What is Iron?

Iron is the fourth most common element found in the Earth’s crust, making up 5%.

The most common surface mining methods used for mining of iron ores are open pit mining methods and open cut mining methods.

Iron is used to make the metal alloy steel by combing iron and carbon together.

When iron reacts with oxygen, in an environment containing water (such as moisture in the air), it creates rust (iron oxide).

Black rock with shiny cuboid crystals of iron deposit

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Facts about Iron

Animals and plants need iron. Plants use iron in chlorophyll, the pigment used in photosynthesis. Humans use iron in haemoglobin molecules in blood to allow for the transport of oxygen to tissues throughout the body.

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