The Iron Range

Title: Cross-section of Rocks With Ore
Type: Diagram
Date: 1892
Source: Horace V. Winchell

Description: This chart shows the layering that took place when the iron deposits were formed.

Activities:

1. Do all of the rocks in the Mesabi Range have iron in them?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Not according to this source. There are "pockets" of ore, and there is ore in taconite. Neither the quartzite nor the schist has any iron in it though.
2. Does this chart give you any idea how large the ore deposit is?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Not directly. A scale of some sort would be helpful. It could be very small or very large. However,rock layers like this are commonly hundreds of feet thick.
3. How could the loose layer of "drift" material have gotten on top of these rock layers?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Wind and water usually are responsible for moving material like this around. In this case, it was the glaciers that once covered the area that left the material behind.
4. From above ground, is there any evidence that the ore deposits lie below?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: The layer of taconite poking out could be a clue. Also the slight dip in the land right over the ore. A geologist might be able to spot some other clues that would help.