taconite

American  

[tak-uh-nahyt] / ˈtæk əˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a low-grade iron ore, containing about 27 percent iron and 51 percent silica, found as a hard rock formation in the Lake Superior region.

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taconite British  

/ ˈtækəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a fine-grained sedimentary rock containing magnetite, haematite, and silica, which occurs in the Lake Superior region: a low-grade iron ore

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Etymology

Origin of taconite

1890–95, named after the Taconic mountain range (east of the Hudson River); -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The state of Minnesota terminated Mesabi Metallics’ mineral rights after the company missed the deadline for a $200 million down payment to finish the taconite plant near Nashwauk.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2022

Both projects are located in Minnesota's Iron Range region, which has a long history of mining taconite ore for steel production.

From Reuters • Jul. 20, 2022

Utility Minnesota Power has proposed a pilot project to state regulators in which it would help the region’s iron and taconite mines acquire heavy-duty electric vehicles to help shrink their carbon footprint.

From Washington Times • Aug. 22, 2020

Then again, the mine that Forsman works in is a taconite mine, not the type of copper-nickel mine that environmentalists decry as a threat to this watershed.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2017

It is estimated that taconite will be supplying about a third of our ores in less than 20 years.

From The Practical Values of Space Exploration Report of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, Eighty-Sixth Congress, Second Session by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics.