MINOT (AP) - A Palermo native is being inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in Colorado for his work in revolutionizing gold exploration.

Lew Eklund, 76, was born and grew up on a Mountrail County farm. In 1960 he founded the Eklund Drilling Co., in Carlin in northeastern Nevada. The company now employs 232 people and has a fleet of 30 drill rigs.

When Eklund was 18, he worked on a seismic oil exploration crew based in Stanley, in northwestern North Dakota. He bought his first seismograph rig at age 28, and later founded the Colorado company that now works throughout the western United States.

Eklund, with the help of his brother, Mike, designed special drill rigs that became standard in the industry. Eklund also designed various devices that enabled companies to sample microscopic gold.

"The gold at Carlin was the first microscopic gold ever mined in the world," he said. "We were the first rotary drilling contractor to drill it."

Eklund's rigs are credited with being friendlier to the environment. His Hall of Fame nomination letter also notes his concern for the welfare of the industry. Eklund never patented his many designs and inventions, and never received royalties from them.

"The mining world has been good to me," he said. "I want to leave the woodpile a little bigger than I found it."

Eklund, who sold his company to his son 10 years ago, said his induction into the National Mining Hall of Fame makes him "proud and grateful and humbled."

The induction ceremony is Sept. 13 at the Museum Convention Center in Leadville, Colo.