Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2020	Sep. 04, 2020
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Jul. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	1-4488
Entity Registrant Name	MESABI TRUST
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NY
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-6022277
Entity Address, Address Line One	60 Wall Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	24th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10005
City Area Code	904
Local Phone Number	271-2520
Title of 12(b) Security	Units of Beneficial Interest, no par value
Trading Symbol	MSB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,120,010
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0000065172
Amendment Flag	false