What is Iron Ore?

Iron ore is a mineral substance that contains varying amounts of iron (Fe). Iron ore is typically mined from the Earth’s crust, the main types of iron ore include hematite, taconite, magnetite, and titanomagnetite. While iron ore varies in color, rust red is the most common. The iconic red rocks of Sedona owe their colors to iron oxides, including both Hematite and Goethite in the sandstone.

A common Element

It’s estimated there is over 180 billion metric tons of iron ore reserves spread across our globe.

A Sustainable Future

Steel is a pivotal material in our energy infrastructure, from wind turbines to solar energy.

A Vast Infrastructure

Iron ore is a key component of steel-making. Steel beams and columns form the framework of buildings and bridges worldwide.

Lump Iron

Lump iron, also known as lump ore, is a naturally occurring type of iron ore found in solid, chunky form. Unlike fines or pellets, which are processed into specific shapes, lump iron has larger particle sizes ranging from millimeters to centimeters. It’s often mined from open-pit or underground mines and requires minimal processing before being used in steelmaking. In the steelmaking process, lump iron is melted in a blast furnace along with coke and fluxes. The intense heat causes it to melt and form molten pig iron, which is then refined to produce steel

Pelletized Iron Ore

Pelletized iron ore is a processed form of iron ore that is agglomerated into small, spherical pellets, typically ranging in size from 8 to 18 millimeters in diameter. It is produced through a process called pelletization, where fine iron ore particles are mixed with additives such as bentonite clay and water to form a pellet feed. Pelletized iron ore offers several advantages over other forms of iron ore, including improved handling and transportation properties, uniformity in composition and size, and reduced dust and fines during handling. It is widely used in steelmaking processes as a feedstock in blast furnaces or direct reduction plants to produce molten pig iron or direct reduced iron, which is further processed into steel.

Iron Ore Fines

Iron ore fines are small particles resulting from the crushing, screening, and processing of mined iron ore, typically ranging from millimeters to micrometers in size. They contain iron oxides like hematite or magnetite, alongside impurities such as silica and alumina. Used as a raw material in steelmaking, fines are often agglomerated into pellets or sinter to enhance handling and blast furnace efficiency. Advancements in handling allow fines to be directly charged into blast furnaces in some cases.

Iron Ore Concentrates

Iron ore concentrates are high-grade products derived from the beneficiation of low-grade iron ore. They contain finely ground iron ore particles with elevated iron content, typically between 60% to 70%. These concentrates are essential for steelmaking, being processed further into pellets or sinter feed for blast furnaces or direct reduction plants. Their high iron content and low impurity levels enhance steelmaking efficiency. Additionally, they find use in other industrial applications such as iron-based chemical production or non-ferrous metallurgical processes.

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