This document provides background information and instructions for a group research project on iron ore mines in Minnesota. Students will research four specific mines - Milford Mine, Hull Rust Mine, Hill Annex Mine, and Soudan Mine - and answer questions about the location, history, size, impact on local communities, and current use of each mine. It discusses the importance of iron mining to Minnesota's history and economy in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Research sources are also provided.