All about pellets

Six Minnesota iron ore operations produced 9,600,460 tons of iron ore pellets in the first quarter of 1998 - enough raw material to make 6,937,107 tons of steel, according to the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota.

The amount of steel that would be produced by the iron ore pellets would be enough to produce 8,161,302 Ford Taurus automobiles.

The IMA's members include EVTAC Mining, Hibbing Taconite Company, Inland Steel Mining Company - Minorca Mine, LTV Steel Mining Company, North-shore Mining Company and more than 200 businesses that supply goods and services to the iron mining industry.

First-quarter production for 1998 of 9,600,460 long tons of pellets compares to 9,571,417 long tons for the same time period in 1997. Fourth-quarter production in 1997 was 11,023,236 long tons for the six operations covered by the report.