what is ore wr. the ores of iron
Answers
Answer:
An ore is a mixture of elements where maximum amount of a substance can be obtained
Answer:
Did you know that there are different types of iron ore? Iron is most often found in hematite and magnetite ores, though goethite, limonite and siderite ores are also common sources.
For investors interested in the iron ore space, it’s useful to know the facts about hematite and magnetite ores. Both of those types of iron ore are rocks and minerals from which iron can be extracted. Here’s an overview of some basic information about hematite and magnetite ores, including what they are and where they’re found.
Types of iron ore: Hematite ore
Hematite ore is a direct-shipping ore with naturally high iron content. Because of its high iron content, hematite ore must undergo only a simple crushing, screening and blending process before being shipped off for steel production.
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For that reason, hematite ore is important for many mining companies. As Australia’s Magnetite Network explains, “[d]irect shipping ores, when mined, typically have iron (Fe) content of between 56% Fe and 64% Fe … By comparison, magnetite ore typically has a much lower iron content when mined of between 25% and 40% Fe and in this form is unsuitable for steel making.”
Hematite ore is found throughout the world, but the most utilized deposits are in Brazil, Australia and Asia. Hematite ore has been the primary type of iron ore mined in Australia since the early 1960s.
Approximately 96 percent of the continent’s iron ore exports are high-grade hematite ore, and the majority of its reserves are located in the Hamersley province of Western Australia. The mountainous Hamersley Range is at the center of hematite ore exploration and development because it sits on a banded iron formation.
Brazil is another one of the world’s main sources of this type of iron ore. Its Carajas mine is the largest iron ore mine in existence, and is operated by Brazilian miner Vale (NYSE:VALE). Vale is the third-largest mining company in the world and the largest producer of iron ore pellets. Vale’s headquarters are in Rio de Janeiro, and its primary iron ore assets are in the Iron Quadrangle region of Minas Gerais.
In Asia, a great deal of mining for hematite ore is done in China. Known reserves include the Tung-Yeh-Chen hematite ore deposit and the Dongye hematite ore deposit.
Types of iron ore: Magnetite ore
The mineral magnetite actually has higher iron content than the mineral hematite. However, while hematite ore generally contains large concentrations of hematite, magnetite ore generally holds low concentrations of magnetite. As a result, this type of iron ore ore must be concentrated before it can be used to produce steel. Magnetite ore’s magnetic properties are helpful during this process.
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While magnetite ore requires more treatment, end products made from magnetite ore are typically of higher quality than those made from hematite ore. That’s because magnetite ore has fewer impurities than hematite ore; in this way, the elevated cost of processing magnetite ore can be balanced out.
Magnetite ore is currently mined in Minnesota and Michigan in the US, as well as in taconite deposits in Eastern Canada. A major mining site in Michigan is the Marquette Range. The deposit was discovered in 1844, and ore was first mined there in 1848. Magnetite ore and hematite ore are among the four types of iron ore deposits found in this area.
In Minnesota, this type of iron ore is mined mainly in the Mesabi Range, one of the four ranges that make up the Iron Range of Minnesota. In Canada, Labrador is home to the majority of magnetite ore mining. In particular, mining companies focus on exploration and development in the iron-rich Labrador Trough.
Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) is a major player in the magnetite ore industry, with five iron ore mines that are focused on magnetite ore. For instance, the Empire mine, located in Michigan’s Marquette Range, has an annual capacity of 4.5 million tons. Additionally, its Hibbing taconite mine is in Minnesota’s Mesabi Range and has an annual capacity of 8 million tons of magnetite ore.