S.S. Cason Callaway loading Natural Ore at Two Harbors, MN - 1999

[mcmadman08]

If they're at the north side of #1 dock then its more than likely what we call "Blast Furnace Trim" used to clean out the furnaces in Gary. I could be wrong though, they throw odd ball loads at us some times. As far as the natural ore goes, it has nothing to do with availability. Taconite is something like 70% pure iron and the natural is less, so its more efficient to ship the pellets. 

[criind]

@mcmadman08 I was always told that taconite was about 33% iron when it was mined and after going being turned into pellets, the pellets are about 65% iron.

[mcmadman08]

@criind Taconite is refined iron ore mixed with some minerals that act as binders. Like I said, sometimes USS throws an oddball load at us but usually Dock 1 is for Blast Furnace Trim; you could have captured a rare load.

[glassworksenator]

That would be taconite, not the 'natural' stuff.

[criind]

@glassworksenator Actually I'm pretty sure that was the natural ore. At the time this was shot they were mining some natural ore at the Auburn Mine. It was being loaded from the land side of this dock in Two Harbors. If you notice the ore looks like it's clumping on the way down the chute. Taconite would not, of course, do that.

[Varangian1915]

I was on that jetty at Agate bay on October 30th. I dream of the day I can live in Minnesota.

[PeterSilseth]

Nice video, I love watching those ore boats come into the harbor. Thanks.

[kd8ux]

Used to love watching this process in Marquette,Mi.