Iron ore is primarily used for steelmaking, but also has other uses such as in cosmetics, paints, and catalysts. Engineers and geologists study the rock to determine the potential yield of a mine. Steelmaking consumes the majority of iron ore produced worldwide, but it is also used in industrial processes, abrasives, and automobile parts. Iron ore is a valuable raw material due to its many uses and high demand.
One of the most important uses of iron ore is steelmaking, which accounts for the majority of iron ore processed each year. Iron-rich minerals have a number of other uses, some of which are quite literally quite colorful; they are used in cosmetics, for example, and in the manufacture of some paints, inks and dyes. Producers distinguish between high and low grade ores that contain different impurities mixed with the iron and determine the end uses of the iron ore.
When sites with iron ore are identified, engineers and geologists study the rock to learn more about the specific type and determine the potential yield of the mine. If the deposits are small, it may not be cost-effective to collect the ore, as it would be present in such a small percentage that it would not pay off for site development and management. Analysts evaluating a potential mine can consider current demand and the different uses of iron ore that might apply to the site’s products.
Steelmaking consumes the vast majority of the iron ore produced worldwide. To make steel, companies start by crushing and pre-processing the ore before smelting it to release the trapped metal in a thermal and chemical reaction. This can be used to produce so-called “pig iron”, solid blocks of iron which can be further worked. Cast iron can be used in alloys and worked in a variety of ways to make different products from steel and other materials that contain iron.
Some industrial processes involve the use of iron ore as a catalyst for chemical reactions and it is also used in processes such as photographic developing. It can be included as a component in abrasives and specialty paints, such as those used on exterior structures that must be extremely weather resistant. Magnets, magnetic powders, and related products account for some uses of iron ore, as do some industrial components and automobile parts.
Radioactive iron ore has some applications as a tracer material, where the element can be used as a label by tracing radioactive emissions, and is also an ingredient in some fungicides. As these uses of iron ore illustrate, rocks containing a certain percentage of iron have a wide variety of industrial applications. Iron ore mining worldwide is an extremely large industry and is one of the most valuable raw materials due to its myriad uses and high demand for products such as structural steel.
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