Rio Tinto is refurbishing and reutilizing the Humboldt Mill, a
prominent fixture of Michigan’s mining history. In the 1950’s
the mill began to service several mining companies, making it an
important component of the area’s culture and economy. Since the
mid-1990s, the Humboldt Mill has sat idle, falling into
disrepair. Even so, this existing Brownfield industrial site is
an important community asset. We received all of the permits
necessary to refurbish and operate the mill in 2010. In 2011, we
began cleanup, environmental reclamation and equipment upgrades
to the facility. Construction on the mill will begin in 2012 to
prepare the facility for ore production in 2014. The mill will
be utilized for the concentration of ore and disposal of
tailings, just as it has in the past. Ore will be hauled from
the Eagle Mine to the mill, where it will be processed into
separate nickel and copper concentrates. The concentrates will
then be transported via rail to an offsite smelter for further
refinement. By utilizing th