Atikokan in Rainy River District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Steep Rock Iron Range
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024
1. Steep Rock Iron Range Marker
As early as 1897 the presence of hematite boulders on the shores of Steep Rock Lake led geologists to suggest that beneath its waters lay a substantial iron ore body. It was not, however, until 1938 that a drill set up on the ice by Julian Cross of Port Arthur led to actual discovery of the ore. Steep Rock Iron Mines, Ltd., formed in 1939, undertook to reach the ore by diverting the Seine River and draining the lake. In 1944, Steep Rock began mining, and in 1960, the Caland Ore company also came into production. By 1964, shipments by the two companies had totaled over 36 million tons.
Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location. 48° 45.505′ N, 91° 37.183′ W. Marker is in Atikokan, Ontario, in Rainy River District. It can be reached from Sykes Street just north of Main Street East, on the left when traveling north. The marker
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Ontario and specifically in Northwest Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: Atikokan, Ontario Schefferville, Quebec (here, next to this marker).
More about this marker. Both sides of this marker have the same English inscription.
Also see . . .
1. Steep Rock Lake (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Active speculation about mining the area began as early as 1885, when land deposits were bought by the McKellar and Graham families. However, a patchwork terrain of deep soil, swamp land, and boulders(Submitted on November 19, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)hindered exploitation. Julian Cross, a mining prospector, later came to the area in 1926 and in 1937 through exploratory drilling located a major orebody under Steep Rock Lake.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 20242. Steep Rock Iron Range MarkerLooking southeast; the southwest corner of the Atikokan Public Library is on the left.During World War II, a program was implemented to drain the lake. This diversion of the river allowed open-pit mining of hematite iron ore under the middle arm of the lake by Steep Rock Iron Mines Limited and the East arm was mined by Inland Steel Company through its subsidiary Caland Ore Company Limited. By 1949, the site was producing a million tons of ore per year and had an estimated 500 million tons of ore deposits.
2. Historic Iron Mine Sites Caland & Steep Rock.
Excerpt: The Caland and Steep Rock Iron Mines represent amazing feats of engineering and construction. Long before the days of computerized projections and simulations, engineers in the first half of the 20th century were able to accurately predict how moving 280 million cubic yards of water, silt and gravel would affect the area around what would be five of Canadas premier iron ore mines.(Submitted on November 19, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)First opened
in 1943, these mines would supply raw materials for everything from World War Two Hawker Hurricanes (made in Thunder Bay) to toasters and nails in the late 1970s. Although the mines closed in 1979 and 1980, they are still quite a sight to see horrifying in their destruction of the land, but beautiful in their complexity.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 20243. Steep Rock Iron Range MarkerLooking northwest from the Atikokan Public Library.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 523 times since then and 196 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 19, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
