| Location | |
|---|---|
  Kostomuksha mine | |
| Republic of Karelia | |
| Country | Russia |
| Coordinates | 64°43′N30°30′E / 64.717°N 30.500°E Coordinates: 64°43′N30°30′E / 64.717°N 30.500°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Iron ore |
The Kostomuksha mine is a large iron mine located in north-western Russia in the Republic of Karelia. [1] Kostomuksha represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world having estimated reserves of 10 billion tonnes of ore grading 45% iron metal. [2]
Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals, typically containing metals, that can be mined, treated and sold at a profit. Ore is extracted from the earth through mining and treated or refined, often via smelting, to extract the valuable metals or minerals. The grade of ore refers to the concentration of the desired material it contains. The value of the metals or minerals a rock contains must be weighed against the cost of extraction to determine whether it is of sufficiently high grade to be worth mining, and is therefore considered an ore.
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 (Fe
3O
4, 72.4% Fe), hematite (Fe
2O
3, 69.9% Fe), goethite (FeO(OH), 62.9% Fe), limonite (FeO(OH)·n(H2O), 55% Fe) or siderite (FeCO3, 48.2% Fe).
Kostomuksha is a town in the northwest of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located 30 kilometers (19 mi) from the border with Finland, on the shore of Lake Kontoki. Population: 29,746 (2002 Census); 30,432 (1989 Census).
Mining in Iran is still under development, yet the country is one of the most important mineral producers in the world, ranked among 15 major mineral-rich countries, holding some 68 types of minerals, 37 billion tonnes of proven reserves and more than 57 billion tonnes of potential reserves worth $770 billion in 2014. Mineral production contributes only 0.6 per cent to the country's GDP. Add other mining-related industries and this figure increases to just four per cent (2005). Many factors have contributed to this, namely lack of suitable infrastructure, legal barriers, exploration difficulties, and government control.
The mining of minerals in Nigeria accounts for only 0.3% of its GDP, due to the influence of its vast oil resources. The domestic mining industry is underdeveloped, leading to Nigeria having to import minerals that it could produce domestically, such as salt or iron ore. Rights to ownership of mineral resources is held by the Federal government of Nigeria, which grants titles to organizations to explore, mine, and sell mineral resources. Organized mining began in 1903 when the Mineral Survey of the Northern Protectorates was created by the British colonial government. A year later, the Mineral Survey of the Southern Protectorates was founded. By the 1940s, Nigeria was a major producer of tin, columbite, and coal. The discovery of oil in 1956 hurt the mineral extraction industries, as government and industry both began to focus on this new resource. The Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s led many expatriate mining experts to leave the country. Mining regulation is handled by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which oversees the management of all mineral resources. Mining law is codified in the Federal Minerals and Mining Act of 1999. Historically, Nigeria's mining industry was monopolized by state-owned public corporations. This led to a decline in productivity in almost all mineral industries. The Obasanjo administration began a process of selling off government-owned corporations to private investors in 1999. The Nigerian Mining Industry has picked up since the "Economic Diversification Agenda", from Oil & Gas, to Agriculture, Mining, etc., began in the country.
Mining in Afghanistan is controlled by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, which is headquartered in Kabul with regional offices in other parts of the country. Afghanistan has over 1,400 mineral fields, containing barite, chromite, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, natural gas, petroleum, precious and semi-precious stones, salt, sulfur, talc, and zinc, among many other minerals. Gemstones include high-quality emerald, lapis lazuli, red garnet and ruby. According to a joint study by The Pentagon and the United States Geological Survey, Afghanistan has an estimated US$7 trillion of untapped minerals.
The mineral industry of Russia is one of the world's leading mineral industries and accounts for a large percentage of the Commonwealth of Independent States' production of a range of mineral products, including metals, industrial minerals, and mineral fuels. In 2005, Russia ranked among the leading world producers or was a significant producer of a vast range of mineral commodities, including aluminum, arsenic, cement, copper, magnesium compounds and metals, nitrogen, palladium, silicon, nickel and vanadium.
Resources are classified as either biotic or abiotic on the basis of their origin. The Indian landmass contains a multitude of both types of resource and its economy, especially in rural areas, is heavily dependent on their consumption or export. Due to overconsumption, they are rapidly being depleted.
Mining in the United Kingdom produces a wide variety of fossil fuels, metals, and industrial minerals due to its complex geology. In 2013, there were over 2,000 active mines, quarries, and offshore drilling sites on the continental land mass of the United Kingdom producing £34bn of minerals and employing 36,000 people.
Metal production, in particular iron and steel industry, is the dominant heavy industry in Ukraine. Ukraine is the world's eighth largest producer and third largest exporter of iron and steel (2007). Ukrainian iron and steel industry accounts for around 2% of worldwide crude steel output, 5% to 6% of the national gross domestic product and 34% of Ukrainian export revenue. In 2007 it employed 420,000 people – 10% of industrial labor and 2% of the total workforce. It has the highest, by a wide margin, revealed comparative advantage of all branches of the Ukrainian economy. The industry peaked at 42.8 million tonnes in 2007 but has been gravely affected by the financial crisis of 2007–2010 and declined to 29.8 million tonnes in 2009.
The Erzberg mine is a large open-pit mine located in Eisenerz, Styria, in the central-western part of Austria, 60 km north-west of Graz and 260 km south-west of the capital, Vienna. Erzberg represents the largest iron ore reserves in Austria, having estimated reserves of 235 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 2,153,000 tonnes of iron ore per year. It is also the site of the annual Erzberg Rodeo hard enduro race.
The Çakmakkaya mine is a large mine in the east of Turkey in Artvin Province 465 km east of the capital, Ankara. Çakmakkaya represents one of the largest copper reserve in Turkey having estimated reserves of 100 million tonnes of ore grading 0.8% iron. The 100 million tonnes of ore contains 800,000 tonnes of copper metal.
The Cacova Ierii mine is a large open pit mine in the north-western of Romania in Cluj County. Cacova Ierii represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 16.6 million tonnes of ore grading 42% iron metal. The mine has the capability to produce around 415,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Rudăria-Bănia mine is a large open pit mine in the south-western Romania in Caraș-Severin County. Rudăria-Bănia represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 70 million tonnes of ore grading 45% iron metal and 20% manganese metal. The mine has the capability to produce around 500,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Tarynnakh mine is a large iron mine located in eastern Russia in Olyokminsky District, Sakha Republic . Tarynnakh represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world having estimated reserves of 2 billion tonnes of ore grading 28.1% iron metal.
The Sheregesh mine is a large iron mine located in Tashtagolsky District, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia . Sheregesh represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world having estimated reserves of 184.7 million tonnes of ore grading 35.8% iron metal.
The Teiskoye mine is a large iron mine located in eastern Russia in Askizsky District, Khakassia. Teiskoye represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world, having estimated reserves of 136.4 million tonnes of ore grading 29.9% iron metal.
The Turukhanskoye mine is a large iron mine located in central Russia in Turukhansky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai. Turukhanskoye represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world having estimated reserves of 3 billion tonnes of ore grading 30.3% iron metal.
The mining industry of Sudan was mostly driven by extraction fuel minerals, with petroleum accounting for a substantial contribution to the country's economy, until the autonomous region of Southern Sudan became an independent country in July 2011. Gold, iron ore, and base metals are mined in the Hassai Gold Mine. Chromite is another important mineral extracted from the Ingessana Hills. Other minerals extracted are gypsum, salt, and cement. Phosphate is found in Mount Kuoun and Mount Lauro in eastern Nuba. Reserves of zinc, lead, aluminium, cobalt, nickel in the form of block sulfides, and uranium are also established. Large reserves of iron ore have been established.
Kostomuksha Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' of forests, lakes, rivers and wetlands on the border of Russian and Finland. It was created in 1983, along with other protected areas, in part to mitigate the impact of the Karelskiy Okatysh mine outside of the town of Kostomuksha, one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia, and also to protect the forest from increase commercial logging in the area. A further scientific purpose is the protection of forest reindeer and a type of landlocked salmon. The reserve is part of a transboundary reserve complex with reserves in Finland to the west, and is situated in the Kalevalsky District and Muyezersky District of the Republic of Karelia, about 500 km north of St. Petersburg and 500 km west of Arkhangelsk. The reserve was created in 1993, and covers an area of 47,569 ha (183.66 sq mi).
