No country in the world produces all of the mineral resources necessary for modern society. International trade plays a critical role in providing these raw materials, forming a global network of production, export, import, and use. This network must continuously adapt to national and international developments in science, technology, politics, and economics. As a result, information on the global flow of raw materials plays a fundamental role in improving national and international resilience to potential supply disruptions and market changes.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides an interactive map of underground mines in Minnesota. The map provides detailed information on underground mines and their relationship to overlying surface features. Specifically, this map focuses on iron mines in the northeast of the state.
Biomining is the process of using microorganisms (microbes) to extract metals of economic interest from rock ores or mine waste. Biomining techniques may also be used to clean up sites that have been polluted with metals.