Edge of the Wilderness
Lind-Greenway Mine, MN

The mining heritage of northeast Minnesota has left its mark on the landscape. Iron ore was first discovered in northeast Minnesota more than 100 years ago here on the Mesabi Range. The Mesabi is the largest iron ore range in Minnesota. Once high-grade iron ore was used up, miners turned to taconite - a hard rock containing fine particles of iron ore. It is the reddish-black rock found in abundance here. Nearly two-thirds of the rock remains after the iron ore content is removed. At the site, a mountain-sized tailing of rock, soil and low-grade iron ore fragments reaches some 200 feet into the air. Take home a souvenir rock containing low grade iron ore or taconite.