FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Kirsch James F
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. [CLF] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1000 LAKESIDE AVENUE		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/02/2012
(Street)

CLEVELAND, OH 44114		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               1,855.2312 (1) D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Units (2) 04/02/2012   A   86.6301 (3)     (3)   (3) Common Shares 86.6301 $ 69.26 1,426.436 (4) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Kirsch James F
1000 LAKESIDE AVENUE
CLEVELAND, OH 44114		   X      

Signatures

 /s/ Carolyn E. Cheverine By Power of Attorney   04/04/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The amount reflects 6.7678 shares of Restricted Stock acquired March 1, 2012 pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Nonemployee Directors' Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). The Board of Directors of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. declared dividends of $0.28 per share, payable to all holders of record as of February 15, 2012. The amount also reflects .0037 shares credited on March 1, 2012 to the Reporting Person pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.
(2) Convertible into Common Shares on a 1-for-1 basis.
(3) Reflects number of Common Shares of underlying deferred compensation credited to the account of the Reporting Person in payment of the Reporting Person's required quarterly retainer for the second quarter under the Plan. Each Stock unit is generally distributable following termination of service as a Director.
(4) The total includes dividend reinvestment pursuant to the Plan. The number of deferred dividend reinvestment equivalent shares earned in the Plan is calculated using the closing market price at the end of each quarter for shares held in the Plan. The Reporting Person was credited with 5.0049 dividend reinvestment shares on March 30, 2012.

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