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Minorca Mine

Producer in St. Louis county in Minnesota, United States with commodity Iron
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10170560
MRDS ID W018512
MAS/MILS ID 0271370349
Record type Site
Current site name Minorca Mine
Alternate or previous names Minorca Taconite Project, Laurentian Mine, Biwabik West
Related records 10072829

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Plant
Geographic coordinates: -92.521, 47.56139 (WGS84)
Elevation 488
Location accuracy 500(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

St. Louis(county)

Minnesota(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Virginia(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Vermilion Lake(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Hibbing(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

St. Louis(hydrologic unit)

St. Louis(hydrologic accounting unit)

Western Lake Superior(hydrologic subregion)

Great Lakes(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Superior National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Minnesota St. Louis

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
4th Principal 059 N 017 W 29 SESESE Minnesota

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Iron Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Ankerite Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Serpentine Unknown
Siderite Unknown
Talc Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Plant (1) -92.521, 47.56139
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N64E
    Dip 08S
    Depth to top 9.1M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 SEDIMENTARY
    Type of Orebody #3 REPLACEMENT
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin METAMORPHISM
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control OTHER
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N64E:08S
    Minimum Depth to Top 6.1
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 9.1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 6.1
    Date of Last Modification 900410

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Year of first production 1902

Mining district

District name Mesabi District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Private Lease

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Inland Steel Corp. 30 W. Monroe St, Chicago, Il 60603
    ID 2102449
    Interest 100
    Home office Illinois
    Year 1994

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Description Taconite 1737200 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Iron Iron 1737200mt
  • Year 1978
    Description Taconite 6127350 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 6127350mt
  • Year 1979
    Description Taconite 7855170 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 7855170mt
  • Year 1980
    Description Taconite 5244360 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 5244360mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Taconite 8196570 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 8196570mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Taconite 5616700 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 5616700mt
  • Year 1983
    Description Taconite 7261970 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 7261970mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Taconite 6738090 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 6738090mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Taconite 5887750 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 5887750mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Taconite 6103640 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 6103640mt
  • Year 1987
    Description Taconite 7742810 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 7742810mt
  • Year 1988
    Description Taconite 8060350 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 8060350mt
  • Year 1989
    Description Taconite 8200000 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 8200000mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Taconite 8175000 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 8175000mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Taconite 7600000 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 7600000mt
  • Year 1992
    Description Taconite 7400000 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 7400000mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Taconite 7400000 Metric Tons Crude Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Iron Iron 7400000mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Measured 69000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Iron Fe 62.5 wt-pct Iron Major 1994

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ACCORDING TO SKILLINGS (JULY 29, 1989), ABOUT 60% OF THE RESERVES SHOWN ARE NOT YET OWNED BY INLAND STEEL, HOW- EVER, ACQUISITION IS EXPECTED. M1C1=M9C4. Q-MATRIX 2 REPRESENTS RESERVES ESTIMATED FOR THE ADIT UPDATE 1993. RESERVES GIVEN IN INLAND STEEL CORP SEC FORM 10-K REPORT DEC 31, 1993, P. 4. AS GROSS TONS OF PELLETS. IN PLACE RESERVES CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS:(68,000,000 LTONS X 1.016 X 62.5% FE)/ (88% RECOVERY X 21% FE ORE GRADE)

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .71
    Percent Waste Rock 31.2
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 9.14
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 9.1
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 68
    Capacity 31001
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 1567.4
    Unit Production Cost 1.4
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1988

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    SANDSTROM, D. A., THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1976, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1976, PP. 7.

  • Production

    SANDSTROM, D. S., THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1977, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1977, PP. 7.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1978, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1978, PP. 9.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1979, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1979, PP. 9.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1980, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1980, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1981, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1981, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1982, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1982, PP.8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1983, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1983, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1984, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1984, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1985, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1985, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1986, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1986, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1987, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1987, PP. 8.

  • Production

    MINES, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA 1988, MN INSPECTOR

  • Production

    MINES., 1988, PP. 7.

  • Production

    AROLA, J.L. AND D.P. BEDNARZ, IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUXED PELLET

  • Production

    OPERATIONS AT INLAND STEEL MINING COMPANY'S MINORCA

  • Production

    MINE, INLAND STEEL MINING COMPANY, VIRGINIA MINNESOTA,

  • Production

    1988, 10 PP.

  • Geology

    MARSDEN, R.W. GEOLOGY OF THE IRON ORES OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR

  • Geology

    REGION IN THE U.S. ORE DEPOSITS OF THE U.S., 1933-1967,

  • Geology

    EDITED BY J.D. RIDGE, PP. 489-506.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WEBER, J. INLAND STEEL MINING CO. PERSONAL COMMUNICATION

  • Reserve-Resource

    WITH SUSAN HOWELL, MARCH 21, 1989.

  • Reserve-Resource

    INLAND STEEL CORP. SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, DEC 31, 1993, P. 4.

  • Deposit

    OJA,-K. G. SELF-FLUXED PELLETS, SKILLINGS' MINING REVIEW, V.

  • Deposit

    77, NO. 27, 1988, PP. 4-8.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 25-SEP-96 Dolzani, Roger L. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusActive since 06/11/1992
MSHA mine ID2102449
Mine name (MSHA)Minorca Mine
Current operatorCleveland-Cliffs Minorca Mine Inc.
Current controller (parent)Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

External references

Maps centered on this site