What is Iron?
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is the most common element (by mass) forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core, and it is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust.
Where is Iron Found?
Map of iron ore production (darker = higher)
Being that iron is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust, iron is found virtually everywhere. However, as shown by the map to the left, areas like China, Australia, Brazil, India, and Russia lead the world in iron ore production. The majority of iron deposits that are discovered today are characterized by BIF, or banded iron formations, in sedimentary layers of rock. BIFs can be divided into two kinds. The first and most important is found in sequences or sedimentary rocks deposited in the shallow waters of continental shelves or in ancient sedimentary basins. A second kind of BIF, known as an Algoma type, formed over a much wider time range than the Lake Superior type (from 3.8 billion to a few hundred million years ago). Algoma-type BIFs are also finely layered intercalations of silica and an iron mineral, generally hematite or magnetite, but the individual layers lack the lateral continuity of Lake Superior-type BIFs. Algoma-type BIFs are found within rock sequences containing a significant proportion of submarine volcanic rocks, and for this reason it is generally accepted that such deposits formed as a result of submarine volcanism.
How is Iron Mined?
Iron ore is most typically extracted through the use of surface and open-pit mining techniques. As iron mine is typically found in beds relatively close to the surface, holes can be dug straight down into the bed. The resulting holes can be as wide as two or three kilometers and can be extremely deep depending on the location of the ore. The extracted ore is then sent to a blast furnace to separate the iron from the rest of the sediment. As with any large-scale mining operation, an iron mine could be expected to cost millions of dollars...the price directly correlating with the size and extent of the operation. Below is a link to a video of a great explanation of mining iron ore:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4977211_how-iron-mined.html
http://www.ehow.com/video_4977211_how-iron-mined.html
What are Some Environmental Impacts Associated with Iron Mining?
Mining iron ore can have numerous environmental impacts. It can impact the land, the atmosphere, the water supply, flora and fauna, and even human society. A few examples of these impacts are:- Changes in top soil composition by run off from overburden dumps
- Increase in NOx, hydrocarbons, CO and lead levels due to diesel equipment, generators, vehicle movement etc.
- Damage of all aquifers above the mineral deposits
- Water scarcity and change in water regime devastates agriculture & stunt growth of vegetation
- Displacement of people
- Increase in NOx, hydrocarbons, CO and lead levels due to diesel equipment, generators, vehicle movement etc.
- Damage of all aquifers above the mineral deposits
- Water scarcity and change in water regime devastates agriculture & stunt growth of vegetation
- Displacement of people
How Much Does Iron Cost?
Iron currently cost about $113.95 per dry metric ton. This price is susceptible to fluctuation due to the stock market and availability.
Laws/Regulations/Standards Associated with Mining Iron
There are no international laws governing the mining of iron ore, however, most countries have their own regulations and standards concerning the mining of iron ore within that country. These regulations and laws are present in order to protect the environment, enforce safety, and limit the number and size of mining operations. The national mining laws and regulations for the United States fall under the jurisdiction of the Minerals Management Service and the Office of Surface Mining.
Iron Controversy
There is widespread controversy concerning mining as a whole, and people everywhere in all parts of the earth are opposed to mining for different reasons. People are concerned about the environmental impacts of mining and the ways in which they impact human livelihood and society in general. Iron, in particular, has become a hot topic especially in regions like India and China. India has experienced a series of widespread iron mining scams in which ore has been illegally mined on a massive scale. Another controversy currently concerning iron mining industry is that the price of iron ore is expected to continually fall and potentially be under $80 per tonne.
Why Do We Need Iron?
"Iron is the most widely used of all the metals, accounting for 95% of worldwide metal production. Its low cost and high strength make it indispensable in engineering applications such as the construction of machinery and machine tools, automobiles, the hulls of large ships, and structural components for buildings. Since pure iron is quite soft, it is most commonly used in the form of steel." (Wikipedia). Iron is used in a variety of different industries and can be shaped into numerous different materials and allied with other metals to make many of the things we take for granted today. A popular form of iron is wrought iron, which is often used for fencing and railing.
Works Cited
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/World-Iron-Map.png
http://alphastox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/iron_ore.jpg
http://www.im-mining.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/fe.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Electron_shell_026_Iron_-_no_label.svg/153px-Electron_shell_026_Iron_-_no_label.svg.png
http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/7087/images/142039/large/1-image.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron
http://www.webelements.com/iron/
http://www.wroughtironrailings.ca/wrought_iron_companies.jpg
http://alphastox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/iron_ore.jpg
http://www.im-mining.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/fe.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Electron_shell_026_Iron_-_no_label.svg/153px-Electron_shell_026_Iron_-_no_label.svg.png
http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/7087/images/142039/large/1-image.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron
http://www.webelements.com/iron/
http://www.wroughtironrailings.ca/wrought_iron_companies.jpg