New Research Alters Timeline of Earth’s Iron Deposits

Revised dates could reshape mining strategies globally.

Geologists have revised the timeline for the formation of the world’s largest iron ore deposits. This discovery in Australia’s Pilbara region challenges previous assumptions, potentially changing the understanding of ancient geological processes and exploration tactics for the mining industry.

Revised Estimates for Iron Ore Deposits

For years, scientists believed that the largest iron ore deposits originated shortly after breathable oxygen spread through the atmosphere about 2.2 billion years ago. Now, new evidence suggests that the Hamersley Province reserves formed much later, around 1.4 to 1.1 billion years ago.

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“The energy from this epic geological activity likely triggered the production of billions of tons of iron-rich rock across the Pilbara,”

—Dr. Liam Courtney-Davies, Curtin University

In 2023, Western Australia provided 38% of the worldwide iron ore supply, demonstrating its significance. Global steel production is predicted to increase by 1.2% to about 1.815 billion metric tons in 2025 (Statista 2024).

The Role of Tectonics

The research suggests high-grade ore formation was linked to the breakup of the supercontinent Columbia. Crustal plate movements triggered the rise of mountains, fault openings, and the release of hot, oxygen-rich fluids into pre-existing iron beds.

This revised dating method, which examines uranium and lead isotopes within mineral grains, allows researchers to directly analyze the ore deposits. This approach could help iron ore miners determine the best places to search for similar deposits.