In the iron and steel industry, direct reduction is a set of processes for obtaining iron from iron ore, by reducing iron oxides without melting the metal. The resulting product is pre-reduced iron ore.
New Zealand Steel steel complex, fed by direct reduction rotary furnaces (SL/RN process) (capacity 650,000 t/year).
Pre-reduced iron ore briquettes.
Lebeddinskv GOK-1 unit at Gubkin (Russia): HYL process started up in 1999, capacity 0.9 Mt/year.
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, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the form of magnetite (Fe3O4, 72.4% Fe), hematite (Fe2O3, 69.9% Fe), goethite (FeO(OH), 62.9% Fe), limonite (FeO(OH)·n(H2O), 55% Fe), or siderite (FeCO3, 48.2% Fe).
Hematite, the main iron ore found in Brazilian mines
Stockpiles of iron ore pellets like this one are used in steel production.
An illustration of iron ore being unloaded at docks in Toledo, Ohio
Banded iron ock, estimated as being 2.1 billion years old