Rust-Hull-Mahoning Iron Ore Mine

I finally got up to Hibbing, MN to see one of the largest open pit iron ore mines in North America. Roughly 1.5 miles wide by 3.5 miles long and 600 feet deep. Yearly output is around 8 million tons. During the period between WWI and WWII, this mine accounted for 25% of all iron ore mined. It reminded me of visiting the Grand Canyon! The visitors guide told me they currently are using Haul Pack 240 ton trucks and P&H 2800 wire shovels. At one time they had a B&E 1150B dragline. Between 1948 and 1960 the dragline was used to remove overburden. It was dismantled and sold to Peabody Coal the final year. They also utilize Caterpillar 992's around the mine. The size of this operation is huge. Could not even see the processing plant. Ground water is a constant problem. They use pumps around the clock that remove 18,000 gallons an hour to overcome the 11,000 gallons an hour mother nature supplies! All that water goes into the St. Louis River which ends up in Lake Superior. All this ore is moved by rail to several ore docks along the north shore of Lake Superior where it is loaded onto bulk carriers and delivered to the industrial cities on the Great Lakes.

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That loader in the last picture took me by surprise - I didn't realize that it has a single arm boom. Makes a lot of sense for visibility when you're loading from soft piles. Are there other reasons?

I've been up around that area a couple of times but could never seem to convince the wife that it would be "Fun" to go for a Tour!

drujinin,

We found out once we were there that they offer bus tours down into the mine on Thursdays! Keep that in mind!

Pat