This is one reason why Minnesota's large iron ore deposits were concentrated locally (if necessary, some of the Mesabi Range ore is already 65% iron) and shippe

This is one reason why Minnesota's large iron ore deposits were concentrated locally (if necessary, some of the Mesabi Range ore is already 65% iron) and shipped to Pittsburgh (near coal mines) for steel making, instead of shipping the coal to Duluth. I grew up somewhat near railroad tracks in Minnesota, and it was surprisingly late that I realized most train tracks aren't littered with taconite pellets that fall off during transport.