EISENHARDT supplies iron ore from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru, 50% to 64,5% min Fe content in bulk cargo.

We are mainly interested in long term Contract in order to organize mine`s production.

Iron is a mineral, forming naturally over geological periods in the ground and within rocks. It is one of the most commmon elements on earth, comprising About 5 per cent of the earth´s crust.
Rock containing iron ore often date to more than 2,500 million years old. It is the key ingredient in the production of steel.

HOW IRON IS MINED

Explosives are used to blast through surface rock to access iron ore deposits below the ground. Haul trucks transport the ore to crushing plants, where the ore is crushed into smaller pieces of varying sizes. Crushed ore is then classified into different sizes based on customer specifications. The ore is next transported via reail to ports for shipping to overseas customers or smelters. Iron ore usually ends up in blast furnaces and steel mills, where it is turned into iron and steel through smelting and refining.

HOW IRON IS PROCESSED

Iron ore is smelted in blast furnaces to produce pig iron. In a blast furnace, coke and ore are fed through the top of the furnace while heated air is blasted into the bottom of the furnace at temperatures of around 2000º C.

The chemical reactions that take place as the ore and coke move down creates molten metal and slag floats on top of the more dense molten iron. Iron and Slag are tapped off separately from the blast furnace. Once cooled, the iron is called pig iron. Pig iron is not pure iron as it has 4 to 5 per cent carbon in its make up. Pig iron is used to produce steel or commercialy pure iron (wrought iron) through further smelting and refining in furnaces and converters.

IRON AND ITS USES

Cast iron is a partly refined iron that contains up to 5 per cent carbono. This makes it very hard, but brittle. These properties make it ideal for moulded parts, like car engine blocks.

Wrought iron is nearly pure iron mixed with a glasslike material. Unlike cast iron, this type of iron does not rust, and is softer, which makes it suitable for use in outdoor furniture, porch railings and other decorations. Steel is the most common form of iron. It contains About 1 per cent carbon and has properties that make it an excellent material for thousands of different uses. Stainless steel contains chromium, which makes it very resistant to rusting.

This make an ideal material for motor vehicles parts, hospital equipment and food preparation tools and utensils. Tool steel is extremely hard, and is used in metalworkings tools. It is produced by tempering certain types of steels by putting them through quick heating and cooling cycles.

Suppliers are looking to contract supply of their ore over longer period up to 5 years with annual price review in consideration of the set world price for iron ore-thus as this increases yearly so will the price be set for each L/C term.