User:Chris857/Empire and Tilden mines

Coordinates: 46°27′11″N 87°36′58″W / 46.453°N 87.616°W / 46.453; -87.616
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The Empire and Tilden mines are iron ore open pit mines operated by Cliffs Natural Resources located near Palmer, Michigan, on the Marquette Iron Range in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.[1]

History[edit]

Operations[edit]

Empire mine[edit]

The Empire mine extracts and processes magnetite ore.[1]


Tilden mine[edit]

The Tilden mine can extract and process both magnetite and hematite ore,[1] but not simultaneously.[2]

Shipping[edit]

The ore loading dock at Marquette, was constructed in 1911. It was 1200 feet long; 75 feet high; and 60 feet wide. Four railroad tracks ran across the top and there was storage space for 60,000 tons of iron ore. The new ore dock incorporated both concrete and and a light steel frame work, doing away with the wooden supports used in previous iron ore docks. While more expensive than previous iron ore loading docks that used both iron and wood frame works, the builders claimed the new construction would hold up far longer. [3]

Ore dock in Marquette




  • Processing facilites
  • The ore docks

Environmental impact[edit]

In 1999, the mines accounted for 74% of Wisconsin Electric Power Company's electric energy sales in the Upper Peninsula and 39% of all sales in the Upper Peninsula.[4]


Tours[edit]

Tours of the mines have been offered since at least 1993. They take place in summer and tour the mine pits and processing facilities.[5][6]


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Global Operations / Iron Ore" (PDF). Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. p. 2. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  2. ^ "The Tilden Mine". Michigan State University. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "Concrete Steel Iron Ore Docks" Popular Mechanics, December 1911, p. 878.
  4. ^ Staff (June 5, 2001). Staff Report On Electric Industry Market Power in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (PDF) (Report). Michigan Public Service Commission. p. 7. Retrieved June 14, 2012. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ McLaren, Noël (June 21, 2010). "Cliffs summer tours". Upper Michigan's Source. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  6. ^ Junewicz, Nikki (June 21, 2011). "Cliffs takes public behind the scenes". Upper Michigan's Source. Retrieved June 19, 2012.


Accidents

>Presque Isle Power Plant >Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad >Marquette Iron Range >Upper Peninsula of Michigan


46°27′11″N 87°36′58″W / 46.453°N 87.616°W / 46.453; -87.616