. >> we went up to the mine site to meet tom fitz, a professor of geosicences, at northland college he talked to us about the asbestos he discovered there. >> we're in the iron formation, and you can see the bedding coming across like this. >> you can see the crystals in there, and the issue is that if this rock were to be broken up during blasting or excavating that the small crystals could become airborne and they are a health hazard because they can become lodged in our lungs. >> the asbestos dust created by mining can get into the air and could cause lung cancers like mesothelioma. it's especially hazardous for workers. >> so at this point, do you know if there are asbestos-like minerals there? >> you know there are, are there elongated minerals in that area? yes. is that asbestos? we don't think so. >> gtac, the company that bob seitz represents, is a subsidiary of a much larger company, cline resource and development, a coal company based in west virginia. >> gtac, it's part of a larger group. can you tell us about the larger group that it's a part of. >> cline resources has been