I met the man at the Prospectors and Developers Convention at the Royal York, the first one I ever attended. Long time ago, I was a young man. The man who was a living legend, the discoverer of the Shebandowan Mine and Steep Rock Iron Ore. Years later Inco transferred me to the Shebandowan Mine near Thunder Bay, actually it was at my request when an opening for a geologist came up. I saw the last day of the CPR Canadian, next day it became VIA. Saw the last of the Steep Rock Iron Mine ore shipments arrive and then cease. INCO's Shebandowan Mine shipped out their ore by rail as well ( Nickel Copper concentrate) a very expensive newly built branch line. Unfortunately the Mine itself adopted a very new and trendy mining method that proved disasterous and dangerous after a couple of years. The Mine was barely saved but became quite successful eventually but at the cost of a large and permanent reduction in production ( tonnage).
INCO switched from the rail to trucks due to this reduction so I also saw the last ore train load and leave our Minesite. Lots of changes in the 70's.
From Mike:
Julian Cross and Silver Islet
Thunder Bay handles a lot of Potash now in addition to grain, but it's days as a major iron ore port are done .. for now. Duluth-Superior shipping handles the iron ore, brought in by CN.
There are some small junior iron ore miners North of Thunder Bay and some shipping goes through that port... maybe a million tons a year in total but not sure about current situations.
An miner ( mining company) called Rockex owns the former loading facilities used by Steep Rock. They have a substantial iron ore deposit to the North and having being trying to develop it but Ontario keeps throwing in every road block. Not sure of its current status with a new Conservative Government now at the reigns.
The whole thing is the opposite of this guy!
Great reading .. short stories, worth your time. I worked at the Shebandowan Mine for 3.5 years, lived in Thunder Bay.
http://steeprock.freeservers.com/developers/juliancross.html https://ia801303.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/11/items/lugeologyjour1980/lugeologyjour1980_jp2.zip&file=lugeologyjour1980_jp2/lugeologyjour1980_0007.jp2&scale=2&rotate=0
Are there any other iron ores still shipped out of Thunder Bay?
More goodies from Mike:
The iron ore mines of the past in the area were from the rich and famous Steep Rock Iron Mines and lasted many many years, closing up in '79.
The last of the 2-10-2's ran there, 1959. They were used on passenger trains 33-34 between Rainy River and Atikokan on account of hilly terrain, steep grades.
For our US friends Rainy River is right across the river with it's sister city of Baudette, Minnesota, pop.1,106.
One saved and on display in Rainy River
Lots of Gold Exploration going on very close by, quite active.
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