New Frac Sand Mine Faces Opposition

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Opposition is rapidly mounting to a proposal to mine frac sand in Allamakee County.

“Mining interests are coming at us like a runaway bulldozer going 100 mph,” said Ric Zarwell of Lansing, leader of the Allamakee County Protectors, a growing cadre of local residents opposed to a proposal by a Minnesota firm to mine sand southwest of Lansing, near the Mississippi River…

After excavation, he said, the sand will be trucked for processing either to a plant in Winona, Minn, or to the Pattison Sand Co., Iowa’s only legacy producer of frac sand, near Clayton.

http://thegazette.com/2012/10/24/northeast-iowa-residents-speak-out-against-frac-sand-mining-proposal/

What further processing is necessary? Is it save to assume transport after processing would be by rail?

2

Processing after mining would generally consist of washing to remove clay minerals, then drying and sorting the sand grains into various sizes.