Lands and Minerals releases information to the public regarding many subjects including but not limited to:
- state land sales
- nonferrous metallic minerals lease sales
- exploration plans for nonferrous metallic minerals leases
- construction aggregate maps
- data releases
This webpage provides a home for Lands and Minerals related news releases. If you would like to be notified of these news releases please sign up below with your email address. This does not cover PolyMet related news releases. If you would like to be notified of PolyMet related news releases please visit the PolyMet website.
October 2024
October 15, 2024 - Online auction announced for the Minnesota DNR’s November land sale
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has state lands for sale in Aitkin, Cook, Itasca, and St. Louis counties. Six rural and lakeshore properties for sale provide several recreational opportunities.
Annual land sales help the DNR optimize its land holdings and meet its responsibility to maximize recreational, conservation, and economic opportunities for the state. The online auction is your chance to find:
- Parcels for hunting or other recreational purposes
- An add-on property (if you’re an adjacent landowner)
- Lakeshore lots for a small cabin
- The perfect place to park a camper trailer or pitch a tent
Visit the DNR land sale webpage for more information about the November online public land auction, preview lands for sale, and learn how to register for an account to bid on properties.
The auction
Properties will be available for bidding Thursday, Nov. 7 through Thursday, Nov. 21.
The November online public land auction partners with the Minnesota Department of Administration at MNBid, Minnesota’s Surplus Services online auction website.
Register to bid
Anyone interested in bidding on a property needs to register for an account on MNBid prior to participating in the auction. Visit the DNR land sale webpage to obtain property data sheets, terms and conditions of sale, and instructions for participating in the MNBid system.
Contact us
Call 651-259-5432, 888-646-6367 or email with questions about a specific property.
April 2024
April 5, 2024 -Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
Metallic mineral exploration is proposed in St. Louis County in an area six miles northeast of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Encampment Minerals Inc. (Encampment) proposes drilling exploratory borings and conducting down-hole geophysical surveys. Encampment has explored this area intermittently since 2009.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state laws and is approved by the DNR, Encampment will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state laws and is approved by the DNR, Encampment will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
April 4, 2024 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
Metallic mineral exploration is proposed in St. Louis County in an area six miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Encampment Minerals Inc. (Encampment) proposes drilling exploratory borings and conducting down-hole geophysical surveys. Encampment has explored this area intermittently since 2009.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state laws and is approved by the DNR, Encampment will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
Find a summary report and associated map of the proposed exploration related activities at the DNR's exploration plan webpage.
March 2024
March 29, 2024 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
Metallic mineral exploration is proposed in Aitkin and Carlton counties in an area eight miles north to eight miles southeast of Tamarack, Minnesota. Talon Nickel (USA) LLC (Talon) proposes drilling exploratory borings and conducting down-hole and ground geophysical surveys. Talon and Kennecott Exploration Company (Kennecott) have explored this area intermittently since 2008.
Kennecott holds the state leases and designated Talon as the operator for the proposed exploration activity. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved the operating agreement between Kennecott and Talon.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state laws and is approved by the DNR, Talon will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
Find a summary report and associated map of the proposed exploration related activities at the DNR's exploration plan webpage.
December 2023
December 6, 2023 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals lease
Metallic mineral exploration is proposed in Aitkin County approximately six miles north of Tamarack, Minnesota. Talon Nickel (USA) LLC (Talon) proposes drilling exploratory borings and conducting down-hole and ground geophysical surveys. Kennecott Exploration Company (Kennecott) previously explored this area in 2011.
Kennecott holds the state leases and designated Talon as the operator for the proposed exploration activity. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved the operating agreement between Kennecott and Talon.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state laws and is approved by the DNR, Talon will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
Find a summary report and associated map of the proposed exploration related activities at the DNR's exploration plan webpage.
November 2023
November 29, 2023 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
Metallic mineral exploration is proposed in St. Louis County in an area 13 miles east of Cotton, Minnesota. Encampment Minerals Inc. (Encampment) proposes drilling exploratory borings and conducting down-hole geophysical surveys. This area was previously explored in 2010.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state law and is approved by the DNR, Encampment will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
Find a summary report and associated map of the proposed exploration related activities at the DNR's exploration plan webpage.
November 28, 2023 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
Metallic mineral exploration is proposed in St. Louis County in an area five miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Encampment Minerals Inc. (Encampment) proposes drilling exploratory borings and conducting down-hole geophysical surveys. Encampment has explored this area intermittently since 2009.
If the proposal meets the requirements of applicable state law and is approved by the DNR, Encampment will have the right to explore the specified state lands under a nonferrous metallic mineral lease consistent with the exploration plan, any conditions, and applicable laws and rules.
Find a summary report and associated map of the proposed exploration related activities at the DNR's exploration plan webpage.
October 2023
October 30, 2023 - Plan approved to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
The Minnesota DNR has approved the exploration plan submitted on September 22, 2023, by Franconia Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Twin Metals Minnesota, with the addition of several special conditions to protect the environment. This decision authorizes Franconia to conduct the exploratory drilling proposed in the plan. The DNR's approval does not authorize bulk sampling or mining and the DNR does not currently have any proposal before it for mining within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed.
Franconia holds valid state mineral leases for the proposed exploration locations and, in accordance with state law, has a right to conduct mineral exploration activities on properties they have leased from the state. The DNR conducted a thorough natural resource review of the current exploration plan and considered all comments submitted by interested groups and individuals. In accordance with Minnesota Rule 6132.0700, the DNR determined that special conditions were needed to protect two state-listed threatened species, protect water resources, and minimize noise and light from the exploration activities. With the special conditions in place, the DNR has determined there is little potential for risk to the environment from the approved exploration activities. The DNR's decision is consistent with the findings of the U.S. Forest Service's Superior National Forest Prospecting Permits EIS in 2012, which concluded that exploratory borings in the Superior National Forest are not anticipated to have a noticeable effect on groundwater quality and are expected to have few, if any, negative effects on surface water quality.