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.
December 2022
Dec. 9, 2022 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals leases
Encampment Minerals, Inc. (Encampment) submitted a proposed exploration plan to continue exploring for metallic mineral deposits in St. Louis County. Encampment proposes to explore on leased state mineral rights in an area about five miles south of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Encampment has intermittently explored this area of St. Louis County since 2009.
Encampment’s exploration plan proposes conducting borehole pulse electromagnetic geophysical surveys at two drill sites drilled during previous exploration. Encampment proposes to place up to five wire loops in an area surrounding the drill sites. The site crew will place wire loops by hand. No line or brush cutting is required. The proposed plan states that explorers will only transmit electromagnetic pulses with crew on site.
Encampment will post warning signs at drill sites and in areas where the deployed wiring may cross access routes. When Encampment completes the proposed exploration activity, the site crew will reseal exploratory borings following regulations set by Minnesota’s Department of Health.
Upon DNR approval, Encampment has the right to explore state-owned lands consistent with the exploration plan, any stipulations, 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.
Dec. 1, 2022 - Bidding opens today for DNR’s December land sale online auction
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has 11 parcels for sale including rural and lakeshore properties.
Properties in Itasca, St. Louis, and Wadena counties are available for online bidding from Thursday, Dec. 1, through Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Anyone interested in bidding on a property needs to register for an account on MinnBid. Visit the DNR land sale webpage to obtain property data sheets, terms and conditions of sale, and instructions for participating in the MinnBid system.
Contact us
Call 651-259-5432, 888-646-6367 or email with questions about a specific property.
November 2022
Nov. 18, 2022 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals lease
Teck American Incorporated (Teck) submitted a proposed exploration plan to continue exploring for metallic mineral deposits in St. Louis County. Exploration will occur on leased state mineral rights in an area about five miles southeast of Babbitt, Minnesota. Teck has drilled in this area of St. Louis County since 2007.
Teck’s exploration plan proposes drilling exploratory borings using the diamond core drilling method at up to fourteen drill sites. New access trails are proposed to reach some drill sites. Any trail preparation and drilling in wetlands will occur in winter under frozen conditions; trail preparation and drilling on uplands may occur at various times throughout the year. All drilling activity, including sealing borings, will follow regulations set by Minnesota’s Department of Health.
Upon DNR approval, Teck has the right to explore state-owned lands consistent with the exploration plan, any stipulations, 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.
Nov. 7, 2022 - Online auction announced for the Minnesota DNR’s December land sale
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has state lands for sale in Itasca, St. Louis, and Wadena counties. The 11 parcels for sale include rural and lakeshore properties.
Annual land sales help the DNR optimize its land holdings and meet its responsibility to maximize recreational, conservation, and economic opportunities for the state.
Visit the DNR land sale webpage for more information about the December online public land auction, preview lands for sale, and learn how to register for an account to bid on properties.
The auction
This December’s online public land auction is in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Administration at MinnBid, Minnesota’s Surplus Services online auction website. Properties will be available for bidding Thursday, Dec. 1 through Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Register to bid
Prior to participating in the auction, anyone interested in bidding on a property needs to register for an account on MinnBid. Visit the DNR land sale webpage to obtain property data sheets, terms and conditions of sale, and instructions for participating in the MinnBid system.
Contact us
Call 651-259-5432, 888-646-6367 or email with questions about a specific property.
October 2022
Oct. 10, 2022 - Land sale auctions in Rochester and Wadena
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will offer 17 parcels at multiple public auctions this fall. In October, there will be opportunities in both Rochester and Wadena to bid at in-person auctions. More information about the auction process and parcels can be found below and on the DNR's Land Sale webpage. Registration begins a half hour before the auction. You must be registered to bid.
Upcoming Auctions:
- Friday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. at the Wadena County Courthouse Auditorium, 415 Jefferson Street South, Wadena, Minnesota 56482
- Sale 80244 Wadena County, Bullard 36-2 (45 acres). Minimum Bid: $21,000
- Sale 80245 Wadena County, Bullard 36-1 (38 acres). Minimum Bid: $16,000
- Sale 80248 Wadena County, Bullard 36-3 & 4 (82 acre). Minimum Bid: $33,000
- Sale 80250 Wadena County, Bullard 20-1 (6 acres). Minimum Bid: $14,000
- Sale 80251 Wadena County, Bullard 20-2 (3.75 acres). Minimum Bid: $11,500
- Friday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at MnDOT SE District Headquarters, 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, Minnesota 55901. Find additional parking information on the DNR's Land Sale webpage.
- Sale 02213 Anoka County, Oak Grove Twp (1.18 acres). Minimum Bid: $52,300
- Sale 28216 Houston County, Cut Across Rd (0.5 acres) Minimum Bid: $4,000
Public auction details, parcel information and the latest updates will be posted online at mndnr.gov/landsale. You can also call 651-259-5432, 888-646-6367, or email [email protected]
September 2022
Sept. 20, 2022 - Minnesota DNR announces auction dates and parcels for 2022 land sales
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has state lands for sale in in Anoka, Houston, Itasca, St. Louis, and Wadena counties. The 17 parcels for sale include rural lands, with many 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 DNR sells land at public auction in accordance with state statutes. This year, the DNR will offer two public oral bid auctions in October, followed by an online auction later this fall.
DNR public oral bid auction schedule
In-person auctions are scheduled at the following locations. Registration starts a half hour prior to the auction.
- Parcels for sale in Wadena County will be offered at an in-person auction on Friday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. at the Wadena County Courthouse, 415 Jefferson Street South, Wadena, Minnesota 56482.
- Parcels for sale in Anoka and Houston counties will be offered at an in-person auction on Friday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at MnDOT SE District Headquarters, 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, Minnesota 55901.
Additional land sale opportunities
Later this fall, properties in Wadena, Itasca, and St. Louis counties will become available for bidding online at MinnBid.org. Following the October sales, DNR will provide more details about the next fall sale on its website.
All are welcome to participate in the public auctions. Visit the DNR land sale webpage for more information about the lands for sale and learn how to register to bid on properties.
Sept. 20, 2022 - Aggregate Resource Potential Maps for Swift, Sibley, and Redwood counties, published by DNR's Aggregate Resource Mapping Program
Geologists in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Aggregate Resource Mapping Program (ARMP) completed three new natural resource maps showing the potential for sand and gravel deposits and crushed stone resources in Swift, Sibley, and Redwood counties. Aggregate resource maps are an important tool for accessing resources needed to construct the roads, bridges, and buildings that we use every day.
Each project's datasets, including maps to locate aggregate resources and countywide gravel pit surveys, will be publicly available on the Aggregate Resources Mapping Program webpage.
The online publishing dates for the datasets are as follows:
- Swift County will be posted on Sept. 20
- Sibley County will be posted on Sept. 27
- Redwood County will be posted on Oct. 4
The public, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and industry can download the digital map plates (PDF format) and related geospatial data. Paper copy maps are available upon request.
The sand and gravel maps are the most recent products from the ARMP providing field-researched information to locate sand, gravel, and crushed stone resources and characterize the quality of a deposit. DNR geologists in the ARMP are working towards creating detailed aggregate maps for every county statewide.
The Minnesota Legislature established ARMP in 1984. Today, twenty-one Minnesota counties have access to completed aggregate resource maps. A three-year grant from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, provided funding for aggregate resource mapping in Kandiyohi, Redwood, Swift, and Sibley counties.
For more information, visit the Aggregate Mapping Methodology webpage. Contact DNR geologist, Chad Crotty, to request maps and to inquire about aggregate resource maps for your county.
March 2022
March 15, 2022 - Plan submitted to explore on state nonferrous metallic minerals lease
Talon Nickel (USA) LLC (Talon) submitted a proposed plan to continue exploring for metallic mineral deposits in Aitkin County. Exploration will occur on leased state mineral rights in an area north of Tamarack, Minnesota. Kennecott Exploration Company (Kennecott) and Talon have explored in this area since the early 2000s.
Talon's exploration plan proposes drilling exploratory borings using the diamond core method at up to 25 drill sites. Talon notes the possibility of multiple borings at each site. Talon plans to use existing access to drill sites. The company may need to construct new trails to reach some areas. Drilling activity, including sealing, will follow regulations set by the Department of Health.
Talon's proposed plan includes downhole geophysical surveys in newly drilled borings and borings that are temporarily sealed. Talon's proposal includes plans to use a drill rig to clear any blocked borings. The new exploration plan indicates that surveyors may conduct geophysical surveys on foot within the boundaries of the leased state mineral rights. When conducting ground-based geophysical surveys, surveyors may need to cut small amounts of brush to make room for the portable survey equipment, but surveyors will not cut lines or grids. Talon will place signs when conducting geophysical surveys.
Kennecott, which designated Talon as the operator for the proposed exploration activity, holds the state leases. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved the operating agreement between Kennecott and Talon.
Upon DNR approval, Talon has the right to explore state-owned lands consistent with the exploration plan, any stipulations, 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.