Iron mining in Wisconsin
Types of iron ore
Iron ore is present in a number of places and geologic settings within Wisconsin. Iron ore can be defined on the basis of its iron content into low-grade ore (taconite), which commonly contains 25 to 35% iron, and high-grade ore, which contains 50 to 70% iron.
Iron-bearing ore minerals include oxides, carbonates, silicates, and, in some cases, sulfides. In Wisconsin, the most important iron ore minerals are oxides: magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3), and goethite/limonite (Fe2O3•H2O).
Brief overview of Wisconsin’s iron mining history
Limited amounts of high-grade iron ore were first mined in Wisconsin in the 1850s in the Black River Falls District of Jackson County and the Ironton area of Sauk County. More substantial iron mining of high-grade ore began in the Gogebic and Florence Districts in the 1880s and continued into the 1960s. Mining in the Baraboo District took place between 1904 and 1925. The Jackson County Iron Company re-opened mining in the Black River Falls District in 1969 when they began extracting low-grade taconite ore that was beneficiated (concentrated) and pelletized on site. The mine ceased operations in 1983 and was reclaimed.
Significant remaining tonnages of lower grade ore have been identified by magnetic surveys and limited core drilling in several of the aforementioned districts, most notably the Gogebic District in Iron and Ashland Counties. Future development will depend on economic and environmental considerations.
Mining in Wisconsin, 3-part series, Wisconsin State Journal, October 8–11, 2011
EPA approves Bad River Tribe's bid to regulate water quality, Journal Sentinel, October 5, 2011
Senate committee on mining jobs announced, wispolitics.com, September 29, 2011
Public forum on mining laws, hosted by the State Bar of Wisconsin, includes video of the symposium, September 14, 2011
Corps of Engineers weighs in on possible changes to Wisconsin mining laws, Journal Sentinel, September 17, 2011
Public meeting on proposed Penokee Iron Mining project, hosted by Wisconsin Public Radio, includes audio of the full meeting and slides of presentations by Thomas J. Evans and Bruce Brown of the Survey (overview of Wisconsin's regulatory process and iron mining resources in the western Gogebic Range), January 19, 2011
Updated December 2, 2013