#190- Iron Range: Rory Oberhelman & Johnny Eloranta

In this special on-location episode, Mining Minds travels to the heart of Minnesota’s Iron Range to sit down with Rory Oberhelman, Senior Project Coordinator, and Johnny Eloranta, Community Relations Advisor at New Range Copper Nickel. Broadcasting from the iconic nickel room, the conversation dives into the history, pride, and promise of mining in northern Minnesota.

Rory shares his unconventional journey from cabin building in Alaska to environmental permitting and project leadership, highlighting how personal purpose and community impact led him deeper into mining. Johnny brings a generational perspective—combining his family's blasting legacy, a background in environmental science, and experience shaping federal mining policy.

Together, they discuss the challenges of permitting, the value of responsible domestic mineral production, and the revitalization of a brownfield site with a century of potential ahead. With heartfelt insights on community, sustainability, and the next generation of miners, this episode shines a spotlight on what it truly means to mine with purpose.

Special thanks to Julie Lucas and Talia Sandys (Mining Minnesota) and Kristen Vake (Iron Mining Association of MN) for making this episode possible.

Episode Sponsors:

Liebherr Mining

RAM Enterprise Inc.

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

Episode Chapters:

0:00 Welcome to the Iron Range

3:07 From Cabins to Core

7:30 Permits, Patience, and Policy

13:03 Dual Perspectives

15:59 Identity & American Pride

19:21 Modern Mining, Real Impact

27:30 Opportunity to Build Generational Culture

34:11 If Not Here, Then Where?