DETAILED INFORMATION DOSSIER (DID) ON IRON ORE IN INDIA

CONTENTS
PART-I: GENERAL INFORMATION ON IRON ORES - INDIAN AND WORLD
RESOURCES IN BRIEF
CHAPTER

CHAPTER

1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2
3
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
5

CHAPTER

5.1
5.2
6

CHAPTER
CHAPTER
CHAPTER

6.1
6.2
6.3

GENERAL INFORMATION ON IRON ORES

Introduction
Uses
Commercial Grades And Specification
Market Price
WORLD IRON ORE RESOURCES
INDIAN RESOURCES
PRODUCTION OF IRON ORE
World Scenario
Indian Scenario
Export Scenario of Iron Ore
GEOLOGICAL
SETTING,
GENESIS
AND
DISTRIBUTION OF IRON ORE DEPOSITS
Geological Setting
Geological distribution and brief description of deposit
FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR IRON ORE DEPOSITS
IN INDIA
Demand of Iron Ore
Augmentation of iron ore
Optimum utilization of iron ore

PART-II: STATEWISE DISTRIBUTION AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IRON ORE

DEPOSITS OF INDIA
CHAPTER

1
1.1
1.2
12.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
1.2.4
1.2.5
1.2.6
1.2.7
1.2.8
1.2.9
1.2.10

ANDHRA PRADESH
General Description
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Khammam and Warangal Districts
East Godavari District
Anantapur District
Adilabad District
Cuddapah District
Karimnagar District
Kurnool District
Krishna District
Nellore District
Guntur District

CHAPTER
CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

1.2.11
1.2.12
2
2.1
3
3.1
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
4
4.1
4.2
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.2.6
5
5.1
5.2
5.1
5.2

CHAPTER

CHAPTER
CHAPTER

5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.2.5
5.2.6
5.2.7
5.2.8
5.2.9
6
6.1
6.2
6.2.1
7
7.1
8
8.1
8.2

Prakasham District
Chittoor District
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
General Description
ASSAM
General Description
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Goalpara District
Bongaigaon District
Kokrajhar District
CHHATISGARH
General Description
Districtwise Distribution of the Deposits
Bastar District
Durg District
Deposits of Bordering area of Durg and Kanker
Districts
Dantewara District
Kanker District
Raigarh District
GOA
Geological Setting
Geological distribution and brief description of
deposit
General Description
Description of the Individual Deposit on the Basis of
Genetic Type
Bicholim-Pale Type
Sacorda-Pissurlem Type
Codli-Sigao Type
Costi-Quirlapale Type
Barazan-Viliena Type
Rivona-Columba-Canvorem Type
Netrolim-Camona Type
Betul-Nuem Type
Other Deposits
HARYANA
General Description
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Mahendragarh District
HIMACHAL PRADESH
General Description
JAMMU & KASHMIR
General Description
Districtwise Description of the Deposits

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

8.2.1
8.2.2
9
9.1
9.2
9.2.1
9.2.2
9.2.3
10
10.1
10.2
10.2.1
10.2.2
10.2.3
10.2.4
10.2.5
10.2.6
10.2.7
10.2.8
10.2.9
10.2.10
10.2.11
10.2.12
10.2.13
10.3
10.3.1
10.3.2
10.3.3
11
11.1
11.2
11.2.1
11.2.2
11.2.3
11.2.4
11.2.5
12
12.1
12.2
12.2.1
12.2.2.
12.2.3
12.2.4
12.2.5

Poonch District
Udhampur District
JHARKHAND
Introduction
Districtwise Description of Deposits
Singhbhum District
Palamau District
Minor Occurrence in Jharkhand
KARNATAKA
General Description
Districtwise Description of Banded Iron Formation
Bellari District
Chikmagalur District
Shimoga District
Chitradurga District
North Kanara District
Tumkur District
Bijapur District
South Kanara District
Dharwar District
Hassan District
Mandya District
Mysore District
Raichur District
Districtwise Description of Titaniferous and
Vanediferous Magnetite Ore Deposits
Shimoga District
North Kanara District
Mandya District
KERALA
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Calicut-Kojhikode Districts
Mallapuram District
Kottayam District
Palghat District
Quilon District
MADHYA PRADESH
Introduction
Districtwise Description of Deposits
Jabalpur District
Chhatarpur District
Balaghat District
Dewas District
Dhar District

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

12.2.6.
12.2.7
12.2.8
12.2.9
12.2.10
12.2.11
12.2.12
12.2.13
12.2.14
12.2.15
12.2.16
12.2.17
13
13.1
13.2
13.2.1
13.2.2
13.2.3
13.2.4
13.2.5
14
14.1
14.2
14.2.1
15
15.1
15.2
15.2.1
16
16.1
16.2
16.2.1
16.2.2
16.2.3
16.2.4
16.2.5
16.2.6
17
17.1
17.2
17.2.1
17.2.2
17.2.3
17.2.4
17.2.5

Gird District
Betul District
Jhabua District
Nimor (Khandwa) District
Rajgarh District
Sagar District
Satna District
Sidhi District
Tikamgarh District
Gwalior District
Mandsaur District
Narsimhapur District
MAHARASHTRA
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Sindhudurg District
Gadchiroli District
Chandrapur District
Bhandara District
Satara(N) District
MEGHALAYA
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Jaintia Hill District
NAGALAND
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Twensang District
ORISSA
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Keonjhar District
Sundargarh District
Jajpur District
Nawarangpur District
Mayurbhanj District
Sambalpur District
RAJASTHAN
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Jaipur District
Jhunjhunu District
Sikar District
Udaipur District
Bundi and Bhilwara Districts

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

17.2.6
17.2.7
17.2.8
18
18.1
18.2
18.2.1
18.2.2
18.2.3
18.2.4
19
19.1
19.2
19.2.1
20
20.1
20.2
20.2.1
20.2.2

Jodhpur District
Bharatpur District
Alwar District
TAMIL NADU
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Salem and Tiruchirapally Districts
Dharampuri District
South Arcot and North Arcot Districts
Niligiri District
UTTAR PRADESH
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Mirzapur District
WEST BENGAL
Introduction
Districtwise Description of the Deposits
Burdwan District
Birbhum District

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

PART-I
GENERAL INFORMATION ON IRON ORES : INDIAN AND
WORLD RESOURCES IN BRIEF

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INFORMATION ON IRON ORES

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Iron is the second most abundant metallic element in the Earths crust and accounts for
5.6% of the lithosphere. The principal minerals of iron are the oxides (haematite and
magnetite), hydroxide (limonite and goethite), carbonate (siderite) and sulphide (pyrite).
Iron, like most metals, is found in the Earth's crust only in the form of an ore, i.e., combined
with other elements such as oxygen or sulfur. Haematite and magnetite are the two
important iron ores from which iron is extracted. Of these, haematite is considered to be
superior owing to its high grade.

It is the basic raw material for iron and steel industry. Steel is an alloy that consists mostly
of iron and has carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade.
Iron is extracted from ore by removing oxygen and combining the ore with a preferred
chemical partner such as carbon. This process is known as smelting. Since the oxidation
rate itself increases rapidly beyond 800 C, it is important that smelting take place in a lowoxygen environment. Smelting results in an alloy (pig iron) containing too much carbon to be
called steel. The excess carbon and other impurities are removed in a subsequent step.
Other materials are often added to the iron/carbon mixture to produce steel with desired
properties. Nickel and manganese in steel add to its tensile strength and make austenite
more chemically stable, chromium increases hardness and melting temperature and
vanadium also increases hardness while reducing the effects of metal fatigue. To prevent
corrosion, at least 11% chromium is added to steel so that a hard oxide forms on the metal
surface; this is known as stainless steel. Tungsten interferes with the formation of cementite,
allowing martensite to form with slower quench rates, resulting in high speed steel. On the
other hand, sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus make steel more brittle, so these commonly
found elements must be removed from the ore during processing.

Iron has found its usage from a very early part of human civilization, second only to copperbronze. Steel was known in antiquity, and may have been produced by managing
bloomeries, iron-smelting facilities, where the bloom contained carbon. The earliest known
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

production of steel is a piece of ironware excavated from an archaeological site in Anatolia

(Kaman-Kalehoyuk ) and is about 4,000 years old. Other ancient steel comes from East
Africa, dating back to 1400 BC. In the 4th century BC steel weapons like the Falcata were
produced in the Iberian Peninsula, while Noric steel was used by the Roman military. The
Chinese of the Warring States (403221 BC) had quench-hardened steel, while Chinese of
the Han Dynasty (202 BC 220 AD) created steel by melting together wrought iron with
cast iron, gaining an ultimate product of a carbon-intermediate steel by the 1st century AD.
Evidence of the earliest production of high carbon steel in the Indian Subcontinent was
found in Samanalawewa area in Sri Lanka Wootz steel was produced in India by about 300
BC. Along with their original methods of forging steel, the Chinese had also adopted the
production methods of creating Wootz steel, an idea imported into China from India by the
5th century AD. During the early part of the civilization, India was an important trade centre
of iron smelting which dates back to about 3000 years. Documentary evidences suggests
making of various surgical instruments using iron as one of the constituent in 3rd/4th century
BC.

Since the 17th century the first step in modern steel production has been the smelting of
iron ore into pig iron in a blast furnace. Originally using charcoal, modern methods use coke,
which has proven to be a great deal cheaper. With the invention of the Bassemer processes
of iron extraction in 1856 and the Basic Open Hearth Process in 1878, the scenario
changed. These developments led to significant increase in the world production of steel
(which consumes the major share of iron) from 0.5million tones in 1870 to 28 million tones in
1900.The modern smelter for iron ore in India was found in 1877 using the ironstone
nodules associated with the Gondwanas of the coal field. The discovery of iron ore deposit
in 1904 heralded the industrial revolution. TISCO started producing pig iron in 1911 and
steel in 1912. Even today India is one of the leading producers of iron and steel in the
world. India has large resources of iron ore as well as population that could consume steel
in large quantities. Other iron rich nations are Brazil, Australia, Russia, China and Ukraine
etc.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

1.2 USES
Iron ore is used mainly for making pig iron, sponge iron and steel. Iron and steel together
form the largest manufactured products in the world and each of them enters into every
branch of industry and is a necessary factor in every phase of our modern civilization. It is
used widely in the construction of roads, railways, other infrastructure, appliances, and
buildings. Most large modern structures, such as stadiums and skyscrapers, bridges, and
airports, are supported by a steel skeleton. Even those with a concrete structure will employ
steel for reinforcing. In addition to widespread use in major appliances and cars, despite
growth in usage of aluminum, it is still the main material for car bodies. Steel is used in a
variety of other construction materials, such as bolts, nails, and screws. Other common
applications include shipbuilding, pipeline transport, mining, offshore construction,
aerospace, heavy equipment such as bulldozers, office furniture, steel wool, tools, and
armour in the form of personal vests or vehicle armour (better known as rolled
homogeneous armour in this role).

Pure iron has relatively few specialized uses. Ingot iron is galvanized for roofing, siding and
tanks. In the form of corrugated pipe it is used for culverts. Because of its relatively high
purity it is suited to oxy-acetylene welding, both as material to be welded and as welding
rod. It is used in vitreous enameling. Its good ductility makes it suitable for deep drawing
operation as in the manufacture of appliance parts e.g. washing machine tub, relatively low
electrical resistance and high magnetic permeability lead to its use in many types of
electrical equipments, generator fields, magnetic parts of relays, magnetic brakes and
clutches. Iron ore is also used in ferro-alloy, cement, foundry, vanaspati and glass factories.

1.3 COMMERCIAL GRADES AND SPECIFICATION

Haematite is the main iron ore which is extensively used for manufacture of iron and steel in
India. The chemical analysis grade of different varieties of iron ore is given in Table 1.3.1
while table 1.3.2 summarizes the mineralogical characteristics.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

Table 1.3.1: Grade of different types of iron ore

Sl no

Type of ore

Values

Fe%

SiO2%

Al2O3%

Cut off

1.

Hard laminated ore

Minimum 62.16
Maximum 64.81
Average
63.92

0.05
1.46
0.48

2.69
4.59
3.58

Fe-55%

2.

Soft laminated/ Powdery ore

Minimum
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Maximum
Average
------

0.14
5.00
2.77
0.14
1.60
0.78
6.38
11.72
8.57

3.76
7.53
5.94
1.02
6.76
4.18
11.73
22.61
17.50

Fe-55%

Blue dust
3.

Ferruginous shale/ lateritic

ore (Sub grade)

4.

-----

56.37
62.67
60.08
62.12
69.16
64.60
45.85
54.61
48.50

Fe-55%

Fe-45%

Table 1.3.2: Mineralogical Characteristics of haematite ores

Ore Type
Massive

Laminated
Lateriritc
Blue dust

Iron bearing minerals

Gangue
minerals
Haematite, goethite, Quartz, clay
martite
and
magnetite
Haematite, goethite, Clay, gibbsite,
limonite
quartz, chert
Goethite,
limonite, Clay, gibbsite,
haematite, ochre
silica
Haematite, goethite
Quartz, clay

Other features
Steel grey in colour, Sp.Gr. >5,
high crushing strength
Laminated structure
Sp. Gr: 4.2-4.7
Dull luster, rich in alumina, friable
nature
Generally blue/dark black or cherty
red in colour, powdery form, low
alumina

With the iron and steel industries are becoming increasingly conscious about the need for
improving productivity, the approach is towards obtaining cleaner ore with higher Fe content
having least gangue and of homogeneous & consistent quality. The specifications of iron
ore demanded by coal and gas based plants for manufacture of different type of iron is
given in Table 1.3.3.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

Table 1.3.3: Specifications of iron ore for sponge iron manufacturer

Chemical
Fe%
specifications (min)
Coal Based
65

SiO2%
(max)
4.5

Al2O3%
(max)
0.02

P%
(max)
-

S%
(max)
-

Size
(in mm)
5-18

Gas Based

3.0

0.02

0.04

0.01

6-20

66

The quality of iron ore required for different iron making processes is given in Table 1.3.4
Table- 1.3.4: Specifications of iron ores for different processes
Characteristics

Corex

Blast
Furnace
6-30 /40
5.0 max
80.0 min
10.0 max
90.0 min

Direct Reduction Route

Midrex
Hyl.
Rotary Kiln
6-35
6-25
6-20
5.0 max
2.0 max
2.0 max
90.0 min
85.0 min
90.0 min
7.0 max
10.0 max
7.0 max
95.0 min
90.0 min
95.0 min

Physical size mm
% - 6.3 mm
Tumbler Index (% + 6.3mm)
Abrasion Index (% - 0.5mm)
Shatter Index
(% + 10mm)
Chemical
Total iron
Gangue %(SiO2+Al2O3)
Sulphur %
Phosphorous %
Alkali %
LOI %
Metallurgical
Reaction and degradation
Index

10-30
-80-85
7.0 max
95.0 min

65.0 min
4.0 max
0.004 max
0.08 max
-

62-65 min
6.0 max
0.01 max
0.05 max
0.02-0.04
2.0 max

67.0 min
3.2 max
0.015 max
0.015 max
0-15 max
1.5 max

65.5 min
2.2 max
0.02 max
0.10 max
1.5 max

64.0 min
4.0 max
0.01 max
0.04 max

25 max

35 max

5 max

5max

7 max

The typical compositions of cast iron are given in the following table 1.3.5. The different
grades of pig iron depend upon their contents of silicon, sulphur, phosphorus and
manganese.
TABLE 1.3.5: TYPICAL COMPOSITION OF CAST IRON
Composition

White Iron

Malleable Iron

Grey Iron

Ductile Iron

Carbon Wt%

1.8 3.6

2.0 3.0

2.5 3.8

3.2 4.2

Silicon Wt%

0.5 2.0

0.6 1.3

1.1 2.8

1.1 3.5

Manganese Wt%

0.2 0.8

0.2 0.6

0.4 1.0

0.3 0.8

Phosphorous Wt%

0.18

0.15

0.15

0.08

Sulphur Wt%

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.02

Source: IBM Monograph on Iron Ores (1998)

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

10

1.4. Market Price:

Prices are influenced not only by the intrinsic prices of the ore (base price) but also by
freight rates. Freight rate demonstrates a more volatile behaviour to the basic price of the
ore. The prices of the iron ores of different grades during the period from 2003-04 to 200708 are given below in Table No.1.4.1

TABLE 1.4.1: PRICES OF IRON ORE (DOMESTIC MARKET) 2003-2008 PER TONNE
Grades
Lumps 63/63% Fe
Lumps 60/59% Fe
Fines 63/63% Fe
Fines 62/62% Fe
Lumps + 65% Fe
62-65% Fe

Market
2003-04
FOBT
Marmango USD
(Berth) Goa
17.39
14.67
-do15.18
14.74
FOBT Noamundi/
Rs 335
Jharkhand
(avg)

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

20.63
17.40
18.01
17.48
1020
NA

35.88
29.84
30.88
29.99
2317
997

42.10
35.51
36.75
35.68
2888
1779

46.10
38.89
40.24
39.07
3730
2415

Source: Indian Minerals year book, IBM

CHAPTER 2: WORLD IRON ORE RESOURCES

The world reserve base of crude iron is estimated to be 370 billion tonnes (USGS Mineral
commodity summary, 2008). The reserve base of iron content of iron ore is estimated to be
around 160 billion tonnes. USGS has also estimated that the world resources are estimated
to exceed 800 billion tonnes of crude ore containing more than 230 billion tonnes of iron.
Iron ore deposits are distributed in different regions of the world under varied geological
conditions and in different geological formations. The largest concentration of ore is found in
banded sedimentary iron formations of Precambrian age. These formations constitute the
bulk of world iron ore resources. The top ten countries in the world in the order of their iron
resources were the Common-wealth of Independent States (erstwhile USSR), Australia,
Canada, USA, Brazil, India, South Africa, China, Sweden and Venezuela. Ranking of iron
ore producing countries was the Commonwealth of Independent States, China, Brazil,
Australia, USA, India, Sweden, Canada, South Africa and Venezuela.

The world reserve base of crude iron ore by principal countries is given in Table 2.1
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

11

Table 2.1: World resources of iron ore by Principal countries

Qty: Million tonnes
Crude ore
Iron content
Reserve
United States
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
India
Iran
Kazakhstan
Mauritania
Mexico
Russia
South Africa
Sweden
Ukraine
Venezuela
Other countries
World
Total (rounded)

6900
15000
23000
1700
21000
6600
1800
8300
700
700
25000
1000
3500
30000
4000
11000
160,000

Reserve base
15000
45000
27000
3900
46000
9800
2500
19000
1500
1500
56000
2300
7800
68000
6000
30000
37,000

Reserve
2100
8900
16000
1100
7000
4200
1000
3300
400
400
14000
650
2200
9000
2400
6200
79,000

Reserve base
4600
28000
14000
2500
15000
6200
1500
7400
1000
900
31000
1500
5000
20000
3600
17000
160,000

Source: U.S.Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2008

CHAPTER 3: INDIAN RESOURCES

India is endowed with huge resource base of 25.24 billion tonnes of iron ore. Hematite and
magnetite combined together; Reserves (111, 121, 122) being at 7.06 billion tonnes and
Remaining resources (211,221,222, 331, 332, 333 & 334) at 18.18 billion tonnes. Of the
total reserve base of 7.06 billion tonnes, hematite accounts for 7.0 billion tonnes and
magnetite at 0.60 billion tonnes.

The reserves and resources estimated by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in different period is
presented in Table- 3.1:

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

12

Table 3.1: Reserves and Resources of Iron ore in India

Hematite

Resources
As on 1980
11,469

Resources
As on 1990
12,197

Magnetite

6,095

10,590

Total

17,564

22,787

Iron Ore

Resources
As on 2000
a. Reserves: 6025
Proved (111): 4421
Probable (121): 828
Probable: (122): 774
b. Remaining resources
(331, 332, 333,334):
5400
Total: 11,425
a. Reserves: 286
b. Remaining Resources:
10,396
Total: 10,682
a. Reserves: 6,311
b. Remaining Resources:
17,277
Total: 23,588

Resources
As on 2005
a. Reserves: 7004
Proved (111): 4945
Probable (121): 995
Probable: (122): 1063
b. Remaining resources
(331, 332, 333,334):
7626
Total: 14630 +
a. Reserves: 58
b. Remaining Resources:
10,560
Total: 10,619 +
a. Reserves:7062
b. Remaining Resources:
18,245
Total: 25,249

As per UNFC system as on 1.4.2005, India possesses total haematite resources of 14,630
million tonnes of which 7,004 million tonnes are reserves and 7,626 million tonnes are
remaining resources. Major haematite resources are located mainly in Jharkhand-4036
million tonnes (28%), Orissa-4761 million tonnes (33%), Chattisgarh-2731 million tonnes
(19%), Karnataka-1676 million tonnes (11%) and Goa-713 million tonnes (5%). The balance
resources are spread over the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Assam and altogether contain around 4% of haematite (Table
3.2).

Magnetite is the other principal iron ore occurring in the form of oxide which is either of
magmatic origin or metamorphosed banded magnetite silica formation, possibly chemogenic
sedimentary origin. The magnetite resources are placed at 10,619 million tonnes of which
only 58 million tonnes constitute reserves, located mainly in Goa. A major share of
magnetite resources is located in Karnataka- 7812 million tonnes (74%), Andhra Pradesh1464 million tonnes (14%), Rajasthan-527 million tonnes & Tamil Nadu-482 million tonnes
(5% each), and Goa-214 million tonnes (2%). Assam, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh and Maharashtra together account for a meager share of magnetite resources. The
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010
13

most important magnetite deposits are located in Babubadan, Kudremukh, Bellary,

Anadurga and Bangarkal areas of Karnataka, Goa region - Ongole and Guntur dist. of
Andhra Pradesh etc. Other deposits are also located in Jharkhand , Bihar, Tamilnadu,
Kerala and Assam. (Source: IBM, Nagpur).
Table 3.2: Resources of iron ore (haematite) in the major producing states in 2000 and
2005
As on 1.4.2000

As on 1.4.2005

(in million tonnes)

(in million tones)

Andhra Pradesh

140.01

163.03

Chhattisgarh

2120.02

2736.78

642.11

712.94

Jharkhand

3044.45

4035.74

Karnataka

1148.32

1676.22

Madhya Pradesh

200.65

204.93

Maharashtra

270.70

265.35

Orissa

3789.39

4760.62

Goa

The grade-wise and state-wise category-wise reconcilable reserves of haematite and

magnetite are shown in the table 3.3.
Table - 3.3: Reserves of iron ore (haematite and magnetite) (by grades and states)
(In million tonnes)
States/ Grade
Recoverable Reserves (as on 1-4-2005)
Proved
Probable
Remaining
Total
Resources
HAEMATITE
Total
4945
2059
7626
14630
By grades
Lump high grade
537
276
396
1209
Lump medium grade
1183
489
1887
3559
Lump low grade
471
678
899
1438
Lump unclassified
8
9
294
311
Fines high grade
146
98
107
351
Fines medium grade
1071
440
1084
2595
Fines low grade
965
131
539
1635
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

14

Fines unclassified
Lumps and fines high grade
Lumps and fines medium grade
Lumps and fines low grade
Lumps and fines unclassified
Blue dust
Black iron ore
Others
Unclassified
Not known
By States
Andhra Pradesh
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Orissa
Rajasthan
Magnetite
Total
By grades
Metallurgical
Coal Washery
Foundry
Others
Unclassified
Not known
By States
Andhra Pradesh
Bihar/Jharkhand
Goa
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Orissa
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu

17
213
171
118
40
NA
NA

5
33
189
236
80
NA

0.7
2 NA
0.02
25
570
268
2237
465
21
10
1341
911
7

NA
2
0.9

186
373
452
602
405
NA

13

15

0.7

1487

2
1487

15
190
191
257
475
13
4

123
55
1970
254
1541
736
171
251

163
55
2730
713
4035
1676
205
265

NA

2509

4761

19

30

14

44

10561

10619

0.4
0.01
0.3
0.2
13
0.3

0.2
3
0.1
0.7
39
0.1

2185
5
0.3
24
8060
286

2186
8
0.7
25
8112
286

3
39

1463
9
164
7811

1463
12
214
7811

NA

NA
0.01
11

NA
NA

NA
NA
0.5

NA
3
NA

164
127
92
248
285

NA

NA
0.1 NA
0.2
1

NA
0.6
0.05
0.2
522
526
481
481
NA: not available

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

15

CHAPTER 4: PRODUCTION OF IRON ORE

4.1 World Scenario

World iron ore market has witnessed a healthy growth in last couple of years with rise in
Chinese steel production to meet its ever expanding demand. The International Iron and
Steel Institute (IISI) has predicted the world consumption of iron ore at 763 million tonnes in
2005. During 1980-88, the global iron ore market came down heavily on the reason of
imbalance in supply and demand for the ore. But towards end of 1988, the world economy
started recovering with sign of strong growth of iron ore production as noticed from 1993
onwards. Iron ore mining industry recorded an all time high till the end of 2007 when the
global recession severely restricted its growth affecting mining consumption and export.
Three largest companies viz., CVRD, Rio Tinto and BHP-Billiton together control about 30%
of global production.
Among the iron ore producing countries, China (25%), Brazil (18%), Austrialia (14.5%), India
(7%) and USA (6%) are the principal producers constituting about 70% of the world the
production. World production of iron ore is given in Table4.1a and by the principal countries
in the world in the (table No.4.1b).

Table 4.1a: World Production of Iron Ore (in Million tonnes)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1085 1059 1104 1232 1370 1544 1826 2043
Source : World Mineral Statistics.

Table 4.1b: World Production by the principal countries (in million tonnes)
Country

2004

2005

2006

2007

World Total

1370

1569

1826

2043

Australia

234

262

275

299

Brazil

262

281

318

355

Canada

29

28

34

33

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

16

China

310

421

588

707

India

146

165

181

204

Iran

18

26

32

35

Kazakstan

20

19

18

20

Russia

95

97

104

105

South Africa

39

40

41

42

Sweden

22

23

23

25

Ukrain

66

69

74

78

USA

55

54

53

52

Venezuela

19

21

22

23

Other Countries

55

63

63

65

Source: World Mineral production 2003-07

4.2 Indian Scenario

India is an important producer of iron ore in the world contributing more than 7% of the
production and ranking fourth in terms of quantity produced following China, Brazil, and
Australia. Iron ore production is around 181 million tonnes in 2006-07 growing by 9.5 per
cent over the previous year. The share of lumps in total iron ore production has been about
40 % with the rest being accounted for by fines and concentrates. The share of lumps in
total iron ore varies across the states depending on the quality of the deposits, operating
practices followed and the commercial judgment of the miners. The iron ore quality varies in
production according to its Fe content based grade with 83.7 % of the total production
having Fe content of 62 % and above. Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Goa
are the major iron ore producing states in India. About 22.7 % of the total production was
from captively held mines with rest coming from merchant mines. Increase in production
have come almost entirely from the existing mines and more so from those in the private
non-captive sector. Increase in iron ore production from captive mines was small. Captive
mines recorded only 21.6 % growth in output during 2002-03 2006-07 compared to 109 %
in the case of non captive mines. Iron ore production growth has been lower in the public
sector at 39 % in the last six years compared to 223 % recorded in the private sector.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

17

Increase in iron ore production has mainly been driven by export demand and consequent
increases in the prices of the same in the international market. The sector accounts for
about 2.8 per cent of the countrys GDP. India started exporting iron ore after the second
world war, particularly to meet the ever expanding requirement of the Japanese steel mills.
New areas such as Bellary-Hospet and Chitradurga in Karnataka, Kiriburu in Jharkhand and
Bailadilla were developed post World War II period to meet the requirements of Japanese,
South Korean and Taiwanese steel mills. The Indian iron ore industry has been resilient to
the changes in domestic and international demands. A brief account of the Total production
of iron ores in India in terms of types is given in Table 4.2.1 and by principal states in Table
4.2.2

Table 4.2.1: Production of Iron Ore, in MT

2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
Total
122.84
145.94
165.23
Lumps
48.96
58.15
68.30
Fines
67.68
82.54
96.90
Concentrates
6.20
5.25
3.61

2006-07
187
88
98
1

2007-08
206
92
114
0.6

Source: Indian Mineral Year Book, IBM

Table 4.2.1: Production of Iron ore by Principal states (Lumps+Fines), in MT

States

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

Andhra Pradesh

2.81

4.15

Chhattisgarh

23.12

26.08

28

31

Goa

22.67

24.03

29

29

Jharkhand

16.72

17.98

18.60

21

Karnataka

37.96

39.84

40.70

45

Madhya Pradesh

0.21

0.46

1.21

Maharashtra

0.67

0.52

0.50

0.6

Orissa

41.75

52.15

64.10

68

Rajasthan

0.03

0.018

0.017

0.01

Source: Indian Mineral Year Book, IBM

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

18

4.3 EXPORT SCENARIO OF IRON ORE

India has one of the largest iron ore reserves in the world. During 2005-06 India
produced 147.27 million tonnes of iron ore. Out of this only 58 million tonnes were used for
domestic consumption and the rest was exported. China is the main importer of iron ore
from India and in fact India's exports (of iron ore) to China alone are far in excess of its
domestic consumption. Iron ores are exported under long term agreements (LTA). The
government entered into LTA with Japanese Steel Mills, POSCO, South Korea and Chinese
Steel Mills for export of iron ores for a period of five years. The private sector companies do
not require permission of the government to export iron ore with iron content less than 64
per cent. However, such companies who own mines are allowed to export iron ore fines
having iron content of 64 per cent and above after meeting requirements of domestic
consumers and the MMTC Ltd.

CHAPTER 5: GEOLOGICAL SETTING, GENESIS AND DISTRIBUTION OF IRON ORE

DEPOSITS

5.1 GEOLOGICAL SETTING

India has large reserves of good quality iron ore. These iron ores occur in different
geological rock groups/ formations in different time domains but the largest concentration of
economic deposits are found associated with volcano-sedimentary Banded Iron Formation
(BIF) of Precambrian age. The BIF, mainly comprising of banded haematite quartzite /
banded haematite jasper (BHQ/ BHJ) contains iron in the range of 25 40%. By supergene
enrichment, the iron content of this BHQ/BHJ has in many places gone up to about 55
+65% making them very good quality ore. Magnetite dominant deposits are generally
associated with banded magnetite quartzite (BMQ) and contain about 25 40% iron. These
magnetite ores are often utilized by appropriate beneficiation making the ores suitable for
the consumer industries.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

19

Genetic Type

On the basis of mode of occurrence and origin, the iron ore deposits of India are divided into
five groups; viz. Banded Iron Ore Formation, Sedimentary iron ore deposits of sideritic and
limonitic composition, Lateritic ores derived from sub-aerial alteration of gneiss, schists etc.,
Titaniferous and Vanadiferous magnetite deposits and Fault and fissures filling deposits.
Amongst these the larger deposits are from the Banded iron ore formation of Precambrian
age followed by Titaniferous and Vanadiferous magnetite deposits.

(i)

Banded Iron Formation of Precambrian Age:

The BIF deposit is very well developed in India. Most of the Indian deposits are similar to
those of Lake Superior regions of USA, Brazil, Venezuela. Extensive outcrops of BIF are
found in the states of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and
Tamil Nadu. The most common names used in India to designate BIF are Banded
Haematite Quartzite (BHQ) and Banded Magnetite Quartzite (BMQ). In other parts of the
world, names like taconite (Lake Superior), itabirite (Brazil), jaspilite (Western Australia) and
calico rocks (South Africa) have been in use to designate BIF. In recent years BIF has come
to be generally acceptable both as field term as well as stratigraphic term to designate iron
rich sedimentary rock.

Classification of BIF

Gross (1965) distinguished two main types of iron formations from pre-Cambrian viz.
Algoma and Superior. The Algoma type is dominantly Archean in age and characterized by
thin banding and absence of oolitic and granular texture, limited in lateral extent and closely
associated with volcanic rocks and gray sediments. Carbon and pyrite rich black shales are
common. The superior type on the other hand has the characteristic formation of the
Proterozoic and is laterally very extensive and closely associated with clastic sediments like
quartzite and pelitic rocks without showing any direct relationship with volcanic associations.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

20

The most common occurrence of banded iron ore formations of India are:
a. Archaean schist belts: Jharkhand, Orissa, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Goa (high grade
deposits)
b. Granulite terrain of South India: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

The BIF of of Archaean schist belt generally possesses the characteristics of both Algoma
and Superior types. In Granulite terrains BIF is a weakly banded magnetite- quartzite
forming part of a supracrustal sequence of quartzites, mica schists, marbles, metavolcanics
and amphibolites completely engulfed in a voluminous mass of a tonalitic gneiss. The
formation is highly folded and metamorphosed under granulite facies condition. Typical
examples are iron formation from the granulite regions of South India (Tamil Nadu, parts of
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala) that is different from those of the Archaean schist
belt.

Thus the iron ore formation within the Indian shield can be divided into two main types: (i)
those lying within the high grade region and (ii) those confined to Archaean schist belt.
Among these, the first type occurs as narrow, highly deformed and metamorphosed belt
within Archean granulites and gneisses and represents formation of an older age group
(>3000 My.) formed in distinct tectonic environment and later incorporated within high grade
mobile belt. The second and the more extensive type having characteristic of both Algoma
and Superior type, is the one confined to the schist belts formed during the period 29002600 Ma. This type of deposits is confined to states of Jharkhand, Orissa, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Chhattishgarh and Goa. These form important repositories of rich iron ore
deposits in India.

Origin of BIF

The origin of BIF is a controversial aspect on which no final opinion has been possible
despite years of study in different parts of the world. However it is considered that larger and
ore widespread deposits are of sedimentary origin. The volcanic nature of the period during
which Archaean iron formation was accumulated has also been recognized (e.g. Isua
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

21

Formation). A controlling factor was probably the composition of ocean water during
Archean. The E h and p H of ocean water were significantly different from those of later
years.

One view is that iron formation was deposited in shallow inland lakes, fresh water being
considered as a more likely vehicle for transportation of silica & iron from crust similar to
present day lateritic crust. Period of intense deposition was preceded by a long period of
accumulation of dissolved iron and silica in sedimentary basin. Another view is that iron
formation is essentially a product of diagenetic replacement of primary carbonate. Although
there are evidence of replacement but the process can not account for vast amount of iron
in iron formation. The character of late Archean early Proterozoic atmosphere is also
taken into consideration for origin of BIF. The atmosphere at that time is believed to have
been rich in carbon dioxide, nitrogen and deficient in oxygen. Vast quantities of iron thus get
stored at in ocean and lakes. Later on when life first appeared photosynthetic release of
bulk oxygen became possible. This oxygen combined with dissolved iron and precipitated it
giving rise to iron rich band. But once the dissolved iron was used up there was no further
formation of iron. But iron formation as old as 3000 Ma indicates that the build of oxygen in
hydrosphere took place much earlier. The destructive chemical composition shown by iron
formation restricted mainly to iron and silica to the exclusion of other metallic compounds
and origin of uniform banding can not be explained through inorganic chemical precipitation
alone.

There are diverse views and concepts of different workers on the origin of BIF. The existing
knowledge about the BIF appears not adequate to build a satisfactory theory of origin.
Therefore, a single mode of origin for all BIF cannot be thought of.

Characteristics of Ore of BIF Type

The BIF has given rise to vast accumulations of commercial grade iron ore deposits in India,
more than 90% of the iron ore supplied to the industry comes from the BIF. The major ore
minerals are haematite and magnetite. To assess the resource potentiality of an iron ore
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

22

deposit knowledge of various physical types of ore which are exploited commercially is of
utmost importance. The different types of iron ore derived from banded haematite rock met
within the deposits of this group are

(i)

Massive ores: Massive and compact ore, generally formed by replacement

processes - are dark brown to steel grey, compact ore containing 68-70% Fe. They
may form high grade float type deposits when naturally transported and accumulated.

(ii)

Laminated ore: generally formed as residual product of selective chemical leaching are soft, friable, porous in nature and contain 55-60% Fe. They are also called
'biscuity ore'.

(iii)

Shaly ore: are generally met at depth and as the name implies shows structure and
texture like that of shale. They may be rich in iron (+ 60% Fe) or or Fe may be as low
as 40% with high Si02 and Al203 content, and require beneficiation (washing) before
being fed to the furnace.

(iv)

Powdery ores (Blue dust) are soft, porous ores, disintegrate into powder or into
very small thin slabs and occur as fairly large pockets. They appear grey-blue and
contain 66-69% Fe, but require beneficiation (sintering) before feeding to blast
furnace.

In addition float ore accumulation on the slopes and foot of the hills as a result of
disintegration of in situ ore bodies are commonly met with. The float ores are of different
sizes and of different degree of purity.

(ii)

Sedimentary iron ore deposits of siderite and limonitic composition:

These ores are also known as Bog iron deposit. These ores of siderite and limonitic
compositions are found associated with the iron stone shales of lower Gondwana age
occurring in the coal fields of Jharkhand and West Bengal and the ferruginous beds in the
Tertiary formations of Assam and the Himalayas due to hydration, the sideritic ore often
changed to limonite stone near the surface. They are heterogeneous in grade and modes of
occurrences. The iron minerals are accumulated as irregular bodies in stream beds and
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

23

typically at the bottom levels of bogs and marshes where lower Gondwana sediments have
deposited along with their organic debris. In upper Assam such deposits occur in Lakhimpur
and Sibsagar districts and are mainly of two types: clay iron stone and impure limonite.

In Ranigunj area the sedimentary iron ores occur in the form of thin beds of ironstone of
variable thickness and frequently in the Ironstones shale Group of the Damuda series in
Ranigunj Coalfield. The ore is grey iron carbonate but near the surface it has been
converted into brown hydrated oxide. Clay iron stones are also known to occur in the
Karanpura and Auranga Coal fields.

(iii)

Laterite ores derived from the sub-aerial alterations:

Laterite types of iron ores are derived from the sub-aerial alteration of rocks, such as
gneisses, schists, basic lava etc. under humid tropical conditions. Some of the laterites of
suitable composition may become exploitable ore but most of them contain too little of iron
and too much of alumina along with other elements like titanium, nickel, chromium and
manganese. The ores are generally concentrated at the top as a resultant alteration product
of the iron bearing parent rocks and consist of oxidised and insoluble rock constituents.
They may consist of nodular red, yellow or brownish haematite and goethite. The capping is
usually thicker over the basic rocks which contain high concentration of primary iron
associated with nickel, chromium, manganese and titanium. Large stretches of Deccan
Traps, the gneisses in the Western Ghats and the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand and
the schistose rocks of many areas like those of Sandur are covered by such lateritic tops.

(iv)

Ores formed by magmatic activity:

A zone of apatite-magnetite rock is found closely associated with the copper belt of
Singhbhum. These are supposed to have been formed by magmatic activity associated with
pre-Cambrian diastrophic cycle when the rocks of the shear zone were thrust and intruded
by acid or intermediate igneous rocks. The rock is usually a mixture of apatite and magnetite
with some biotite, chlorite and sub-ordinate quartz and is generally found on the hangingwall side of copper lodes. The apatite magnetite ores are associated with granodiorite.
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

24

(v) Titaniferous and vanadiferous magnetites:

The vanadiferous-titaniferous magnetite deposits of south eastern Singhbhum (Jharkhand),

Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar (Orissa) and Hassan districts (Karnataka) are associated with
gabbroid and ultrabasic rocks. This type of ore of Jharkhand and Orissa occurs as thin
veins, lenses and pockets in gabbroid and ultrabasic igneous rocks which are often altered
to serpentine and steatite or to epidiorite. Both magnetite and ilmenite are present in these
ores and in many cases, appreciable amounts of haematite are also seen. In Karnataka
small lenses-like bodies of titaniferous magnetites occur in Tumkur district. These are
generally associated with ultramafic rocks which occasionally contain chromite also. These
deposits contain 55 to 61% iron. In Hassan district titaneferous magnetites occur as linear
bands with prominent outcrops in a narrow belt of Dharwar rocks which are composed of
amphibolites and hornblende schists surrounded by Peninsular Gneisses and intruded by
an ultrabasic complex.

(vi) Fault and fissure filling deposits:

Fault and fissure filling deposits of haematite are minor occurrences, seen in Veldurty and
Ramalla Kota in Kurnoor district of Andhra Pradesh. They occur in a fault zone traversing
the gneisses and Cuddapah formation over a strike length of several km. The ore bodies
form low hillocks or ridges which stand out well above the ground and are lens-shaped; they
also form veins and stringers in the fault zone. The ore is generally haematite and is often
slightly specular in character and also jaspery when it is siliceous.
5.2 GEOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT:-

Haematite and magnetite are the most prominent of the iron ores found in India. The iron
ores occurs in different geological rock groups/ formations in India but the largest
concentration of economic deposits are found associated with volcano-sedimentary Banded
Iron Formation (BIF) of Precambrian age. The older magnetite-dominant deposits with
bands of magnetite are generally of Algoma type associated with banded magnetite
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

25

quartzites whereas the younger haematite dominant deposits are similar to Lake Superior
type, associated with banded haematite quartzite/jasper (BHQ/BHJ) and occur as cappings
on hills. Of these, haematite is considered to be superior because of its high grade and
occurs as massive, laminated, friable and also in powder form. The major deposits of iron
ore are located in Jharkhand, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Karnataka and Goa States. About 60% of
haematite ore deposits are found in the Eastern sector and about 80% magnetite ore
deposits occur in the Southern sector, especially in Karnataka (Plate-I).
Extensive deposits of high grade hematite ores are available in the following States:
1.

Jharkhand -

Singhbhum district

2.

Orissa -

Sundargarh, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Cuttack districts.

3.

Chhatisgarh - Bastar and Durg districts.

4.

Karnataka -

Bellery, Hospet and Chickmagalur districts.

5.

Goa -

North Goa and South Goa

6.

Maharashtra - Surajgarh, Chandrapur and Ratnagiri districts.

Orissa has the highest resources followed by Jharkhand, Chahattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa
and Maharashtra in order of abundance.

Large resources of low grade magnetite ores occur in Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu,
Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka has the highest resources of magnetite ore.
Major iron ore deposits in India, distributed in several geographical locales are grouped
under five zones designated as Zone I to Zone-V, have been identified in the country on
commercial ground (Plate II) which are as below:

Zone I-

Occur in the Bonai Iron Ore ranges of Jharkhand, Orissa and adjoining areas
of eastern India. This also includes Gorumahisani-Badampahar, Tomka-Daiteri
belts.

Zone II

Comprises the iron ore deposits in the long (225 km.) North-south trend in
linear belt in central India in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra (East)

Zone III

Occur in Bellary Hospet region of Karnataka.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

26

Zone IV

Includes the rich magnetite deposits of Bababudan Kudremukh areas of

Karnataka

Zone V

Cover the rich iron ore of Goa and coastal Maharastra

In addition, magnetite rich banded magnetite quartzite occurs in parts of Andhra Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

State wise distribution and description of deposits

The larger and rich iron ore deposits are mainly concentrated in Jharkhand, Orissa,
Chhatisgarh, Karnataka and Goa. Comparatively small deposits are situated in
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Rajasthan. The occurrences of iron
ore deposits are also reported from Assam, Meghalaya Nagaland, West Bengal, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu-Kashmir. Extensive deposits of high grade haematite
ore are available in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand; Sundergarh, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj
and Cuttak districts of Orissa; Bastar and Durg districts of Chhattisgarh; Bellary , Hospet
and Chickmaglur district of Karnataka, North and South Goa. Comparatively smaller
deposits are available in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Surguja, Chandrapur and
Ratnagiri districts of Maharastra. Besides, low grade BMQ (Banded Magnetite Quartzite)
ores occur in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Detail description of the deposits
belt-wise and sector-wise has been enumerated in Part II of the volume. The age-wise
distribution of Indian iron ore deposits is given in Table 5.2.1 and a State-wise locale for iron
ores are tabulated given in Table 5.2.2.

Table- 5.2.1: Age-wise distribution of Indian iron ore deposits

Formation

Nature of ore

Quaternary

Laterite

Tertiary
Miocene & Eocene

Ironstone

Jurassic
Rajmahal Trap
(intertrappean beds)

Iron stones

Occurrence
Many states derived from many
formations
including
Deccan
Traps
SouthIndia-Travancore, Malabar
etc.
Assam,
NE
states,
U.P.Kumaon
West
Bengal
(Birbhum),
Jharkhand (Rajmahal)

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

27

Gondwana
Barakar
Mahadeva
Triassic
Ironstones & shale
Cuddapah
Bijawar
Gwalior
Pre-Cambrian
Basic & ultrabasic rock
Granodiorite
Granite

Ironstones & siderite

Siderite

West Bengal (Birbhum)

Jharkhand-Auranga coalfield

Ironstones & siderite

Haematite & goethite

West Bengal Raniganj coalfield

Kashmir

Haematite & ferruginous Madhya Pradesh-Gwalior, Indore

quartzite
etc.; Andhra Pradesh-Cuddapah
Titaniferous and
vanadiferous magnetite
Apatite magnetite rocks
Magnetites (residual)

Banded Iron Formation

Haematite (massive,
shaly, powdery etc.)

Banded Iron Formation

(metamorphosed)

Magnetite-quartzite

Jharkhand-SE Singhbhum;
Orissa-Mayurbhanj; Karnataka
Singhbhum
Assam-Jaintia Hills;
Karnataka-Kudremukh
Orissa- Sundergarh,Keonjhar,
Mayurbhanj; Karnataka - Simoga,
Bellary -Hospet,Dharwar;
Jharkhand - Singhbhun West;
Maharashtra - Ratnagiri and
Chandrapur ; Chhattisgarh-Bastar
(Bailadila) and Durg; Madhya
Pradesh - Jabalpur
Tamilnadu - Salem, Tiruchirapalli;
Kerala; Andhra Pradesh -Guntur ;
Karnataka - Shimoga &
Chikmagalur; Himachal Pradesh Mandi.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

28

Precambrian Iron Ore Group of

rocks of Singhbhum-Keonjhar
Bonai belt containing high grade
haematitic ore are
running
through
Keonjhar
and
Sundargarh districts . Apart from
haematite,
magnetite
(Ti
bearing)also noted from several
places.

29

Name of the deposits

3
I. Haematite deposit
A) Singhbhum Distt : Noamundi, Gua, Borajamda,
Kiriburu, Neghatuburu, Manoharpur, Chiria
B) Ranchi Distt : Sikorda, Bagdanr, Mahantol
C) Minor occurrences in Santhal Pargana,
Bhagalpur, Dhanbad, Hajaribagh, Sahabad
Dists.
II. Magnetite deposit :
A) Singhbhum Distt.
1) Ramchandra Pahar, Kudada, Patharghora,
Khejurdari
2) Dublabera, Sindurpur.
B) Palamau Distt. : Gore village, Sua & Kauria
areas, Biwabathan.
I. Haematite deposit
A) Keonjhar Distt.: Thakurani, Bolani, Jhillinglangallota, Joda, Gandhamardan, Malangtoli,
Bansapani, Guali, Gurubera and minor
occurrence from Jajang, Joribahal, Katamati,
Bhadrasahi, Koira, Kasia, Kurbandh, Dulki,
Jolahuri, Baldo etc.
B) Sundargarh Distt.: Barsua, Mankarnacha, Balia
Pahar, Khondadhar, Mithurda, Patroposi.
C) Jajpur Distt. : Tomka, Daitari
D) Mayurbhanj Disttt.: Gorumahisani, Sulaipet,
Badampahar
E) Nawarangpura Distt.: Hirapur Umrakot
F) Sambalpur Distt.: Lohakhand-Naibassa Hill
G) Dhenkanal Distt.: Malaygiri range

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

ORISSA

Name of the State General description of deposit

1
2
JHARKHAND
Iron ore, principally haematite in
(including BIHAR) banded iron formation occurs in a
number of prominent hills in
south western part of Singhbhum
district. Besides, titaneferous
magnetite and apatite magnetite
are also found in SE Singhbhum.

Table - 5. 2. 2: State-wise brief description of iron ore deposits

Haematite (BIF)

Ti-magnetite
Magnetite

Ap-magnetite

Ore Minerals
4
Haematite (BIF)

II. Magnetite deposit

a) Ti-bearing magnetite from Kumardubi,
Betjharan, Nahapahari and SW of Baripada
b) Puri Distt : Chilka Lake
c) Dhenkanal Distt : Basudebpur, Murhi

30

I. Haematite deposit
A) Bastar Distt: Rowghat area, Chhotadongar
deposit
B) Dantewara Distt.: Bailadila range includes
fourteen deposits numbered 1 to 14
C) Durg Distt.: Dalli-Rajhara, Kanchar,
Jharandali, Kondekosa and minor
occurrences near Khairagarh, Berla, Katul
Kassa, Jurla Khar etc.
D) Kanker Distt.: Ari Dongri. Besides this there
are smaller deposits in Dulki, Kalwar, Dongar
bar, Lohattar in bordering area of Durg
district.
E) District with minor occurrence : Jashpur,
Bilashpur, Raigarh districts.
Precambrian Iron Ore Group of I. Haematite deposit
rocks consists of banded haematite- A) Jabalpur Dist: Kanhwar plateau, Agaria,
jasper/quartzite.
Bijori, Ghosalpur, Lora hill, Ghoghra, Silondi,
Saroli etc.
B) Chattarpur Dist: Dalipur, Nimkhera, Deora,
Chungwah etc.
C) Districts with smaller occurrence: Betul,
Jhabua, Nimar, Rajgarh, Sagar, Satna, Sidhi,
Tikamgarh, Gwalior, Mandsaur,
Narasimhapur etc.

Precambrian Iron Ore Group of

rocks consists of banded haematitejasper/quartzite,
similar
to
Singhbhum-Keonjhar iron ore belt
are found in several parts of MP and
Chhatisgarh State. Large deposits
of excellent quality of iron ore are
found in Bastar and Durg districts.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

MADHYA
PRADESH

CHHATISGARH

Haematite
(BIF)

Haematite
(BIF)

Magnetite
(Ti-bearing)
Magnetite (Sand)
Magnetite
(Lateritic)

2
Iron ore deposit of Kranataka are
classified into three types :
1. Banded ferruginos quartzite of
Dharwarian
age
containing
haematite 2.Metamorphosed banded
magnetite-quartzite
containing
magnetite
3.Magnetic deposit
containing titaneferous magnetite
associated with ultrabasic rock.

4
Haematite (BIF)

31

I) Haematite deposit
A) Belary Distt.: Bellary-Hospet deposit
B) Chitradurga Distt.: Sivaganga and Hiriyur,
Medikeripura, Kadlegudam, Bhimasamudra,
Vajra etc.
C) Shimoga Distt.: Siddarahalli, Channagiri,
Joldhal, Ganpur, Bhadigund, Shankargudda
and Kumsi area, Chattanhalli, AgumbeVisaniguda, Kodachadri, Kotebare.
D) Bijapur Distt.: Amingarh, Bassargi, Bisnal,
Aihole, Hiremagi-Ramthal
E) North Kanara Distt.: Halkhamba, Shiroli,
Kunang, Kalinadi, Hudsa, Anmod, KuveshiDiggi, Joidu, Talaginkere, Mavingundi,
Huntaganis, Yellapur.
F) Tumku, district, Karikurikhi,
Chikanayakanhalli, Janehara, Kuni, etc.
G) Minor occurrences: Bijapur, Dakshin
Kannada, Dharwar, Hassan, Mysore districts.
II) Magnetite deposit
Magnetite (BIF)
A) Chikmagalur Distt.: Bababudam Hill,
Kudremukh, Gangamula.
B) North Kanara Distt.: Kodalgadde
Apsarakonda
C) Mandya Distt.: Muddur, Tippur, Husegu &
Vanediferous
magnetite
Hullahalli.
D) Chikmagalur Distt. Near Masanikere close to
Bhadravati.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

1
KARNATAKA

In Mahara-shtra,iron ore deposits

are found associated with IOG of
Archean. It comprises older schists
and unclassified crystalline overlain
by metamorphosed sedimentary
rock such as quartzite,BHQ, phyllite
etc. Ores are derived mostly from
the BHQ by leaching of silica.

MAHARA-SHTRA

32

3
From NW to SE more than thirty iron ore
deposits have been identified. These are
1) Advalpale 2) Nanora 3) Bicholem-Sirigao
4) Bordem-Savorna 5) Sanguelim 6) Arvalem
7) Cudnem Dignemsurla 8)Velguem-Pale 9)
Pissurlem-Sonshi 10) Usgao 11) Conquirem
12) Poient-Siudem 13) Sacorda 14) Sonal
Deven 15) Gavarem-Malpona 16) Balcoruem
17)Bimbol-Sigao 18) Suetioli-Taitoli 19) Codli
20) Samtona-Quirlapale 21) Codli 22Dudal
23) Kalay 24) Manlinguem 25) Tolem-Motto 26)
Barazan -Villena 27) Sirigal-Undorna-Angod
28) Rivona-Columba 29) Canvorem-Navelim
30) Sulcorna-Vichundrem 31) Netrolim
32)Camona Conda 33) Betul
I) Haematite Deposit
A) Sindhudurg Distt. Redi, Tirvade-AjgaonGuldave, Satcli-Starda, Satcli-Talwane,
Talesane-ajgaon, Kalne, Podye DegveBanda, Galel, Galel North and Galel South.
B) Chandrapur Distt.: Lohara, Pipalgaon, Asola
C) Gadchiroli Distt.: Surajgarh, Bhamragarh,
Dewalgaon, Puser, Damkodwadvi hill range.
D) Bhandara Distt.: Khursipar, Konholi.
E) Ratnagiri Distt.: Malvan, Kunda, Savantvadi.
F) Minor occurrences from Kolhapur, Nagpur,
Satara(N) Nanded, Yeotmal Districts.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

GOA

2
A large number of iron ore deposits
are concentrated here. The banded
haematite
quartzite
rocks
of
precambrian age are generally
confined to pink phyllite horizon.
Ore
minerals
principally
are
haematite with smaller occurrences
of magnetite, limonite and goethite.

Haematite (BIF)

4
Principally
Haematite (BIF)
with minor
amount of
magnetite,
limonite and
goethite

33

2
3
4
Most of iron ore deposits are found I) Haematite deposit
Haematite (BIF)
associated with rocks of Dharwar A) Anantapur Distt.: Balapuram, Siddapuram,
sediment or Purana formations.
Rayadurg Taluk, Malapanangudi,
However low grade iron ore are also
Velpurnadugu, Kambadur, Gollapalle,
known from upper Gondwana and
Oddapalem, Muchalapalle
laterite cappings on Deccan Traps. B) Cuddapah Distt. : Chabali area, Rajampet,
Both haematite and magnetite
Ponduluri Venkatapalli, Erraguntakota,
deposits occur in the state.
Mantapampalle, Pendlimari and
Pagadalapalle
C) Kurnool Distt. : Veldurti, Ramallakota.
D) Nellore Distt.: Rassnapalem, Chundi hill,
Polenane, Cheruvu, Swarnamukhi valley.
E) Khammam & Warangal Distts.:
Cheruvupuram, Kottagudem, motala
Timmapur, Nilanche, Bayyaram, Opulapuram Magnetite (BIF)
II) Magnetite deposit
1) Prakasham Distt.
a. Ongole Gr- Pernametta, Ongole,
Konijedu, Sanampudi bands.
b. Gundal kamma gr. Byrepalle, Errapale,
Timmavaram and Manikeshvaram.
2) Khammam Distt. : Utla, Tatraiyapalli,
Gopalpur
3) Vishakhapatnam Distt- Sitarampur,
Darbanblom Konda
4) East Godavari Distt -Addatigala, Devipuram.
Besides above deposits. iron ores are also
reported from Adilabad, Chittoor, Guntur,
Karimnagar, Krishna, Medak, Nizamabad,
Vishakhapatnam, Srikakulam,and Warringal
districts of Andhra Pradesh.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

1
ANDHRA
PRADESH

CHAPTER 6: FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR IRON ORE DEPOSITS IN INDIA

Iron and steel is considered as the backbone of the modern economy. Consumption of steel
is used as a yardstick for measuring industrial growth and socioeconomic development of a
nation. The economic reformation and consequent liberalization of iron and steel sector
brought a remarkable change in core sector industries, particularly in private sector. India
has become self sufficient in iron and steel during the last few years. Iron ore is one of the
basic raw materials for iron and steel industry. India has large resource of good quality iron
ore that can meet the growing demand of domestic iron and steel industries and can sustain
considerable export. Iron ore has been major foreign exchange earner for India.

6.1 DEMAND OF IRON ORE

Iron ores produced in India go mainly either into export or into domestic consumption. India
is a major global player in iron ore production and third in the world trade of iron ore after
Australia and Brazil. Export of iron ore which was 62.5 million tonnes in 2003-04 was
increased to 91.43 million tonnes in 2006-07 and again decreased to 68.47 million tonnes in
2007-08. The growth of steel industry in India during last three/four years also registered a
significant upward trend and expected to swim depending on overall economic growth rate.
Iron ore demand depends on the production of iron and steel which in turn depends largely
on the domestic demand for the same. The prospective investors like Tata steel, TataCorus, Jindal Power and Steel, Global steel giants POSCO, Arcelar Mittal and other major
industrial houses are to invest in steel sector in India. Recent UNCTAD report states of 375
million tonnes new production capacity round the world is likely to be on board by 2007-09.
According to the 11th Plan Working Group on Steel, demand for iron ore would rise to 130
million tonnes by 2011-12. The national steel policy has envisaged the target of steel
production at 110 million tonnes by 2019-2020 which will be requiring ~170 million tonnes of
iron ore. A target set in the national steel policy suggests a production of 300 million tonnes
of iron ore by 2019-20 to meet export and domestic demand.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

34

The path of growth of Indian steel sector was progressing fast before global cash crunch
which has threatened global as well Indian infrastructure sector. Steel production globally
was maintaining a rapid growth with strong performance, but currently moving through a
challenging phase where growth has to fallen substantially both in India as well as in the
international market. Future demand projection will bound to have a set back. Obvious result
will be less demand of iron ore leading to less mining and production. While the current
prospects for Indian iron ores/steel in a global context are debatable, domestic prospects
appear bright. The very long term forecast of iron and steel production and the consequent
demand for iron ore made on optimistic assumptions also show that the steel industry can
remain comfortable with domestic iron ore supplies even with an annual iron ore export of
100 million tonnes till about 2070 at the current estimates of resources in the country.
However in this write up it has been presumed that global economic crunch scenario will
overcome the bad patch and demand for iron ore will increase in future to maintain a steady
growth rate. To achieve the iron ore demand of the future, strategy should be changed for
making available adequate iron ore resources by way of systematic exploration. The real
necessity is for vigorous exploration and exploitation matching domestic requirements,
massive export commitments, value additions as well as infrastructure developments. India
must have clear strategy for next 20-25 years for augmenting the resources with proper
orientation of exploration in geologically potential domains keeping in view the exploitation
of the existing established resources.

6.2 Augmentation of iron ore

Geological potential for hosting yet undiscovered concealed iron ore deposits in India are
very high. Scientific and detailed exploration needs to be carried out in search of new iron
ore deposits for augmentation of resources and to conduct reassessment of existing iron
ore resources to meet the present and future demands of iron ore. India stopped exploration
for iron ore by the largest government agencies like Geological Survey of India and Mineral
Exploration Corporation for two decades towards the end of last century and even after that,
the exploration revival has not yet taken a war footing, such as in many other countries of
the world, to identify new iron ore deposits, to quantitatively establish the detailed geological
parameters or to evaluate mining feasibility etc, in any large scale manner.
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

35

Reconnaissance, Prospecting, General exploration data along G axis and Geological Study
along F-axis of UNFC need to be consolidated for identification of prospects for Prefeasibility, Feasibility studies (F-axis) in order to evaluate economic viability (Economic
axis). Identification of large deposit should be attempted both by model driven approach and
inductive techniques. It is time now to plan our future exploration strategy in a long term
perspective.

Total resources potentiality of hematite magnetite iron ore is yet to be known in the
country. GSI through regional exploration and mapping has identified more than 90% of
hematite iron ore deposits of the country. About 80% of magnetite ore is found in South
India in the States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The major
deposits which constitute almost 74% of the total resources (Kudemukh and Bababudan
deposits etc ) lie in forest area in Karnataka(7663.34 million tones). The other deposits with
significant resources lie in Andhra Pradesh 1463.54 million tones, Rajasthan 522.65 million
tones, Tamil Nadu 481.87 million tones and Goa 164.05 million tones. As there is huge
resources of haematite iron ore in the country, estimation of magnetite resources was not a
priority area. Even though the important and large magnetite deposits of then country have
been explored and magnetite ore concentrates and pellets were being produced from
Kudremukh iron ore; exploration for magnetite ore was in a low priority. As there is huge
demand of iron ore in the country, it is important that the magnetite ore bodies are also
assessed to know the total potentiality of iron ore in the country. The banded magnetite
quartzite bands in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Rajasthan have to
be assessed by regional exploration followed by detailed exploration in the promising areas.

It has been observed in many places that along with mining, iron ore deposits are being
discovered and explored which ultimately has augmented ore resources. It is worth
mentioning that even after extensive mining the resource of hematite iron ore has increased
by 3204 million tones in five years between 2000 and 2005. Even during these period
reserves has also increased from 6025 million tones to 7004 million tonnes. The exploration
was conducted mainly in the leasehold areas by the mining Companies. Out of 14630
million tones of total resources of hematite iron ore resources is 7004 million tones which
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

36

means there is scope to convert 7626 million tones of remaining resources to reserve
through detailed exploration and feasibility studies. Of the total resources of 10619 million
tones of magnetite ore reserves constitute only 206 million tones warranting immediate
exploration to convert resources to reserve.

All these activities will augment the iron ore reserves / resources in the country. In addition,
iron ore occurring in different geological formation, if assessed, will augment the iron ore
resources of the country. Hence there is scope for assessment in new areas and
reassessment in the areas where mining is under operation or under active consideration.
The future exploration activities have to be carried out to augment resources over the
known deposits which were not explored earlier in totality and in greenfield areas of
identified potential domains.

The total potential area for iron ore in different geological domains tentatively identified in
the country is around 7000 sq km. It includes around 6000sq km potential domain in
peninsular India and around 1000 sq. km in extra Peninsular regions of the country. These
potential areas are mainly those geological domains where BIF, which is the host rock for
iron ore, are exposed. Out of the potential areas of 7000sq km, the area explored is around
5900 sq. km. As very scanty and marginal investigation has so far been carried out in the
extra peninsular region of J&K state and Himachal Pradesh, the bulk of 1000 sq km
potential area in the extra peninsular India may be treated as greenfield areas. Thus the
total Greenfield areas within the tentatively identified potential areas in both Peninsular and
extra-Peninsular region is around 2000 sq km which is to be assessed by reconnaissance
mineral investigation under green field area exploration. The remaining explored 5000 sq
km area of the potential domain within the peninsular India warrant reassessment.

a. Scope of Reassessment work in explored areas:

The current estimate does not give a complete picture of Indias iron ore resources. Most of
the resource estimates of iron ore deposits were made at least three decades ago which
were later modified marginally. The reassessment is needed in the following areas:
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

37

I.

Exploration by deeper proving: These earlier exploration schemes and the final
estimates were dictated by the then purpose of exploration, the stage of exploration,
the desired category of reserve/resource to be established at the stipulated level of
depth and accuracy, size and type of the deposits etc. In many cases during earlier
exploration within powdery ore or blue dust, drilling was abandoned and resources
were estimated considering blue dust has no economic use. As of now blue dust or
powdery ore has economic interest, hence such deposits have to be reassessed by
carrying out further exploration down to the bottom of powdery ore. It appears in
Malangtoli Group of deposits in Orissa, out of 19 deposits (designated Deposit A to
Deposit S) a total of 13 deposits were explored partly and resources of 300 million
tones of ore were estimated. There is possibility of substantial augmentation of ore
resources if all the deposits are explored up to the desired depth.

Depth of exploration is a key dimension of the resource estimation. According to

industry experts, the assessments made on the potential reserves of iron ore seem to
be based on mining depth of 50 meters with a grid interval of more than 500 meters or
so. But iron ore can be available to far greater depths as has been experienced by
several mines in India itself. For example, in Karnataka, it has been contended that the
reserves are based on a 40 meters depth only whereas mining has been carried out to
a depth of up to 200 meters. The mining industry contends that in other countries the
mining depth has reached more than 200 meters. Mining depth depends on the
specific conditions and there are no uniform geophysical conditions prevailing across
the world. But from the experience so far, there seems to be a good potential for Indian
miners to find more resources by digging deeper. At current prices of iron ore, mining
to such depth is viable.

II.

Systematic exploration in leasehold areas: In all the leasehold areas of both private
and public sectors, where maximum quantity of known iron ore resources are locked
in, proper data evaluation is needed to assess the reserve and resources balances and
examine whether the exploration was done in totality or there is still scope to augment
reserves/resources through further exploration. Most of the evaluated resources are of

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

38

indicated (332) or inferred (333) category. In this context, close spaced deep drilling
may be undertaken to estimate proved reserve (111,121) / resource (331, 321) of iron
ore deposits. Effort should be made for proper planning of exploration in virgin areas
and gaps within the mining leases for searching new resources. GSI has initiated
search for iron ore in parts of Tomka-Daitari belt in Orissa where discontinuous iron ore
bodies are confined within BIF. Prospecting in remaining part of the belt will augment
the ore resources. The total assessment in each property will augment the iron ore
resources in the country.

III.

Exploration in Forest areas: Many of the iron ore deposits lie in forest areas. The total
resource potentialities of such deposits are not known. The example being Bailadila
deposits no.2 (part 3,6,7,8,9 and 12) in Chhattisgarh. All these come under forest
areas requiring necessary clearance. Ghatkuri iron ore deposit lying in Jharkhand,
could not be explored due to forest problem. This deposit lies in the belt which host a
number of large iron ore deposits. There are many deposits in forest areas. Such
deposits have to be assessed in totality to augment iron ore resources in the country.

IV.

Exploration of iron ore beyond BHJ/BHQ: Steps may be taken to examine for
availability of iron ore resources beyond the BHJ/BHQ Formations

V.

Reassessment due to lowered cut-off: Previously the resource and reserves were
calculated based on arbitrary 55% Fe as cut off to produce a mineable ore but recently
IBM has lowered threshold value of iron ore to +45% Fe. The lowest grade which can
be economically exploited at a particular time is the cut off grade. The level of cut off
grade varies and is determined by market conditions keeping obviously the
conservation point of view as these are non-renewable resources. Earlier enriched
banded iron formation (BIF) containing 45-55% Fe was not considered as ore. New ore
enrichment techniques have made the use of lower grade ore and there is availability
of such type of ore, but quantity of such ore is unknown because that low grade
material was not estimated earlier. It has been geologically observed that in many iron
ore deposits, iron ore (+55% Fe) on the top passes through enriched BIF (50-55% Fe)

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

39

to BIF (<50% Fe) due to supergene enrichment. In earlier occasions enriched BIF with
50-55% Fe was not considered as ore and does not figure in the resource table. As the
cut-off grade is lowered from 55%m to 45% Fe, the material with 50 % Fe to (+) 45%
Fe will form part of iron ore.

The new prospects and area within existing mine requires reassessment through
optimization based on economic grade and scheduled for production based on market
demand. Such exercise would obviously enhance the resource base to a great extent.
A well designed exploration programme need to be mounted in the explored area for low
grade (+45%Fe) iron ore which occurs in one of the following modes:
a.

Low grade partings within the high grade ore (Shaly ore).

b.

In hanging wall and footwall side of the ore zone or as separate bands.

c.

On top in the lateritic profile (Lateritic and limonitic ore)

d.

As bottom of established ore within zone of enrichment above proto ore.

b. New Prospective areas for iron ore exploration:

Although economically viable deposits can exist in different geological setups, exploration
for iron ore was mostly confined to Banded Iron Formation (BHQ/BHJ/BMQ) where bulk of
the countrys deposits exists. GSI has initiated steps to identify new potential areas for iron
ore occurrence both in BIF and also in other non BIF hosted setup like: i) prospect of iron
ore in structurally controlled domains in the form of vein forming mineral occurrences in
cratonic portions of Peninsular India ii) ferruginous metamorphosed argillitic sequences in
different Precambrian-early Proterozoic terrains of extra peninsula iii) Magmatic iron ore
occurrences associated with intrusive mafic rocks in granulite terrains of Southern
Peninsular India and iv) other geologically favourable domains of Rajasthan and Lower
Assam. An area of around 5000 sq km has been tentatively identified for reconnaissance
stage investigation (G-4 stage) to narrow down the target areas for future intensified mineral
search through progressive higher stages of investigation. The favorable potential segments
identified for reconnaissance stage investigation in these new Greenfield areas are as
follows:
_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

40

(a)

Mahakoshal fold belts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

(b)

Pur-Banera and other similar belts of Mangalwar complex of Rajasthan.

(c)

Favourable portions within the Granulite terrain of southern peninsula, particularly in

Tamil Nadu.

(d)

Potential portions within supra crustal belts of southern peninsula, particularly Andhra
Pradesh.

(e)

Granulite belts of the Archaean gneissic complex of lower Assam.

(f)

Metamorphosed Precambrian sequences of the J&K state and metamorphosed

Proterozoic sequences of Himachal Pradesh.

6.3 Optimal utilization of iron ore:

In order to achieve the optimal utilization of iron ore in any deposit, the mineable cut off in
the light of lowering of threshold value of haematitic ore is of utmost importance and gradewise inventory of ores are the demand of the day and therefore scheduling of the deposit is
essential through optimization. Optimization is necessary in planning and development of
iron ore deposits. Scheduling of deposits help in creating stock piles of lower grade material
that could be blended back later in the mines life thereby enhancing the reserve base. The
method works on a regular block model of the ore body and constructs lists of the blocks
that should or should not be mined. A series of scheduling of blocks need be created.
Different ROM products need be considered and stored as data in blocks. Each block
should figure total rock volume, tonnage and grade. Various types of blending of ore could
either be sent to the customer or to separate high and low grade Fe and contaminant stock
piles for reclaiming. Another significant statistics is the use of iron ore fines. In 2005-06, out
of total production of 154.4 million tonnes of iron ore in India 87.9 million tonnes was fine
which constitute 56.9% of total production. Since the market of iron ore is expanding and
there would be enough scope for utilization of the beneficiated fines, it is an opportunity to
look into an acquisition of such resources and work them with beneficiation projects for
value addition. This fact signifies the necessity for pelletisation/sinter plants for optimal use
of iron ore. For optimal utilization of ore, the regulatory body should be vigilant.

_________________________________________________________________________
DID, IRON ORE, 2010

41