IRON ORES: TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION

An iron ore deposit is a mineral body of sufficient size, iron content, and chemical composition
with physical and economic characteristics that will allow it to be a source of iron either
immediately or potentially. Economic viability is essential. No definite limits can be set on the
size, grade, or mineral composition as there is a considerable permissible range in the physical and
chemical parameters for a commercially minable iron ore deposit. Geographic location, other
competitive iron ore sources, the size and location of the market, minability, grade and/or
concentratability, are critical in defining the economic viability of a particular ironbearing deposit.
Iron forms an estimated 5% of the earth's crust; it is a common constituent in hundreds of minerals
and rocks, and in small amounts has an almost universal distribution. Iron in ore commonly occurs
as an oxide in the minerals hematite (Fe2 0 3), magnetite (Fe3 0 4), or goethite (Fe2 0 3 • H2 0),
and less often as maghemite (Fe, 0 3) and lepidocrocite (Fe20 3 • H20). Ilmenite (FeTi03 ) may
occur in some ores up to the allowable limits for titanium in an iron ore. When of sufficient size
and grade, as in the Michipicoten district, Ontario, Canada, siderite (FeCOl ) may be mined as iron
ore. Iron sulfides such as pyrite (FeSz), marcasite (FeS2), or pyrrhotite (Fel x S) are sources of
small amounts of byproduct iron ore after removal of base metals and sulfur, or they may be the
primary source of iron oxide gossans in the outcrop area of sulfide deposits. Iron silicate minerals
commonly contain in excess of25% silica so are not generally considered iron are minerals,
although they may be constituent minerals in some iron ores such as in magnetite taconites and in
the Minette ores of France. Iron-bearing silicate minerals are frequently the primary source of iron
present in secondary oxides produced by weathering of iron-rich rocks that form residual type iron
ores. Iron ores occur in a variety of geological environments in deposits with widely differing
shapes, sizes, origins, and with substantially different are characteristics. The diverse nature of the
geology of iron ores must be recognized in exploration, evaluation, and in the investigative
methods used in their study so the best possible discovery and developmental system is followed.
There is, however, a general similarity of geology, problems, and occurrence of iron ores within
each ore type that allows a reasonable basis for exploration, evaluation, and development planning.
The classification of iron ores shown in Table I, which is based on a combination of geological
and commercial factors, separates the iron deposits into groups having similar relationships and
characteristics. This grouping places emphasis on geological and process factors. A general
description of each ore class follows that summarizes characteristics important in the exploration,
development. production, and evaluation of these ores.