Geologists have found the largest iron deposit in history
In a remote part of Western Australia, geologists have discovered a stunning mineral deposit that promises to rewrite not only the map of global iron production, but also our understanding of the Earth's geological history.
According to the Daily Galaxy, the Hamersley region, already known for its rich mineral resources, also contains what scientists call the largest iron ore deposit ever recorded. According to their estimates, it contains about 55 billion metric tons of ore with an iron concentration exceeding 60 percent.
It is noted that this huge find, estimated at almost $6 trillion, marks an important moment for the global mining industry. Dr. Liam Courtney-Davis, a geologist at Curtin University who was directly involved in the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, described the discovery as "a fundamental shift for the entire mining sector."It is important to note that the size and quality of the deposit can affect global iron prices and change trade relations, especially between Australia and major iron consumers such as China.
A huge resource in the heart of the Pilbara
Interestingly, the deposit is located in the Pilbara region, a large arid place in Western Australia, which has long been considered one of the most mineral-rich provinces in the world. Hamersley iron ore has been mined for decades, but recent advances in technology and analysis have led to this unprecedented discovery. Geological formations in the area have revealed evidence of iron accumulation far exceeding previous estimates.
According to the researchers, traditional dating methods once estimated the age of these formations at about 2.2 billion years. However, recent isotope analysis, including studies of uranium and lead isotopes, has revised this age to about 1.4 billion years. This shift has significant implications for understanding the region's geological past, in particular how ancient supercontinent cycles affected mineral deposits.
Associate Professor Martin Danisik, a geochronologist who participated in the study, noted:
"The discovery of a link between these giant iron ore deposits and changes in the cycles of supercontinents improves our understanding of ancient geological processes."
Importantly, the results show that dynamic movements of the earth's crust millions of years ago created the conditions for these huge concentrations of minerals.
how technology helps discover hidden deposits
Interestingly, modern methods have played a role.