Milestones: Prospecting

Source Book 3   Type Book   Year 1931   Source Minnesota Historical Society   Size 100K This is a section from a book that examined open pit mining on the Mesabi Iron Range.

The Primacy of the Mesabi, both regionally and nationally, is attributable to three factors: the abun- dance and purity of its ores; the manner their oc- currence; and its location, close to the Great Lakes. The last-named advantage it shares with the other Lake Superior ranges. If it were possible to value separately the different factors, this, with all that it connotes, would probably stand first. There are, by way of illustration, iron ore deposits in Brazil that in size dwarf the Mesabi, and in grade are much richer. Yet they have so far remained undeveloped, being from 300 to 400 miles distant from the coast. To transport a ton of ore from the Mesabi to Pitts- burgh costs $3.02. The rail haul in the two stages is about 230 miles; the lake haul, about 850. The charge for the former is $2.19, for the latter, including unload- ing, 83 cents.

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