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Anti-mining groups aren�t telling the truth about the damage they do to education. One state official told me there are children in Marquette County who are afraid to touch samples of fool�s gold (iron pyrite) because anti-mining groups say it�s an, �acid-producing sulfide.� It�s fool�s gold, for crying out loud�a joyful rite of passage for many youth.

Anti-mining groups aren�t telling the truth about why companies like Kennecott are here in Michigan. The truth is, we invited them. If you want to stop certain types of mining, you have to convince people to no longer use that particular mineral product; this devalues the commodity and mining ceases. But we American consumers adore our inexpensive technology, creating a strong market demand for new sources of copper and nickel, which is what has invited Kennecott here. Want them gone? Stop using copper and nickel�or be willing to pay many times more for these metals as they are pursued from non-sulfide sources.

Anti-mining groups aren�t telling the truth about �sulfides.� The shafts on Presque Isle, all of Michigan�s gold mines, several copper mines in Houghton County, one marble quarry near Felch, and virtually half of the Dickinson County iron mines all encountered large quantities of sulfide mineralization with, �net acid generating potential.� Some of these sites are located in fairly pristine areas�yet I am not aware that any of them are causing any real pollution. The oil leak in my truck probably pollutes the environment more. City strip malls certainly do.

Anti-mining groups aren�t telling the truth about their agendas. They claim they�re not opposed to mining, just �bad� types of mining in �environmentally-sensitive areas.� But no matter where a new mine is proposed, that, too is declared a �bad� mining style, in yet another �sensitive area.� How convenient. The truth is, these groups blindly protest one proposed development after another, then scare the public in order to solicit donations and get their faces onto the nightly news�a far cry from genuine environmental protection.

Anti-mining groups aren�t telling the truth about their tactics. Death threats, bomb scares, drums of human feces dumped onto bulldozers�even endangered species kidnapped from elsewhere in the U.S. and transplanted into proposed mine sites are all events that have taken place here in Michigan and Wisconsin by groups opposed to mining.
So what�s the best way to protect the environment while appreciating and continuing Michigan�s proud mining tradition? My advice to concerned citizens is to avoid the scientifically-vacant rhetoric of anti-mining groups; instead, learn valid earth and environmental science from agenda-less sources, like university programs and science conferences.
One such conference is the Institute on Lake Superior Geology, (www.lakesuperiorgeology.org) which holds an annual meeting somewhere in the Lake Superior region; a few years ago, it was held here in Iron Mountain.

This conference has scientific presentations on both mining�s benefits and mining�s problems, along with some great field trips and fine food. Like coaster brook trout.

Shawn Carlson
Crystal Falls