THE COPPERWOOD PROJECT | MI

Updated | October 23, 2024

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Status | Fully permitted. Highland Copper Company Inc./Copperwood Resources Inc. acquired the project from Orvana Minerals in 2014. Highland is currently preparing the site. This includes stream relocation, and "wetlands mitigation structures." A $50 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation State grant is pending final approval by the Michigan State House and Senate. 

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Comments are being sought by the state until NOV. 13, 2024. More infomation is available here.

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Location | 14 miles north of Wakefield, in Gogebic County, MI, next to the Porcupine Mountains State Park, and Lake Superior

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Type of Mine | underground mine w/ room-and-pillar construction

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Estimated Mine Life | 11 years

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Anticipated Output |  30,000 tonnes of copper

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Concerns |

• The minerals are located in a sulfide ore body. The ore is low grade (1.5%), which results in a greater quantity of waste than minerals (98.5%).

• Approximately 16,550 linear feet of streams will be impacted.

• Approximately 43.5 acres of wetlands will be filled, and 14.4 acres will be dredged for construction.

• A 2715 foot pipeline will be constructed to take water from Lake Superior to supply the mine operations.

• Additional impacts could include airborne pollutants, as well as water and soil contamination by heavy metals. Tailings waste will be stored on the surface indefinitely covering a 316 acre area.

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Projected Jobs Created |  n/a

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Company Website | https://www.highlandcopper.com

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State Agency Website | The Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes & Energy

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Additional Information | The Mining Action Group, and Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior, are following the project.

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Notes | This summary was assembled with information from the Highland Copper website, state agency websites and the Mining Action Group website.

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Photo Credit } Shana McKay Burns/Spotted Horse Studios, LLC