ASBESTOS Abundant in GTac Mine Site

Yesterday a group of scientists led by geologist Dr. Tom Fitz and geochemist Dr. Joseph Skulan hiked to Gogebic Taconite’s proposed Bulk Sampling Site 4 to hold a press conference concerning the deadly asbestos present at the site. Several journalists accompanied the scientists who explained that highly toxic levels of grunerite have been found where GTac has applied for a permit to remove 1,400 tons of rock.

Fitz, an associate professor of geoscience at Northland College, showed samples of rock from the site that contained the grunerite, one of the deadliest types of asbestiform.

According to Skulan, who issued this press release earlier in the day, the DNR collected rock at Bulk Sample Site 4 in the spring which was positively identified as grunerite, and the asbestiform crystal habit was confirmed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) last week. “DNR hydrologist Larry Lynch sent me both reports,” Skulan confirmed. “The stuff we collected is identical to the DNR sample, and is from the same location.” While the presence of grunerite asbestos at Bulk Sample Site 4 was confirmed by the DNR, the high abundance of asbestos at the site has not previously been reported.

GTac’s original bulk sampling plan was deemed incomplete, with the DNR stating several concerns including the known presence of asbestos. GTac, however, claimed that asbestos does not occur in the proposed mine site: “…NR 445 does not apply to the proposed bulk sampling activities because asbestiform minerals are not likely to be present in the Gogebic Iron Range near Mellen, WI. There are documented occurrences of amphibole minerals in the geology of this area but not all amphibole minerals are asbestiform minerals or asbestos. Based on our due diligence, the geologic conditions in the Gogebic Iron Range do not support the formation of asbestos.”

BULLSHIT, GTAC!!! You don't care WHO you kill, as long as you might make a buck or two!

Read the rest of the article and watch the video at:
http://wcmcoop.com/2013/10/06/abundant-asbestos-confirmed-at-gtac-bulk-sampling-site/

Turn up the volume, because the audio is a bit hard to hear in the embedded video.