Minnesota's first iron ore mine opened in 1882. The ore's high oxygen content was used to make high-quality steel in open-hearth furnaces.
When technology changed, the ore from the mine was no longer needed. Soudan Mine closed in 1962. Today, you can explore the last level that the miners worked.
In mid-March 2011, the 2,300 foot deep mine shaft was damaged by fire and by the thousands of gallons of foam and water that were sprayed into it to extinguish the fire. The repair process that began this summer is still underway. Underground tours of the mine or lab are not available at this time, but are expected to resume in the future.
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