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Iron Ore
Rocks and minerals that can be economically used to extract metallic iron are known as iron ores. The ores range in colour from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red and are typically rich in iron oxides. Iron is typically found in the following forms: siderite (FeCO3, 48.2% Fe), goethite (FeO(OH), 62.9% Fe), limonite (FeO(OH)·n(H2O), 55% Fe), magnetite (Fe 3O 4, 72.4% Fe), and hematite (Fe 2O 3, 69.9% Fe).
Ores that may be fed straight into blast furnaces used to make iron are referred to as natural or direct shipping ores because they have extremely high concentrations of hematite or magnetite, usually more than 60% iron. 98% of the iron ore that is mined is used to produce steel. Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the key raw materials to make steel.