Ore plant workers reach a milestone

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Cliffs Natural Resources has announced its Northshore Mining Company achieved a major production milestone, producing its 300 millionth ton of pellets in March.

“Since we acquired Northshore Mining Company we have been extremely pleased with the safe, efficient production at the operation and the exceptional quality of the workforce in Babbitt and Silver Bay,” said Donald Gallagher, president of Cliffs’ North American business unit.

“This production milestone is a testament to the dedication of the men and women who have worked at Northshore Mining over the last century.”

The facilities were the world’s first large-scale taconite processing project and included the Peter Mitchell mine and crushing facilities in Babbitt, a 50-mile ore railroad, the processing plant and power generating facilities in Silver Bay, as well as the boat loading facility on Lake Superior.

The production history is as follows:

- From 1952-1955, Reserve Mining Company produced 1.1 million tons at the Babbitt facility.

- From 1956-1986, Reserve Mining Company produced 220 million tons at the Babbitt and Silver Bay facilities.

- From 1990-2010, North-shore Mining Company produced 79 million tons.

- More than 67 million of the 300 million tons have been produced since Cliffs purchased Northshore Mining from Cyprus in 1994.

According to Jim Skurla, director of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Northshore’s nearly 60 years of operation represents a total economic impact of approximately $13 billion dollars.

Employees will be receiving commemorative jackets in honor of the production milestone.

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