Our History

Mesabi Metallics Company LLC was born from the idea that Minnesota could become a major player in the global manufacturing industry. Located in Nashwauk, Minnesota, Mesabi Metallics is developing a manufacturing site that will ultimately tap into rich iron ore deposits to bring jobs to the Iron Range and drive Minnesota’s economy.

The Nashwauk site is unique because the iron ore deposits are of high quality, which means they contain fewer impurities like silica and phosphorous. Additionally, Mesabi Metallics holds structural advantages that allow mined deposits to be processed and transported efficiently due to on-site facilities. Once completed, Mesabi Metallics could become the lowest cost iron ore mining and pellet production operation in North America.

1963
Due to the passage of the “Taconite Amendment” in Minnesota, which established fair taxing policies for taconite production, the Butler Taconite mine was founded by the Hanna Mining Company in Nashwauk.
1967
The Butler Taconite mine and processing plant officially finished construction and began operations.
1985
The Hanna Mining Company announced the permanent shutdown of the Butler Taconite plant and dismantled the mine, citing the influence of foreign steel flooding domestic markets.
2003
Minnesota Steel Industries LLC (MSI) was formed to build a pellet plant, DRI plant, and steel mill at the Butler Taconite site.
2007
The State of Minnesota approved Minnesota Steel Industries’ Permit to Mine application, granting the company permission to conduct a taconite mining operation and build a processing facility in Itasca County. Permit to Mine was granted. Air emission permit was reissued and extended.
2008
Essar Steel purchased Minnesota Steel Industries in 2008 and changed their name to Essar Steel Minnesota LLC.
2010
The overburden stripping was completed within the initial defined mining area, exposing taconite in preparation for mining.
2011
The company conducted an extensive diamond-drilling program to evaluate the mineral resources within the project boundary.
2012
Met-Chem Canada Inc. completed a detailed evaluation report to NI43-101 standards, validating and quantifying the project’s mineral resources to be 1.7 billion long tons of mineable taconite. The erection of the first piece of mining equipment, an Atlas Copco PV351 production drill, was completed and walked onto the project area. Permit to Mine was amended to 7.0 MTPA. Air emission permit was extended.
2015
The first taconite production blasts were drilled and detonated at the mining site, making them the first taconite blasts since 1985.
2017
The company changed its name to Mesabi Metallics Company LLC and was purchased by Chippewa Capital Partners LLC. Tailing bridge construction concluded.