New iron ore find in Western Australia may transform global mining landscape

According to its latest article, the Indian Defence Review features that the discovery of the world’s largest iron ore deposit in Western Australia is a groundbreaking development, both economically and scientifically. 

Geologists have discovered the largest iron ore deposit ever documented, situated in the Hamersley region of Western Australia. With an estimated size of 55 billion metric tons, this monumental find could be valued at an incredible $5.775 trillion USD based on current market prices for iron ore. In addition to its significant economic potential, this discovery is reshaping our understanding of how minerals form and may influence future mining techniques.

The discovery was made possible through advanced geological methods, such as uranium and lead isotope dating, which revealed that the iron-rich formations in this area are 1.4 billion years old—significantly younger than the previously assumed age of 2.2 billion years. This challenges existing theories about the formation of large iron deposits and provides new insights into Earth's ancient geological processes.

Researchers suggest that this finding is not just valuable for its resource potential but also crucial for understanding Earth's tectonic history. The formation of this vast iron deposit is thought to be linked to cycles of supercontinents, illustrating how geological movements have shaped mineral distribution over time. The broader implications of this discovery may go beyond mining, offering a new approach to predicting untapped mineral resources globally.

For decades, geologists have believed that the world’s largest iron deposits were formed over 2 billion years ago during the Great Oxygenation Event, when rising oxygen levels in Earth's atmosphere caused iron dissolved in ancient oceans to precipitate into vast rock formations. However, the recent discovery of this deposit challenges that theory, suggesting that iron ore formation is more complex than previously understood.

Scientists examining the Hamersley deposit used chemical and isotopic analysis to determine that these iron-rich formations date back 1.4 billion years, significantly later than expected. This revised timeline implies that major iron ore deposits may not only have formed in Earth's early history but could also have emerged during later geological periods under different conditions.

Geologists have identified several factors that contributed to the formation of this extraordinary deposit, including:

Tectonic Activity – The movement of supercontinents may have played a role in concentrating iron ore in the region.  

Hydrothermal Processes – The formation of the deposit was likely influenced by hot, mineral-rich fluids, which altered the chemical composition of surrounding rocks.  

Volcanic Interactions – The presence of certain volcanic rocks suggests that volcanic activity contributed to the transformation of iron-rich sediments into high-grade ore.  

Researchers say this discovery fills a crucial gap in our understanding of how iron deposits develop over time. As one of the study's co-authors explained:

"The discovery of a link between these giant iron ore deposits and changes in supercontinent cycles improves our understanding of ancient geological processes."

This connection between supercontinent shifts and mineral deposits has profound implications for future resource exploration worldwide.

To truly appreciate the significance of this discovery, it's useful to compare it to other major iron ore deposits globally. Not only is the Hamersley deposit the largest, but it also surpasses many previously known reserves by a wide margin.

By Naila Huseynova