Geometallurgy of iron ores - a mineralogists' perspective

To the superficial observer iron ore deposits appear as huge and uniform bodies comprising of iron oxide - or carbonate - and little else. They should, therefore, be simple to exploit and beneficiate. This may have indeed applied to the giant high-grade BIF-hosted deposits that have dominated global iron supply for the last half a century. However, it does certainly not apply to iron ore deposits that will govern future supply. The latter deposits will still be very large, but of lower grade and marked by increasing concentrations of deleterious elements such as phosphorous, titanium or alkali elements. Careful ore characterization and geometallurgical modelling will be key drivers to convert iron ore resources into reserves – and deposits into new mines.