Mesabi Range
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The Mesabi Iron Range is a vast deposit of iron ore and the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. It is the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. The deposit is located largely in Itasca and St. Louis counties. It was extensively worked in the earlier part of the 20th century. Extraction operations declined throughout the mid-1970s but rebounded in 2005. China's growing demand for iron made taconite production profitable again and some mines that had closed were reopened.
Most of the world's iron ore, including that which forms the Mesabi Iron Range, was formed during the middle precambrian period about 2 billion years ago. During this period, major erosion occurred which levelled mountains that were formed during the previous 2 billion years. This erosion released iron and silica which settled into the waters of a new sea. It is theorized marine algae living in this new sea raised the level of atmospheric oxygen, which combined with the iron released during erosion causing the iron to precipitate into the iron formations of the Mesabi range. Iron ore is mined from both underground mines and open pits. Much of the softer ore was formed close to the surface, allowing mining operations to be conducted via the open pit mines. The world's biggest open pit iron ore mine is the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine in Hibbing Minnesota.
Open pit mines that are not worked anymore are a common feature along the iron range and have been the site of further development. The Virginia Pilot for example focuses on grounds adjacent to the mines for redevelopment into low to moderate income residential space. The high water table in this region means that once pumping stops, the abandoned mines themselves are quickly filled in with water. Ore was primarily shipped by railroad to the port cities along Lake Superior, such as Two Harbors and Duluth, Minnesota.
The Hill-Annex Mine is now a state park and offers tours to visitors who wish to learn about mine operations. Tours are guided by former mine workers.
The Mesabi Range was brought to public attention by the 2005 film North Country, which depicted a fictionalized version of an actual sexual harrassment class-action lawsuit brought by Lois Jenson and her female co-workers against the Eveleth Taconite Co., a Mesabi Range mining company.
[edit] Source
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/naturalhistory.html
[edit] External links
- Hill Annex Mine State Park: Minnesota DNR
- Cleveland Cliffs now purchases ore from Mesabi Trust, a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which is administered by Deutsche Bank Trust Co., 60 Wall Street 27th Floor, New York, NY 10005
