Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine

Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine

The world’s largest open pit mine, the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine witnessed the development of strip mining technology. In its peak production years during World Wars I and II, the mine supplied as much as one-fourth of all the iron ore mined in the United States. This area of the Mesabi Iron Range was explored in 1893-94, shortly after the first Mesabi ore was shipped from the nearby Mountain Iron Mine in 1892. Early underground mining at Hull-Rust-Mahoning soon gave way to strip mining, a process better suited to the soft, shallow ore deposits of the Mesabi. As the mines grew, the many open pits gradually merged into one and the area came to be known as the “Man-made Grand Canyon of the North.” Mine consolidation led in 1901 to the formation of U.S. Steel, then the world’s largest corporation. The vast size of Hull-Rust-Mahoning also spurred development of the technologies used for open pit mining. It is here that the steam shovel was introduced.



The mine today covers approximately 2,291 acres with more than 50 individual mines all of which opened between 1895 and 1957, however most of these individual mines are no longer in operation. From Hibbing the view is of a yawning pit up to 2 miles wide and 535 feet deep.



Part of the pit, nearest the observation area at Hibbing, has now filled with spring fed water. The water depth is 300 feet... down to the bottom of the original pit. Pumps run continuously to maintain this water level.




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