<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000764065-15-000021.txt : 20150114
<SEC-HEADER>0000764065-15-000021.hdr.sgml : 20150114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150114161852
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000764065-15-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150114

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000764065
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL MINING [1000]
		IRS NUMBER:				341464672
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 PUBLIC SQUARE
		STREET 2:		STE. 3300
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2315
		BUSINESS PHONE:		216-694-5700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 PUBLIC SQUARE
		STREET 2:		STE. 3300
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2315

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CLEVELAND CLIFFS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GONCALVES LOURENCO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236128

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08944
		FILM NUMBER:		15527416
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_142127032238651.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000764065</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CLF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236128</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GONCALVES LOURENCO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 PUBLIC SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44114-2315</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>187137</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>264137</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (right-to-buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>187136</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-01-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>187136.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>187136</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (right-to-buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.83</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>250000.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-Based RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>400000.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the number of restricted share units granted to the Reporting Person on January 12, 2015 from the Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Incentive Equity Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;). This grant vests in three equal annual installments beginning on December 31, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Equal to the volume weighted average price of a share of the Issuer's common shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on December 31, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This November 17, 2014 grant is an award of performance-based restricted stock units (&quot;PRSUs&quot;) to the Reporting Person under the Plan. The Reporting Person did not pay any purchase price for the PRSUs, which are considered a derivative security; they instead were a compensatory grant to the Reporting Person under the terms of his employment letter agreement, filed as Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K/A on September 16. 2014. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one common share of Issuer. The PRSUs are considered a derivative security because the Reporting Person can earn the PRSUs based on share price appreciation. Under the terms of the award, the performance period will run from August 7, 2014 through December 31, 2017. SEE CONTINUATION OF FN4 IN &quot;REMARKS&quot;.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>FN4 CONTINUED: In general, the following number of PRSUs will be earned, subject to continued employment, based on the following performance, with straight line interpolation applied between performance levels once threshold performance is achieved: (1) 300,000, if the volume weighted average price (&quot;VWAP&quot;) of an Issuer common share is, for any 90-consecutive-calendar-day period during the performance period, 25% greater than $13.83 (&quot;Threshold Achievement&quot;); (2) 400,000, if the VWAP of an Issuer common share is, for any 90-consecutive calendar-day period during the performance period, 50% greater than $13.83; and (3) 500,000, if the VWAP of an Issuer common share is, for any 90-consecutive-calendar-day period during the performance period, 100% greater than $13.83. If Threshold Achievement is not achieved, no portion of the award will be earned. Further, 25% of any shares issued in settlement of the award must be held by the Reporting Person for one year.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James D. Graham by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
