US Steel Corporation / Ralph W. Marsden Iron Ore Collection

United States Steel (US Steel) conducted world-wide exploration for iron ore. This collection of iron ore samples dates from 1926 to the 1960s, and has samples from 25 countries and 30 US states and Canadian provinces. Most of the samples are “hand samples,” while a few are small cores or are stored in envelopes. The individual sample boxes are labeled, and many have great details on the origin of the samples. Most of the samples are also individually labeled, with sample numbers and descriptions. Some boxes have lists and descriptions written on supporting documents. There are photographs of the contents of each box, and where possible supporting documents are shown in the photos.

A master list of samples with linked photographs accompanies this summary.

Countries represented: USA, Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Venezuela.

US and Canadian States/Provinces represented: Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ontario, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Quebec, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Many of these samples are from localities that are no longer accessible, are from closed mines, or are from areas of the World that simply cannot be visited because of political and social problems.

Geologists at the University of Minnesota Duluth have inventoried this collection, and we are making these samples available to anyone involved in any aspect of iron ore research. For further information or to request access to samples contact:

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Minnesota Duluth
1114 Kirby Drive, 229 Heller Hall
Duluth, MN 55812

Phone: +1 218-726-8385
Email: dees@d.umn.edu

Inquiries can also be directed to: Dr. Howard Mooers, Professor Emeritus (hmooers@d.umn.edu)

Origin of this Collection

Ralph W. Marsden (1911-1986) was one of the World’s foremost experts on iron ore. Ralph held numerous positions with US Steel, and retired in 1967 as Manager of Geologic Investigations, Iron Ore. From 1953-1964 Ralph was manager of the Geologic Investigations Unit, which was headquartered in Duluth, MN. In 1967 Ralph moved to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Department of Geology as Professor and Head. When US Steel closed its Duluth, MN, office, the ore samples were slated to be discarded. Ralph Marsden “rescued” the collection of iron ore samples and moved them to the University of Minnesota Duluth. In 1986, Ralph died suddenly while attending the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

This collection of iron ore samples sat in a service tunnel at UMD for 40 years. Recently the sample collection was inventoried, photographed, and placed in storage containers that are readily accessible.