MCL 207.271 — Specific taxation of underground beneficiated iron ore; definitions

As used in this act:
(a) "Underground ore" means iron ore in its natural state which to be mined must be removed through a shaft, incline or adit.
(b) "Beneficiated ore" means underground ore which has been treated, but not agglomerated, in accordance with good engineering and metallurgical practice by any process, other than by simple crushing or simple sizing, which is intended to improve the quality of the underground ore; including but not limited to, drying with the use of fuel, washing, jigging, using heavy media separation, flotation, cyclones or spirals or any combination.
(c) "Agglomerated ore" means underground ore which has been pelletized, sintered, nodulized, briquetted, extruded or otherwise aggregated in accordance with good engineering and metallurgical practice.
(d) "Ore property" means the mineral bearing lands of a mine from which underground ore is mined, stockpiles of underground ore, buildings, plants, facilities, equipment, tools and supplies, but exclusive of any lands held primarily for timber purposes, used in connection with the mining and transportation of the underground ore.
(e) "Beneficiating facility" means the lands, plants, stockpiles of underground or beneficiated ores, buildings, facilities, equipment, tools and supplies used in connection with the beneficiation and transportation of the ores.
(f) "Agglomerating facility" means the lands, plants, stockpiles of underground, beneficiated or agglomerated ores, buildings, facilities, equipment, tools and supplies used in connection with the agglomeration and transportation of the ores.
(g) "Local", when applied to beneficiation or agglomeration, or to a beneficiating facility or agglomerating facility, means within a radius of 100 miles of the point of extraction of the underground ore involved and within this state.
(h) "Shipments" means deliveries in gross tons of underground ore from an ore property to a beneficiating facility, to an agglomerating facility, or to market, unless otherwise expressly stated.
(i) "Mine value of base grade ore f.o.b. an ore property" means the published Lake Erie price per gross ton of Old Range non-Bessemer ore of base grade (51.5% natural iron), as of the date of the assessment, less the total of all transportation and handling costs, including any tax thereon, from the ore property to Lake Erie ports.