Iron Element, Alloys and Symbols
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Hematite, Fe2 O3
- Goethite, Feo3(OH)2
- Magnetite, Fe3.O4
- Limonite, Fe4 O3 (0H)6
- Turgite, Fe4 O5 (0H)2
- Siderite, Fe CO3
Iron, next to aluminum, is the most abundant metal in the crust of the earth. It very rarely occurs native, being found chiefly in the form, of oxides, sulfides and siliates. It is found in greater or less amount in many rocks, especially in those that contain theamphiboles, pyroxenes, micas olivine.
The mineral species that contain iron are very numerous but the minerals of importance as ores number only three or four. Iron occurs in large amounts in the sulfides, pyrite, F S being the most common of all sulfides.
The various iron ores are formed under different conditions, and as a rule occur alone or in association with only small amounts of any one of the others.
Hematite is by far the most important ore of iron, forming in the United States about nine-tenths of the ore produced. Limonite and magnetite form each about one-twentieth of the total, white the amount of siderite products almost negligible. Hematite ore comes chiefly from the various
Lake Superior districts and to a much less extent from Alabama. Limonite is found in the Appalachian states, and magnetite in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Siderite is obtained from Ohio.
Nearly one-half of the world’s production of iron ore comes from the United States; the amount produced from Minnesota alone nearly if not quite equals that produced in any other country. Germany and Great Britain, Spain. France and Sweden are notable producers of iron.
The uses of iron steel are well known to need discussion. Copper as, or green vitriol, FeSo4.7H2 O, is the most important salt of iron, being uses dyeing , in making inks, Prussian blue, rouge and as a disinfectant. Rouge, Fe2 O2, Is used as a polishing powder and as a red paint. Considerable amounts of soft iron ore, known as paint, are ground for mineral paints, such as ocher, umber sienna, etc
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