Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Magnetic separation
- Rotary kiln & Electric furnace
|
United Taconite LLC operates as a subsidiary of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Summary:
United Taconite operations consist of an open pit truck and shovel mine where two stages of crushing occur before the ore is transported by rail to the plant site located ten miles to the south.
Processing Technologies
- Magnetic separation
- Rotary kiln & Electric furnace
Summary:
At the plant site an additional stage of crushing occurs before the ore is sent to the concentrator. The concentrator utilizes rod mills and magnetic separation to produce a magnetite concentrate, which is delivered to the pellet plant. From the site, pellets are transported by CN rail to a ship loading port at Duluth, Minnesota operated by CN.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Iron Ore
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Iron Ore
|
M long tons
| ......  | ...... | ...... | 3.1 | 4.9 |
All production numbers are expressed as pellets.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Annual production capacity
| ...... | ...... | 5.4 M long tons of iron ore pellets | 5.4 M long tons of iron ore pellets | 5.4 M long tons of iron ore pellets |
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Reserves at December 31, 2018:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven
|
398.9 M long tons
|
Iron (magnetite)
|
22.5 %
|
|
Probable
|
415.5 M long tons
|
Iron (magnetite)
|
21.9 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
814.4 M long tons
|
Iron (magnetite)
|
22.2 %
|
Aerial view:
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