MICHIGAMME TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Tunneling at an Upper Peninsula mine is expected to be completed less than two years after digging started.
The Mining Journal of Marquette reports that Redpath Mining Contractors and Engineers expect to finish their work Friday at the Rio Tinto Eagle Mine in Michigamme Township.
More than two miles of tunnels have been built since drilling started in September 2011. The operation will mine and backfill ore which contains nickel and copper.
The mine is in a rural area northwest of Marquette. Its deepest point goes down about 800 feet.
Officials said earlier this year that they would delay the start of nickel and copper production because of the economic situation and volatile commodities markets.
Rio Tinto had planned to begin extracting minerals in early to mid-2014.
