Franconia Minerals

The Birch Lake project is a proposed underground mining operation that would extract copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, platinum, and palladium from two locations about seven miles east-northeast of Babbitt. One deposit, which lies next to and beneath Birch Lake, has revealed a mineralized zone at least 75-feet thick about 1,800 feet beneath the surface.

About three miles to the northwest is the Maturi underground resource, a dipping mineralized zone of similar thickness extending from 175 feet to 2,000 feet below the surface. A third potential resource, Spruce Road, is about five miles northeast of the Maturi resource.

Pre-feasibility work is focused on developing the Birch Lake and Maturi resources. Exploratory drilling is underway. Although neither site has been fully drilled, initial independent studies show the combined resource has the potential to generate annual production of 74 million pounds of copper, 19 million pounds of nickel, 2.9 million tons of cobalt, 7,400 ounces of gold, 33,000 ounces of platinum, and 68,000 ounces of palladium over a mine life of about 25 years. The project would create hundreds of new employment opportunities, spin-off jobs, and generate millions of dollars in tax benefits to local communities and the state.

Project News

Duluth Metals buys Franconia Minerals

Duluth Metals’ purchase of fellow nonferrous exploration firm Franconia Minerals for about $77 million (Canadian) announced Monday is seen by Read More »

FRANCONIA MINERALS INTENDS TO INCREASEOWNERSHIP AT BIRCH LAKE TO 82%

Franconia Minerals Corporation (TSX:FRA) is pleased to report that it has given formal notice to its joint venture partner, the Read More »

Franconia finds more mineral resources

Franconia Minerals Corp., based in Spokane Valley, Wash., has completed its 2010 drilling program, with results verifying the extension of Read More »

Franconia hopes to release mining plans this year

Minnesota’s second copper-nickel mining operation could submit a plan to mine and Read More »

Franconia Announces 21% Increase In NI 43-101 Indicated Resource At Birch Lake Copper-Nickel-Pgm Project

September 23, 2009, Spokane, Washington: Franconia Minerals Corporation (TSX-FRA) ("Franconia") is pleased to report an updated resource estimate for the Read More »

Lehmann: Franconia project on track

DULUTH - Drilling for non-ferrous mining samples will continue on schedule this summer on or near Birch Lake near Babbitt, Read More »

Company Press Releases

Duluth Metals and Franconia Minerals Enter into Arrangement Agreement; Consolidates Position in the Duluth Complex, Minnesota

Duluth Metals Limited ("Duluth") (TSX: DM) (TSX:DM.U), and Franconia Minerals Corporation ("Franconia") (TSX: FRA) are pleased to announce today that Read More »

Franconia Minerals Announces $3 Million Private Placement Financing

Thursday, January 7, 2010 -- (TSX: FRA) Franconia Minerals Corp. ("Franconia"or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has Read More »

Franconia Doubles NI 43-101 Resource Estimate On Birch Lake Copper-Nickel-PGM Resource

Indicated Resource of 108 Million Tonnes plus
Inferred Resource of 87 Million Tonnes
July 9, 2008, Spokane, Washington: Franconia Minerals Read More »