Canada at War: ONTARIO: Steep Rock

The giant shovel dipped and took a three-ton bite of rich, iron-bearing earth. Steep Rock Mine was open at last. The men who saw this happen in the wilderness near Atikokan, Ont. knew they were seeing economic history in the making.

Steep Rock is a range of superhard hematite ore, the best on the continent. Its proved and probable iron deposits total at least 25 million tons. Engineers estimate unproved reserves up to ten times this figure. Expected annual production by 1946: 2,000,000 tons. This is small change compared to the 65,000,000 tons produced...

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