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. Discovered in
1866, it is the chief deposit of iron ore in the
United States. The deposit is located in northeast Minnesota, largely in
Itasca County and
St. Louis County. 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.
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Formation
It is theorized that most of the world's iron ore, including that which forms the Mesabi Iron Range, was formed during the middle
Precambrian period, about two billion years ago. During this period, erosion leveled mountains that were formed during the previous two billion years. This erosion released iron and
silica into the waters of a new sea.
Marine algae living in this new sea raised the level of atmospheric oxygen, causing the eroded iron to
precipitate into the iron formations now found in the Mesabi Iron Range.
Mining operations
Iron ore is mined from both underground mines and
open pits. The mined ore is then transported away, primarily by
railroad to the port cities along
Lake Superior, such as
Two Harbors and
Duluth, Minnesota.
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 no longer worked are a common feature along the iron range. Some of these sites have been redeveloped for other uses. For instance, the Virginia Pilot is a project which focuses on redeveloping the grounds adjacent to the old mines into low– to moderate–income residential space.
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.
Popular culture
The Mesabi Range was brought to public attention by the
2005 film ''
North Country'', which depicts a fictionalized version of the events surrounding ''
Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co.'', a
sexual harassment,
class-action lawsuit that female miners brought against a Mesabi Range mining company.
Robert Allen Zimmerman, also known as
Bob Dylan, was reared on the Mesabi Range.
It also features in the song "Youngstown", by
Bruce Springsteen, from the album ''
The Ghost of Tom Joad'':
:"From the Monongahela valley, To the Mesabi iron range, To the coal mines of Appalachia, The story's always the same."
References
★
Natural history of Minnesota
External links
★
Hill Annex Mine State Park: Minnesota DNR
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