Hobbies And Interests
Features
Pure metallic iron is virtually non-existent on the surface of the Earth, causing humans to utilize iron oxide as their primary source for the element. There are three main sources for iron that require different mining techniques to achieve extraction.
Banded iron formations exist within sedimentary rock, usually accompanied by magnetite and silica. Known as taconite, mines cover large swaths of land in Minnesota, Michigan, eastern Canada and Brazil. The rock is removed and crushed in order to attain the taconite, a process called beneficiation.
In Chile, Malaysia and Tasmania, volcanic rock containing iron ore is plentiful. These deposits are mined in a similar fashion to branded iron formations and crushed to remove the iron. Titanium is a usual byproduct of the volcanic deposits.
Hematite iron ore deposits are more traditional deposits of iron. The separation of the iron ore from its joined elements makes this one of the preferred sources for mining. The high concentration of additional elements, however, limits the volume of iron removed from the process. Large deposits of hematite iron can be found worldwide, but Australia and India have the most extensive amount.
Function
Iron is the most utilized metal in the world. Its modification into steel has created the frames and skeletons for cruise ships, stadiums, cars and skyscrapers. The importance of continued iron ore production is pivotal to the economic development of human civilization. The major challenges of retrieving iron ore are not necessarily in locating a high volume of material, but the fact that mining it can prove difficult. Most major iron ore mining relies on the major industrialized countries including China, Brazil, India, Australia, Russia and the United States.
Considerations
The amount of iron ore produced annually in the world is at least 1 billion mentric tons, with consumption levels almost always on the rise. So despite the seemingly vast resources, the iron ore that we presently extract could be depleted by 2070. This is not to say that iron has been completely tapped from Earth; however, the different sources that we use to obtain the material could be gone. Scientists and the iron and steel industries are working on new sources to retrieve iron ore, including further research into silica sand to better procure every bit of iron ore available. In addition, more elaborate recycling plans have been put into place. A large amount of steel and iron produced in the United States comes from recycled materials.
Effects
In order to obtain pure iron from iron ore, the oxygen present in the material must be removed. The main processes capable of doing this are smelting and direct reduction. Because the connection between iron and oxygen atoms is so strong, a second element, carbon, must be introduced to attract the oxygen. By powdering the iron ore and merging it with carbon-based coke and heating to high temperatures, the oxygen is removed and carbon monoxide is produced. The key to this process is by keeping the area of the separation as free from extra oxygen as possible in an effort to prevent the creation of carbon dioxide.
Significance
Elements commonly found in iron ore can have a profound influence on the finished product if care is not taken during the smelting process. The effects of phosphorus in iron can cause increased strength and hardness, which may be beneficial for certain materials. However, it also prevents certain uses. Sulfur can cause the iron to become more brittle, while aluminum affects the time it takes to process. Silica is another element commonly found in iron, but the effects are minimal. Many of these intrusive elements have been fully removed since the advent of modern smelting techniques. Most iron from before the 19th century, however, contains many of these impurities.