Central Range Mining
Minnesota's Iron Range
Minnesota
iron ore was first observed in 1850 east of Lake
Vermilion, and again in 1865 when
Henry H. Eames, Minnesota's state geologist,
reported iron ore deposits in the Lake
Vermilion area. Then,
following a report of gold in the same Lake
Vermilion area, prospectors and
explorers headed for northeastern Minnesota.
Little gold was found, so the explorers lowered their sights and settled for
iron ore, and in the 1870s iron ore samples were being packed out of the deep
forests for inspection and analysis.
The
evidence was convincing, and on July 31, 1884, with a shipment of iron ore from
the new Minnesota Mine (later named Soudan) on the Vermilion Iron Range,
Minnesota became an iron ore producing state. In the next decade, the Mesabi Range came into production with the opening of the
Mountain Iron Mine in 1892.
In quick
succession, iron mines were discovered and opened in the Biwabik and Hibbing areas, and near
Virginia and Eveleth. Most early mines were operated as underground mines, but
the large deposits were soon converted into open-pit operations, forerunners of
the big iron ore mines typical of the Mesabi Iron
Range. As mining moved
westward along the Mesabi, a third Minnesota
iron range was being explored and developed. The Cuyuna Range,
east and north of Brainerd, shipped its first iron ore in 1911.
Discovery
and development of Minnesota's
three iron ranges came at an important time for our nation and for the world,
for the Twentieth Century with its world wars and great economic growth would
demand tremendous quantities of iron ore.
