Layers of Steel
1993 35mm film shot of the pit lake at the former Hill Annex open pit iron mine in Calumet, Minnesota on the Mesabi Iron Range. Sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the North," the site is now Hill Annex Mine State Park.
The mine operated from 1913 to 1978, and according to a sign at the entrance to the park, the ore mined here was so pure that it could be sent to eastern steel mills with very little processing. By 1950, most of the high grade ore was gone and production decreased over the years until the operation was shut down in 1978. During its active life, the mine shipped 63 million tons of iron ore. It was the sixth largest producer in Minnesota.
The mine was sold to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) for $1 when it closed, and the IRRRB created a museum and a tour route in order to share its rich history. The Minnesota State Legislature turned the site into a state park in 1988. The park normally offers daily tours, including a fossil hunt. Not sure about right now in 2020.
Note: This photo has been on Flickr for a while, but I just gave her a major "face lift" and re-uploaded her via the "Replace" function.
Click my INFORMATION SOURCE for more about the mine's history and the geology of the area..
Layers of Steel
1993 35mm film shot of the pit lake at the former Hill Annex open pit iron mine in Calumet, Minnesota on the Mesabi Iron Range. Sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the North," the site is now Hill Annex Mine State Park.
The mine operated from 1913 to 1978, and according to a sign at the entrance to the park, the ore mined here was so pure that it could be sent to eastern steel mills with very little processing. By 1950, most of the high grade ore was gone and production decreased over the years until the operation was shut down in 1978. During its active life, the mine shipped 63 million tons of iron ore. It was the sixth largest producer in Minnesota.
The mine was sold to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) for $1 when it closed, and the IRRRB created a museum and a tour route in order to share its rich history. The Minnesota State Legislature turned the site into a state park in 1988. The park normally offers daily tours, including a fossil hunt. Not sure about right now in 2020.
Note: This photo has been on Flickr for a while, but I just gave her a major "face lift" and re-uploaded her via the "Replace" function.
Click my INFORMATION SOURCE for more about the mine's history and the geology of the area..