Ironstones

Iron ore mining methods vary by the type of ore being mined. There are four main types of iron ore deposits worked currently, depending on the mineralogy and geology of the ore deposits. These are magnetite, titanomagnetite, massive hematite and pisolitic ironstone deposits. Most large hematite iron ore deposits are sourced from metasomatically altered banded iron formations and rarely igneous accumulations. Hematite iron is typically rarer but it is considerably cheaper and easier to beneficiate and requires considerably less energy to crush and grind. Hematite ores however can contain significantly higher concentrations of penalty elements, typically being higher in phosphorus, water content and aluminium.
The iron-ore bearing rock is first blasted and dug up from open pit mines, then crushed, smelted in furnaces. To make steel, it is then alloyed with metals like nickel, chromium, manganese or titanium. These alloys give steel special properties like electrical resistance, and resistant to wear, rust, impact, shock or expansion when heated. The cooled steel is shaped and can be coated with tin, zinc or paint to help protect it from rusting.