Geo-RoadTrip 2013

And here it is folks:

Geo-RoadTrip 21013: Where Every Night is Taconite

Welcome to the town of Silver Bay, MN, home of Rocky Taconite.  The town's mascot is yet another celebration of the mining industry and culture that is so prevalent in the area:

The town also offers a great view of the  north shore of Lake Superior:

Video coming soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2013: Down the Hatch

Our next stop was Minnesota's oldest iron ore mine.  At the Soudan Underground Mine State Park a quick, terrifying ride down a tiny elevator/cage takes you half a mile underground.  It's the same elevator that the miners used to get all the way down there:

Once you get down, you can see the stats:

One the tour, you also get to ride the same mine cars that the miners used and get a lot of info about what it was like to work the mines throughout the years.

Another interesting feature you can see down there are examples of banded, unoxidized iron deposits.  These deposits from the Soudan iron formation are over 1.8 billion years old and make up the chief ore body of the mine:

They are evidence of the lack of oxygen in earth's ancient atmosphere.

Video coming soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2013: Minnesota Museum of Mining

What can be said about the Minnesota Museum of Mining in Chisholm, MN?  It has a HUGE amount of mining equipment and historical artifacts on display and is a must if you are traveling in the area.  Here are some pictures of of just a few of the things you can see there:

Video coming soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2013: I am Iron Man!

If and when you find yourself driving into Chisholm, Minnesota you'll be greeted by the town's ambassador: The Invincible Iron Man!  Here's a look at his impressive stats:

As a monument to the area's iron mining industry and the men who worked the mines, he stands atop  a striking stack of iron girders with his trusty shovel and pickaxe.  Any resemblance to Robert Downy Jr. is purely coincidental (and probably imaginary):

Video coming soon!