<PAGE>


                                    UNITED STATES
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 Washington, DC 20549

                                      FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

/X/ QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
    OF 1934

    For The Quarterly Period Ended July 31, 1997 or

/ / TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
    OF 1934

    For the transition period from _________________ to _________________


Commission File Number:  1-4488

                                     MESABI TRUST
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              NEW YORK                                13-6022277
    (State or other jurisdiction of    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)



                          IN CARE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                            CORPORATE TRUST & AGENCY GROUP
                                     P.O. BOX 318
                                CHURCH STREET STATION
                               NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10015
                       (Address of principal executive offices)


                                    (212) 250-6519
                 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  /X/   No  / /

As of September 8, 1997, there were 13,120,010 Units of Beneficial Interest in
Mesabi Trust outstanding.




<PAGE>



                            PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                                 THREE MONTHS ENDED              SIX MONTHS ENDED

                                                         JULY 31,                     JULY 31,
                                             -------------------------    -------------------------
                                                  1997           1996           1997           1996
                                                  ----           ----           ----           ----
<S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
A.  Condensed Statements of Income

   Revenues:

    Royalty income                          $1,253,519     $1,593,234     $1,492,369     $1,967,697
    Interest income                              6,033          7,236         16,928         17,315
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                            $1,259,552     $1,600,470     $1,509,297     $1,985,012

   Expenses                                     80,811         98,606        146,509        172,638
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------

   Net income                               $1,178,741     $1,501,864     $1,362,788     $1,812,374
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------

   Weighted average number
      of units outstanding                  13,120,010     13,120,010     13,120,010     13,120,010

   Net income per unit                       $0.089843      $0.114471      $0.103871      $0.138138

   Distributions declared
      per unit                                  $0.065         $0.085         $0.065         $0.085

</TABLE>
 



See Notes to Financial Statements.


                                          2
<PAGE>


B.  Condensed Balance Sheets

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
Assets:                                                    July 31, 1997      January 31, 1997
                                                           -------------      ----------------

<S>                                                      <C>                 <C>
       Cash                                              $    792,714        $        918

       U.S. Government securities,
          at amortized cost (which approximates
          market)                                             683,462           2,484,984

       Accrued income                                         559,464             113,617
       Prepaid insurance                                        8,496               3,645
                                                         ------------        ------------
                                                         $  2,044,136        $  2,603,164
                                                         ------------        ------------

       Fixed property, including
          intangibles, at nominal values:

       Amended Assignment of
          Peters Lease                                   $          1        $          1

       Assignment of Cloquet Lease                                  1                   1

       Certificate of beneficial
          interest for 13,120,010
          units of Land Trust                                       1                   1
                                                         ------------        ------------
                                                         $          3        $          3
                                                         ------------        ------------

                                                         $  2,044,139        $  2,603,167
                                                         ------------        ------------
                                                         ------------        ------------

Liabilities, Unallocated
Reserve and Trust Corpus:

       Liabilities:
          Distribution payable                           $    852,801        $  1,902,401
          Accrued expenses                                     30,740              50,155
                                                         ------------        ------------
                                                         $    883,541        $  1,952,556

       Unallocated reserve                                  1,160,595             650,608
       Trust Corpus                                                 3                   3
                                                         ------------        ------------
                                                         $  2,044,139        $  2,603,167
                                                         ------------        ------------
                                                         ------------        ------------

</TABLE>
 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


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<PAGE>


C.  Condensed Statements of Cash  Flows

                                                        SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                            JULY 31,
                                               -----------------------------
                                                     1997               1996
                                                     ----               ----
Cash flows from operating
activities:
         Royalties received                    $   1,043,744     $   1,288,847
         Interest received                            19,706            21,764
         Expenses paid                             (170,775)         (203,637)
                                               -------------     -------------
         Net cash provided by
           operating activities                $     892,675     $   1,106,974
                                               -------------     -------------

Cash flows from investing
activities:
         Maturities of
           U.S. Government
           securities                          $   2,829,304     $   2,451,452
         Purchases of U.S.
           Government securities                 (1,027,782)       (1,980,685)
                                               -------------     -------------


         Net cash provided by
           investing activities                $  1,801,522      $     470,767
                                               -------------     -------------

Cash flows from financing
  activities:
         Net cash (used in) financing
           activities, distributions
           to Unitholders                      $ (1,902,401)     $ (1,574,401)
                                               -------------     -------------

Net increase in cash                           $     791,796     $       3,340
Cash, beginning of year                                  918             9,183
                                               -------------     -------------
Cash, end of quarter                           $     792,714     $      12,523
                                               -------------     -------------
                                               -------------     -------------

Reconciliation of net income
  to net cash provided by
  operating activities:
          Net income                           $   1,362,788     $   1,812,374
          (Increase) in accrued income             (445,847)         (560,057)
          (Increase) in prepaid insurance            (4,851)           (5,958)
          (Decrease) in
            accrued expenses                        (19,415)          (25,040)
          (Decrease) in deferred income                  --          (114,345)
                                               -------------     -------------
          Net cash provided by
           operating activities                $     892,675     $   1,106,974
                                               -------------     -------------
                                               -------------     -------------


See Notes to Financial Statements.


                                          4
<PAGE>


                                     MESABI TRUST

                            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1.  The financial statements included herein have been prepared without
         audit (except for the balance sheet at January 31, 1997) in accordance
         with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and
         regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain
         information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
         statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
         principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and
         regulations.  In the opinion of the Trustees, all adjustments,
         consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair
         statement of (a) the results of operations for the three and six
         months ended July 31, 1997 and 1996, (b) the financial position at
         July 31, 1997 and January 31, 1997, and (c) the cash flows for the six
         months ended July 31, 1997 and 1996, have been made.

Note 2.  Earnings per unit are based on weighted average number of units
         outstanding during the period (13,120,010 units).

Note 3.  The Trustees attempt to maintain at least $500,000 of liquid assets as
         part of an Unallocated Reserve.  The Unallocated Reserve consists of
         these liquid assets and accrued revenue (primarily royalties not yet
         received).  At July 31, 1997, the Unallocated Reserve was represented
         by $601,131 in unallocated cash and U.S. Government securities, and
         $559,464 of accrued revenue primarily representing royalties not yet
         received by the Trust but anticipated to be received in October 1997
         from Northshore as part of the royalty due for the third calendar
         quarter, based upon reported lessee shipping activity for the month of
         July 1997.





                                          5
<PAGE>


ITEM 2.  TRUSTEES' DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

    Certain statements contained in this document are forward-looking,
including specifically those statements estimating calendar year 1997 production
or shipments.  All such forward-looking statements are based on input from the
lessee/operator.  The Trust has no control over the operations and activities of
the lessee/operator except within the framework of current agreements.  Actual
results could differ materially from those indicated in such statements.  For
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, see
"Important Factors Affecting Mesabi Trust" below.

BACKGROUND

    Leasehold royalty income constitutes the principal source of revenue to
Mesabi Trust.  Royalty rates are determined by the terms of Mesabi Trust's
leases and assignments of leases.  Overriding royalties are determined by both
the volume and selling price of iron ore products sold.  Fee royalties payable
to Mesabi Land Trust, a Minnesota land trust of which Mesabi Trust is the sole
beneficiary ("Mesabi Land Trust"), are based on the amount of crude ore mined,
which crude ore is used to produce iron ore products.


    Northshore Mining Corporation ("Northshore") is obligated as lessee to pay
Mesabi Trust base overriding royalties, in varying amounts constituting a
percentage of the gross proceeds of shipments from Silver Bay, Minnesota of
pellets produced from Mesabi Trust lands or, to a limited extent, other lands,
ranging from 2-1/2% of the gross proceeds for the first one million tons of
pellets so shipped annually to 6% of the gross proceeds for all pellets shipped
in excess of four million tons annually.  In addition, Northshore is obligated
to pay to Mesabi Trust royalty bonuses constituting a percentage of the gross
proceeds of pellets shipped from Silver Bay, Minnesota for sale at prices above
a threshold price (which is adjusted on an annual basis for inflation and
deflation and is $37.29 for calendar year 1997), ranging from 1/2 of 1% of the
gross proceeds on all tonnage shipped for sale at prices between the threshold
price and $2.00 above the threshold price, to 3% of the gross proceeds on all
tonnage shipped for sale at prices $10.00 or more above the threshold price.
Generally, the obligation of Northshore to pay base overriding royalties and
royalty bonuses with respect to the sale of pellets accrues upon the shipment of
those pellets from Silver Bay.  Northshore also is obligated to pay to Mesabi
Trust a minimum advance royalty in equal quarterly installments, which is
credited against certain base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses.  The
amount of advance royalties payable is subject to adjustment for inflation and
deflation and is $621,606 for calendar year 1997.  Northshore is obligated to
make quarterly royalty payments in January, April, July and October of each
year.  In the case of base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses, these
quarterly payments are to be made whether or not the related proceeds of sale
have been received by Northshore by the time such payments become due.

    Due to a combination of factors, shipments from quarter to quarter and from
year to year fluctuate greatly.  These factors include the normal reduction of
Great Lakes shipping activity during the winter months, and reduced pellet sales
resulting from adverse economic conditions affecting the steel industry
generally.


IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING MESABI TRUST

    Under the Agreement of Trust, the activities of the Trust are limited to
the collection of income, the payment of expenses and liabilities, the
distribution of net income and the protection and


                                          6
<PAGE>


conservation of the assets held.  The Trustees are specifically prohibited from
entering into or engaging in any business.  This prohibition applies
irrespective of whether the conduct of business activities is deemed by the
Trustees to be necessary or proper for the preservation and protection of the
Trust Estate.

    Accordingly, the income of the Trust is highly dependent upon the
activities and operations of its assignee/lessee, Northshore, and the terms and
conditions of the Amended Assignment Agreements.  The Trust and the Trustees
have no control over the operations and activities of Northshore except within
the framework of current agreements.

    Due to winter weather, and the increasing royalty percentages based on
tonnage shipped in a calendar year, results for a particular quarter are
typically not indicative of results for future quarters or the year as a whole.
Factors which can impact the results of the Trust in any quarter or year
include:

    1.   SHIPPING CONDITIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES.  Shipping activity by
         Northshore is dependent upon when the Great Lakes shipping lanes
         freeze for the winter months (typically in January) and when they
         re-open in the spring (typically late-March or April).  Base
         overriding royalties to Mesabi Trust are based on shipments made in a
         calendar quarter.  If there is little or no shipping activity in the
         first calendar quarter, the Trust only receives the minimum royalty
         for that period.

    2.   OPERATIONS OF NORTHSHORE.  Since the primary portion of the Trust's
         revenues are from the shipments of iron ore product by Northshore,
         Northshore's processing and shipping activities directly impact the
         Trust's revenues in any quarter or year.  Shipments by Northshore are
         impacted by a myriad of factors, including economic conditions in the
         iron ore industry, pricing by competitors, long-term customer
         contracts or arrangements by Northshore or its competitors,
         availability of ore boats, production at Northshore's mining
         operations, and production at Northshore's pelletizing/processing
         facility.  If any pelletizing line becomes idle for any reason,
         production (and shipments) could be adversely impacted.

    3.   INCREASING ROYALTIES.  As described elsewhere, the royalty percentage
         paid to the Trust increases as the aggregate tonnage of iron ore
         products shipped in any calendar year increases up to a maximum of
         4,000,000 tons above which the royalty percentage is fixed at 6%.
         Assuming a consistent sales price per ton throughout a calendar year,
         shipments of iron ore product later in the year generate a higher
         royalty to the Trust.

    4.   PERCENTAGE OF MESABI TRUST ORE.  As described elsewhere, Northshore
         has the ability to process and ship iron ore product from lands other
         than Mesabi Trust lands. In certain circumstances, the Trust may be
         entitled to royalties on those other shipments, but not in all cases.

    In general, the Trust will receive higher royalties (assuming all other
    factors are equal) if a higher percentage of shipments are from Mesabi
    Trust lands.  The percentage of shipments from Mesabi Trust lands were
    98.4%, 90.6%, 88.3% and 87.8% in calendar years 1996, 1995, 1994, and 1993,
    respectively.


                                          7
<PAGE>


COMPARISON OF THREE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1997 AND JULY 31, 1996

    Mesabi Trust's net income decreased to $1,178,741 for the fiscal quarter
ended July 31, 1997, as compared to net income of $1,501,864 for the fiscal
quarter ended July 31, 1996.  The decrease in royalty income was primarily due
to decreased pellet shipments, decreased crude ore production (decreasing the
amount of fee royalty income) and a decrease in the deferred income amount in
the comparable prior period which did not recur in the current period.  Mesabi
Trust's gross income for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 1997 was $1,259,552,
consisting of $414,326 in minimum advance royalty income, $768,115 in overriding
royalty income, $71,078 in fee royalty income and $6,033 in interest income, as
compared to gross income of $1,600,470 for the fiscal quarter ended July 31,
1996.  Mesabi Trust's expenses for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 1997 were
$80,811, compared to expenses of $98,606 for the fiscal quarter ended July 31,
1996.

COMPARISON OF SIX MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1997 AND JULY 31, 1996

    Mesabi Trust's gross income for the six months ended July 31, 1997 was
$1,509,297, a decrease of $475,715 from the gross income of $1,985,012 for the
six months ended July 31, 1996.  The decrease in royalty income was primarily
due to decreased pellet shipments, decreased crude ore production (decreasing
the amount of fee royalty income) and a decrease in the deferred income amount
in the comparable prior period which did not recur in the current period.
Interest income was slightly lower in the 1997 period.  Expenses of $146,509 for
the six months ended July 31, 1997 decreased $26,129 from expenses of $172,638
for the six months ended July 31, 1996.  The decreased income and decreased
expenses resulted in net income of $1,362,788 for the six months ended July 31,
1997, as compared to net income of $1,812,374 for the six months ended July 31,
1996.

    Mesabi Trust's Unallocated Reserve aggregated $1,160,595 at July 31, 1997,
as compared with an Unallocated Reserve of $1,238,576 at July 31, 1996.  The
Trustees anticipate that the amount of Unallocated Reserve will fluctuate from
time to time, depending upon a number of factors, including but not limited to
the income for a particular period, the amount and timing of distributions,
uncertainty about future royalty income and the uncertainty of future expenses.






                                          8
<PAGE>


                             PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         None.

ITEM 2.  CHANGES IN SECURITIES.

         None.

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

         None.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

         None.

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION.

         None.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

         27.1 Financial Data Schedule       ...................Filed herewith.




                                          9
<PAGE>


                                      SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                 MESABI TRUST
                                       -----------------------------------
                                               (Registrant)

                                       By BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                                          Corporate Trustee
                                       Principal Administrative Officer and
                                       duly authorized signatory:*



Date:  September 12, 1997              By:    /s/  Matthew J. Seeley
                                          -----------------------------------
                                                   Name:  Matthew J. Seeley
                                                   Title: Vice President


*   There are no directors
    or executive officers of
    the registrant.





                                          10
<PAGE>


    EXHIBIT INDEX

    Item No.       Description
    --------       -----------
     27.1          Financial Data Schedule.....................Filed herewith.

























                                          11