Iron Ore
Statistics and Information

Iron ore is a mineral substance which, when heated in the presence of a reductant, will yield metallic iron (Fe).   It almost always consists of iron oxides, the primary forms of which are magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and hematite (Fe₂O₃).

Iron ore is the source of primary iron for the world's iron and steel industries. It is therefore essential for the production of steel, which in turn is essential to maintain a strong industrial base.  Almost all (98%) iron ore is used in steelmaking.  Iron ore is mined in about 50 countries.   The seven largest of these producing countries account for about three-quarters of total world production.   Australia and Brazil together dominate the world's iron ore exports, each having about one-third of total exports.

Publications

If you are interested in receiving an email notice when a publication is added to this page, please refer to Minerals Information List Services.

Annual Publications

Mineral Commodity Summaries

• Iron Ore
    PDF Format:
       | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |2013 |
• Appendixes

Minerals Yearbook

• Iron Ore
    PDF Format:
       | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
    XLS Format:
       | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
  
• Archive
       | 1932-1993 |

Monthly Publications

Mineral Industry Surveys

• Iron Ore
    PDF Format:
      2012: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
      2011: | Dec |
    XLS Format:
      2012: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
      2011: | Dec |
  
• Industry Data

Special Publications

• Challenges Facing the North American Iron Ore Industry
  Open-File Report 2006-1061
• Factors that Influence the Price of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Rare Earth Elements, and Zn
  Open-File Report 2008-1356
• Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material Commodities in the United States
  Data Series 140
  • Iron Ore
• Metal Prices in the United States through 2010
  Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5188
• Statistical Compendium
  • Iron Ore

Contact

• USGS Mineral Commodity Specialist
  Christopher A. Tuck
  Phone: 703-648-4912
  Fax: 703-648-7757
  Email: ctuck@usgs.gov
  

Links

• Iron Mining Association
• USGS Minerals Information
  • Iron and Steel
  • Iron and Steel Scrap
  • Iron and Steel Slag