How is iron obtained from the environment and processed for use?
Iron ore is found as bog ore, nodules of hematite, or most commonly, large sediments called banded iron formations (these look cool and supply most of the worlds iron). To make it simple, mining removes the ore from the ground. The ore is crushed into very fine particles about the consistency of silt and clay. The iron is drawn off from these by powerful magnets. The iorn is combined with clay, and is pressed into pellets of taconite ore. At a refinery, the pellets are melted, and the molten iron is seperated in a blast furnace. The melted iron is then pressed/drawn into ingots, wire, tubes, etc.
