Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3), limonite or siderite. Hematite is also known as "natural ore".

The name refers to the early years of mining, when certain hematite ores contained 66% iron and could be fed directly into iron making blast furnaces. Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the main raw materials to make steel. 98% of the mined iron ore is used to make steel.

High Grade Iron Ore Fines Chemical Analysis Indicative:
Fe (calcined)    64.7%
Fe (natural)      63.3%
SiO2                4.1%
Al2O3              2.4%
TiO2                0.1%
CaO                 0.06%
MgO                 0.12%
Mn                   0.06%
P                      0.068%
S                      0.01%
K2O                  0.02%
Na2O                0.01%
Zn                    0.005%
Co                    <0.001%
Cu                    0.001%
Sn                    <0.0001%
As                    <0.002%
Ni                     0.002%
Cr                     0.005%
Cd                     0.0001%
Be                     0.0002%
Pb                     <0.001%
Hg                     <0.0001%
V                       0.003%
LOI                    2.2%
H2O                   5.2%
Size:
minus                 6.3 mm
Bulk Density (t/m3):    Loose 2.5
Compacted          2.7

Iron Ore Fines Ex Induletzky Gok Chemical Analysis Indicative:
Fe 63. 60%
H2O 10. 50%
SiO2 9. 70%
CaO 0. 28%
MgO 0. 57%
Al2O3 0. 49%
P2O5 0. 045%
MnO 0. 05%
S 0. 166%
Size:
-0.05 mm 94- 96%
0.05-0.07 mm 4 %
0.07-0.14 mm 1 %
+0.14 mm 2.7

Glosco Steel can supply raw materials for Steel Mills that are using The MIDREX® Shaft Furnace which is designed to operate with virtually any blend of pellets and lump ores.
  
Preferred Characteristics for DR-Grade Pellets and Lump Ore:

Chemical Characteristics
		Pellets		Lump
%Fe		67.0 min.		67.0 min
%(SiO2 + Al2O3)		3.0 max.		3.0 max.
%S		0.008 max		0.008 max.
%P		0.03 max.		0.03 max.
%TiO2		0.15 max.		0.15 max.
Physical Characteristics
		Pellets		Lump
Nominal Size		6 x 16 mm		10 x 35 mm
%10 x 35mm		--		85 min.
%9 x 16mm		95 min.		--
% minus 5mm		3 max.		5 max.
Compression Strength kg		250 min.		--
% less than 50 kg		2 max.		--
Reduction Characteristics
		Pellets		Lump
Midrex Linder Test (760ºC)
% Metallization		93 min.		93 min.
% minus 3.36mm		2 max.		5 max.
Hot Load Test (815ºC)
Tumble Strength (% plus 6.73 mm)		90 min.		85 min.
Compression Strength (kg)		100 min.		--
Clustering (% plus 25 mm after 10 rev.)		0		0