ABSTRACT
Iron ore (commonly as hematite Fe2 O3 or magnetite Fe3O4) extracted by mining is processed into a useable process by smelting. In simple terms the oxygen is driven off or oxidised during the smelting process in a chemically ‘reducing’ reaction. Carbon is used to achieve this using coke but historically coal, wood or even peat might have been used. The ore and coke are combined in a furnace at temperatures of around 200 degrees celsius and a flux such as limestone is added which is used to remove siliceous minerals from the mix.
