Iron Ore Mining Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis

Metallic iron can be economically extracted from rocks and minerals, often referred to as iron ores. These ores are typically high in iron oxides. They vary in color. Iron itself is found in one of the following forms: magnetite (Fe304), hematite (Fe203), goethite (FeO(OH)), limonite (FeO(OH).n(H20)), or siderite (FeC03). Pig iron, one of the necessary raw materials in making steel, is comprised partially of iron ore. Approximately 98 percent of the iron ore mined is used to make steel. The method used to mine the ore is determined by the type of ore being mined. The four types of ore deposits most commonly being mined are: magnetite, titanomagnetite, massive hematite, and pisolitic ironstone deposits.