IRON ORE PRODUCTS

IRON ORE PRODUCTS

Metallic iron is virtually unknown on the surface of the Earth except as iron-nickel alloys from meteorites and very rare forms of deep mantle xenoliths. Although iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, comprising about 5%, the vast majority is bound in silicate or more rarely carbonate minerals.Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted.

There are several processes for refining iron from ore. The older process is to burn iron ore with charcoal (carbon) and oxygen provided by bellows. The carbon and oxygen, including the oxygen in the ore, combine and leave the iron. However, the iron does not get hot enough to melt completely and it contains silicates left over from the ore. It can be heated and hammered out to form wrought iron.

Iron ore is part of our everyday lives and our modern world would look completely different without it. 98% of world iron ore is used to make steel, which accounts for over 90% of all metals used in the world. Steel is used in building for so many things, from cars, trains and ships through to the high rise buildings in our cities and the bridges that connect us. Steel is used to create pipes, cars, ships, engines, roofs, nails, nuts, bolts, tools, machinery, in building & construction, to make white goods, in manufacturing, food cans and much more.