Cleveland-Cliffs home page. Cliffs is part owner and manager of both iron mines in Upper Michigan, where I live, as well as a number of other iron mining operations.
Empire Mine was re-opened after a brief closure in the spring of 2002. Following the demise of LTV Steel, Cliffs became the majority owner of the Empire. Recent projections have placed ore reserves at significantly lower levels than previously projected.
Tilden Mine, like the Empire, is located in Marquette County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Cliffs is a majority owner and manager of the Tilden. The Tilden is the only iron mine in the world capable of producing both hematite and magnetite pellets.
Taconite.org contains information about iron ore mining and taconite production in Minnesota.
The Mining Artifacts site has a wealth of information and pictures about many different mines around the United States. Included are many photos and information on iron and copper mining in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, along with information about collecting artifacts and samples, and exploring mines safely.
The Cliffs Shaft Mine in ishpeming was the largest and longest-operating underground iron mine in the U.S., operating from 1848 to 1967. In 2003, it opened as a historic theme park. The shaft mine is the topic of a case study presented at the Third International Mining History Conference and Symposium on the Preservation of Historic Mining Sites in 1994.
Michigan Iron Industry Museum--Negaunee
The History of Shaft Mining in Michigan.
Another page from MTU with lots of links related to the history of mining in Michigan. Unfortunately, with the budget crisis in Michigan and a 10% cut in state funding for all higher education institutions, the Mining Engineering program at Michigan Tech is on the chopping block.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration keeps statistics on mine disasters in the United States. Of note is that the Barnes Hecker disaster, near Ishpeming in 1926, is the worst iron mining disaster in U.S. history, and is the third worst in US history in non-coal mining disasters.
Iron Mountain Iron Mine--Iron Mountain
Caledonia Copper Mine--Mass
Cornish Pump & Iron Mining Museum--Iron Mountain
Delaware Copper Mine--Delaware, MI
Michigan Iron Industry Museum--Negaunee
Millie Mine Bat Cave--Iron Mountain
Quincy Mine Hoist--Hancock
Showcaves is not Michigan-specific, but has an extensive database of caves, karst features, springs, mines and subterranea open to the public around the world. I have linked a listing for the United States.
Back to my Republic Mine page
Andy Larsen Home
Last updated: 5/21/04