Hematite

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Hematite tops the list of Earth's most abundant minerals on its surface and in shallow crust regions. It is a widespread rock-forming mineral found in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks at various global locations. Hematite serves as the primary source of iron ore, with thousands of former mining sites worldwide now producing nearly all their output from just dozens of large deposits equipped with advanced machinery to efficiently extract and process the ore. Most iron ore is currently mined in China, Australia, Brazil, India, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Canada, Venezuela, and the United States. Hematite has numerous other applications, but its economic impact pales in comparison to the significance of iron ore production. The mineral is used to produce pigments, heavy media separation agents, radiation shielding materials, ballast, and a wide range of other products.