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Iron ore

Hematite, the main iron ore found in Brazilian mines
Stockpiles of iron ore pellets like this one are used in steel production.
An illustration of iron ore being unloaded at docks in Toledo, Ohio

Iron ores[1] are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the form of magnetite (Fe
3O
4, 72.4% Fe), hematite (Fe
2O
3, 69.9% Fe), goethite (FeO(OH), 62.9% Fe), limonite (FeO(OH)·n(H2O), 55% Fe), or siderite (FeCO3, 48.2% Fe).

Ores containing very high quantities of hematite or magnetite, typically greater than about 60% iron, are known as natural ore or direct shipping ore, and can be fed directly into iron-making blast furnaces. Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the main raw materials to make steel—98% of the mined iron ore is used to make steel.[2] In 2011 the Financial Times quoted Christopher LaFemina, mining analyst at Barclays Capital, saying that iron ore is "more integral to the global economy than any other commodity, except perhaps oil".[3]

  1. ^ Ramanaidou and Wells, 2014
  2. ^ "Iron Ore – Hematite, Magnetite & Taconite". Mineral Information Institute. Archived from the original on 17 April 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2006.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Iron ore pricing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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