Iron ore
Iron ores are
minerals from which metallic
iron can be extracted. The iron itself is usually found in the form of
magnetite (Fe
3O
4) or
hematite (Fe
2O
3), both of which are iron
oxides. However, as much of the pure magnetite and hematite ore has already been mined, modern iron mines rely on aggregate minerals such as taconite, which must be processed to remove non-iron-bearing components prior to
smelting. Iron mines therefore produce tremendous amounts of
waste.
Iron ore is common worldwide, but commercial mining operations are dominated by seven countries: Australia, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, India, Russia, the USA, and the Ukraine. World production averages one billion metric tons of raw ore annually.
Most iron ore is used in the production of steel.