Company requests MDNR metallic minerals leases in Houghton, Ontonagon, Iron counties; 30-day public comment period

By Michele Bourdieu

This Michigan Department of Natural Resources map shows the parcels (in pink, marked with an M, and one in green in Section 25) in Duncan Township, Houghton County, requested for metallic mineral leases by Trans Superior Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of Bitterroot Resources LTD. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

[Editor's Update: Karen Maidlow, Property Specialist, DNR, Office of Minerals Management, notified Keweenaw Now on Apr. 25, 2016, that the public comment period on these lease requests has been extended to May 31, 2016.]

LANSING -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) reports that Trans Superior Resources, Inc., (a subsidiary of Bitterroot Resources LTD of West Vancouver, BC, Canada) has requested direct metallic minerals leases from the State of Michigan covering MDNR metallic mineral rights located within Houghton, Ontonagon and Iron counties -- totaling approximately more than 3,000 acres.

In a March 14, 2016, news release, parent company Bitterroot Resources states, "The primary exploration targets being pursued on Bitterroot's Voyageur Lands are conduit-hosted, high-grade magmatic nickel-copper-PGM deposits similar to Lundin Mining's Eagle and Eagle East deposits, which are located 65 km NE of the Voyageur Lands."*

The following requests are being announced in published Public Notices:

In Houghton County, Trans Superior has requested a total of 1,286 acres, more or less, further described as: T47N, R37W, Sections 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, and 35 (in Duncan Township).

In Ontonagon County, Trans Superior has requested a total of 1,605 acres, more or less, further described as: T46N, R38W, Sections 3, 15, 16, and 21; T47N, R38W, Sections 25, 27, 34, and 35 (Interior Township).

This map shows the parcels in Interior Township, Ontonagon County, marked with M, that have been requested for metallic mineral leases by Trans Superior Resources, Inc. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

In Iron County Trans Superior's request is for a total of 160 acres, more or less, further described as: T45N, R36W, Sections 11, 12, and 13 (Iron River Township).

This map shows the parcels (marked with an M) in Sections 11, 12 and 13 of Iron River Township, Iron County, requested for metallic mineral leasing by Trans Superior Resources, Inc. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources)

A parcel list showing the legal description of the lands and recommended parcel classifications is available at www.michigan.gov/minerals, "Metallic Minerals Lease Information"; or by contacting Karen Maidlow, Property Specialist, DNR, Office of Minerals Management, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909; or maidlowk@michigan.gov.

According to the Public Notices, written comments from interested parties, relative to the request to lease the specified mineral rights, may be submitted to the MDNR at the contact information listed above no later than 30 days from the actual date of the Public Notice publication.

"We have to be assured that the public has 30 days from the date of the publication to submit their comments, which is why the notice is written that way," Karen Maidlow told Keweenaw Now in an email today. "The applicant told me that the public notices were expected to be published no later than April 6th. If that is the case, the public would need to submit their comments no later than May 6, 2016."

MDNR county nomination maps are available online as follows:

Houghton County:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Mineral_Lease_Information/Houghton_nominations.pdf

Ontonagon County:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Mineral_Lease_Information/Ontonagon_nominations.pdf 

Iron County:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Mineral_Lease_Information/Iron_nominations.pdf 

According to Maidlow, "If you right click on the map and zoom in to the township, range, section, you’ll see pink blocks with a red letter M (signifying the parcel is requested for metallic minerals lease). The pink shading means that the State of Michigan only owns the minerals to that parcel. For the majority of the parcels requested to lease, the land is owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Michigan owns the minerals. There is 1 small parcel (6 acres) in Houghton County, T47N, R37W, Section 25, NWNW where the State owns both the surface and minerals. This parcel shows up as olive green on the map, also with a red letter M."

Trans Superior Resources, Inc., is located at 333 Bridge Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI.

*Learn about the Michigan mineral exploration plans of parent company Bitterroot Resources LTD on their Web site.

Public comments on exploratory permit to drill in Ottawa National Forest due Oct. 23, 2012

ONTONAGON COUNTY -- A Canadian mining company, Trans Superior Resources Inc. (TSR), is seeking a permit from the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to do exploratory drilling in the Ottawa National Forest (ONF). The deposits they wish to explore are under federal (public) land and owned by the federal government. According to the announcement, they are looking for gold, nickel, cobalt, and platinum group metals (PGE).

A view of the Ottawa National Forest. (Photos © and courtesy Margaret Comfort)

The 720 acre (1.125 square miles) area where TSR wishes to explore is within the Trap Hills region of the western UP, about six miles NE of Bergland in Ontonagon County, Michigan. The Trap Hills region consists of high rock outcrops, spectacular views, mature and old-growth forests, and pristine rivers and streams. It supports populations of a number of rare plants whose main range is in western North America. This is a truly unique and beautiful part of the UP.

Area recreational trails include the North Country Trail (which borders the NW corner of the western parcel), the Cascade Falls hiking trail, and the Pioneer Multi-Use Trail. Cascade Creek flows through the southwestern corner of the proposed exploration area. It tumbles over scenic Cascade Falls before joining the West Branch of the Ontonagon River, about half a mile south of the exploration area. The West Branch is a federally-designated Recreational River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Breathtaking Norwich Bluff towers above the floodplain of the West Branch, about three miles east of the site. This high bluff was the site of an underground mine in the mid- to late 1800s. The trail running along the base of the bluff was being used by travelers at least 1000 years ago.

View of Norwich Bluff in the Ottawa National Forest.

In 2008 TSR applied for and got a permit to prospect in a 3/4 square mile parcel of ONF land adjacent to one of the parcels on which they are applying for a permit this time. The company renewed their 2008 permit in 2010, and is apparently still prospecting there. The fact that they want to expand their exploration in this area may indicate that they have found evidence of economically valuable mineral deposits.

Public comments on this exploratory drilling permit may be sent to the US Forest Service on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. Comments do not need to be anything elaborate. Even very brief comments give you standing to appeal the decision. Comments should mention Trans Superior Resources' exploration for gold, nickel, cobalt, and platinum in the Ottawa National Forest, Federal Hardrock Minerals Prospecting Project #38891.

All are welcome to comment. You do not have to be a Michigander. Comments can be sent by email, fax, phone or US mail to this address:
Susan M. Adams, District Ranger
Bergland and Ontonagon Ranger District
1209 Rockland Road
Ontonagon, MI 49953

Phone comments should be submitted between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to 906-884-2411. Faxes should be sent to 906-884-4830.

Emails should be sent to comments-eastern-ottawa@fs.fed.us. Put "Comments on the Federal Hardrock Minerals Prospecting Project" in the subject line. In order to receive standing to appeal, comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of the comment period (Oct. 23, 2012).

For more information contact LeAnn Colburn by phone at 906-852-3500, or by email at lscolburn@fs.fed.us. She is the ONF Environmental Coordinator and ID Team Leader at the Kenton Ranger Station.

Click here to see the Environmental Assessment and a general locational map for this project.