The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces that plans are being developed to hold the state's 29th sale of metallic minerals exploration and mining leases. The sale is tentatively scheduled for this fall.

The lease sale plans are being announced at this time in order to give mining companies, public interest groups and all other interested parties additional time to review the areas under consideration.

The purpose of Minnesota's metallic minerals rules (Minnesota Rules, parts 6125.0100 - .0700) is to promote and regulate the exploration for, mining and removal of metallic minerals on state-owned and state-administered lands. These rules, and the leases issued under these rules, authorize exploration and development of these minerals and impose certain requirements on the lessee. The requirements include: the payment of rentals that increase with the passage of time, the payment of royalty for all ore mined and removed, the submission of data and other reports, and the addressing of environmental considerations. In addition, the state lessee must comply with all applicable regulatory laws.

The areas under consideration for the lease sale cover portions of Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Lake and Saint Louis counties. Some of the lands being considered have been offered in previous metallic minerals lease sales, but based upon the interest shown by industry, new geologic data, and exploration techniques developed during the past few years, it is felt that within these lands there is significant potential for the discovery of mineral resources. Certain new lands of interest are also being considered for the lease sale.

The exact time and place of the lease sale will be announced by legal notice at least 30 days prior to the sale. Mining unit books, listing the state lands to be offered at the lease sale, will be available for inspection or purchase at that time.

A map showing the general areas under consideration may be obtained from the Division of Lands and Minerals, Box 45, 500 Lafayette Road, Saint Paul, MN 55155-4045, phone (651) 259-5959, or by visiting the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.