G-TAC wraps up bulk sampling project

HURLEY - The Iron County Mining Impact Committee heard a presentation from Gogebic Taconite president Bill Williams Thursday regarding activities at the proposed iron mine site near Upson.

During last month's meeting, the committee asked Williams to present a more comprehensive list of potential jobs, training or schooling required for the proposed mining project.

While a specific number of jobs was not listed, Williams spoke about a variety of jobs and specific education required for the project.

He said 46 percent of the workforce will actually be at the mine, including equipment operators such as blasters and crusher control operators, maintenance and service employees, like electricians, welders and professional service employees, such as mining engineers and geologists.

Forty-eight percent of the workforce will be in the processing section of the company, including control room and stationary equipment operators, maintenance and service employees, like mechanics and instrument repair personnel, and professional service employees, such as metallurgical and electrical engineers.

Williams said about 6 percent of the workforce will include office staff, like business operation employees and employees in warehouse and supplies.

Another aspect to the potential employment market is off-site employees, including rebuilding diesel and gasoline engines, fabrications and air sampling.

Williams updated the committee on activities at the site, including bulk sampling, surface water collection, winter drilling and groundwater wells.

Bulk samples were collected from three sites in Iron County and were transported to a Minnesota lab, which specializes in iron ore analysis.

"The construction company mobilized on Feb. 12 and demobilized Feb. 26," he said.

In total, 2,108 tons were transported to the lab within six shipping days.

Some reclamation has been done on the site already, but it will be officially finished in the spring.

Surface water is being collected on a monthly basis, "when practical," Williams said.

The company is also working on its winter core drilling, and two core drilling rigs have been on-site since Jan. 27. Eight core holes have been completed, and drilling is expected to continue into March.

With groundwater wells, the company originally proposed four well sites, "which is still the plan," Williams said. Three wells have been drilled, with the fourth site scheduled for next week.

Each well is 8 inches in diameter and goes to the bottom elevation of the proposed pit. Additional shallow monitoring water wells will also be drilled at each of the deep well sites.

The committee thanked Williams for his report.