in today's products,

they must go through two more processes,

smelting and refining.

Ultimately ending up with 99.9% pure nickel and copper.

Unlike the old days, when mining ends,

we will restore the surface

back to its original natural condition.

As you can see, mining is a pretty amazing story

that starts in our own backyard

and ends with many of the things

we enjoy using in our daily lives.

(upbeat music)