[VIDEO] Watch How Nickel and Copper is Produced at Eagle Mine

As the first mine in Michigan in more than a decade, Eagle Mine is the latest mining project by Toronto-based Lundin Mining.

Purchased in 2013 from Rio Tinto, the mine has produced more than 218,642 tons of nickel and copper ore since commencing in July 2014. Over its estimated eight year lifecycle, Eagle Mine is expected to produce 360 million pounds of nickel, 295 million pounds of copper and small amounts of other metals.

The project utilizes the long hole stope method, which utilizes a main decline tunnel, a primary ventilation system and an emergency route to the surface. Once ore is mined from the upper area of each stope, it is then excavated from the lower level by loaders and then filled with excess rock and aggregate to maintain integrity before mining the remaining stopes in the section.

For the March edition of Mining Global, we interviewed General Manager Mike Welch and discussed the company’s approach to the Eagle Mine project, as well as how the company is creating a legacy of responsible mining.