**1. Historic introduction**

In 140 years of history, Kryvyi Rih has gone through an impressive path of transformation: from a provincial town in the South of the Russian Empire to the main iron ore base of the Soviet, then – Ukrainian, steel industry, closely involved in the processes of global trade. At present, proven resources of iron ore in Ukraine are estimated at 6.5 billion tons of crude ore (the fifth largest reserve in the world) [1] of which around 70% is deposited in Kryvyi Rih.

The Kryvyi Rih iron ore deposit experienced ups and downs with several distinct periods of formation and development. The settlement of Kryvyi Rih, established as the Cossacks winter-abode in the XVIII century, remained rather unremarkable tiny inhabited area for a long time. The situation changed drastically in the XIX century greatly after the beginning of iron ore industrial mining.

Iron ore deposits were discovered in late 30s of the XIX century. Substantial studies conducted by local entrepreneur Alexander Pol proved the feasibility of the deposit development and in 1880 he initiated the establishing in Paris of the company Societe Anonyme Minerais de Fer de Krivoi Rog with the capital of Franc 30 million owned by French major shareholders (**Figure 1**), which started the iron ore mining in 1881.

### **Figure 1.**

*Share of Societe Anonyme Minerais de Fer de Krivoi rog.*

Initially, iron ore mining was made almost completely manually (**Figure 2**). Most part of the mined ore was delivered eastwards over the distance of roughly 400 km by horse and cart (including crossing ca 1 km wide Dnipro river by ferry) to the factories of Novorossiysk Coal, Iron & Rail Production Company. This company was established yet in 1869 (first blast furnace was blown-in in 1871) by a British-Russian consortium initiated in the Donetsk region by John Hughes, a Welsh entrepreneur. Transportation conditions remarkably changed after launching of the railway connecting Kryvyi Rih iron ore deposit with coal deposits of Donbass via the bridge across the river of Dnipro commissioned in 1884, which boosted industrialization over the large, previously rural, area along the railroad.

**19**

10-20% was exported.

*Gdantsevka ironmaking plant (1899).*

**Figure 3.**

controlled the production, 7 of them were foreigners.

**2. Post WWI reconstruction and industrialization**

decided to return to economic management instruments.

*History and Current State of Mining in the Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Deposit*

In 1885 the mentioned above Novorossiysk Company started also iron ore mining in Kryvyi Rih area, based on British funds. It was followed by starting several other mines, owned mostly by international capital represented with Belgium, Great Britain, France and Switzerland. In addition to manufacturing organization, leading foreign experts have been assigned to deliver mining and metallurgical businesses towards the best European practice. Already by 1887, Kryvyi Rih became the dominant iron ore extraction site of the Russian Empire. In 1892 Gdantsevka Ironmaking Plant (**Figure 3**), also owned by Societe Anonyme Minerais de Fer de Krivoi Rog, was put into operation in the outskirts of Kryvyi Rih. The major part of iron ore extracted in Kryvyi Rih deposit was consumed in Russian Empire, and

In the beginning of the XX century as many as 63 mines have been in operation with cumulative depth of more than 100 km [2]. Each mine was a separate unit with its own infrastructure and administration. The largest production volume of 6.2 Mt. was achieved in 1913, constituting 72% of total production of iron ore in the Russian Empire. Almost 20 thousand employees worked at the mines, 40 engineers

However, during World War I followed by the Bolshevik Revolution (1917) and civil war lasted through 1921, the extraction of ore practically ceased: during seven months from January to July 1918 just 264 kt of iron ore was supplied, whereas before the war average monthly supply was around 480 kt. By August 1918 all iron

After a kaleidoscopic change of ruling powers, Soviet regime was established in Kryvyi Rih region by the beginning of 1920. Iron ore was essential for reconstruction of industry, so local authorities were subordinated directly to Kharkiv, the first capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. Initially, within the Kryvyi Rih deposit the martial law was imposed, but such measure was not successful and therefore it was

ore mines in Kryvyi Rih were stopped and most of them – flooded [3].

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96120*

**Figure 2.** *Iron ore mining in Kryvyi Rih (1899).*

*History and Current State of Mining in the Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Deposit DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96120*

#### **Figure 3.** *Gdantsevka ironmaking plant (1899).*

*Iron Ores*

**Figure 1.**

*Share of Societe Anonyme Minerais de Fer de Krivoi rog.*

**18**

**Figure 2.**

*Iron ore mining in Kryvyi Rih (1899).*

Initially, iron ore mining was made almost completely manually (**Figure 2**). Most part of the mined ore was delivered eastwards over the distance of roughly 400 km by horse and cart (including crossing ca 1 km wide Dnipro river by ferry) to the factories of Novorossiysk Coal, Iron & Rail Production Company. This company was established yet in 1869 (first blast furnace was blown-in in 1871) by a British-Russian consortium initiated in the Donetsk region by John Hughes, a Welsh entrepreneur. Transportation conditions remarkably changed after launching of the railway connecting Kryvyi Rih iron ore deposit with coal deposits of Donbass via the bridge across the river of Dnipro commissioned in 1884, which boosted industrialization over the large, previously rural, area along the railroad.

In 1885 the mentioned above Novorossiysk Company started also iron ore mining in Kryvyi Rih area, based on British funds. It was followed by starting several other mines, owned mostly by international capital represented with Belgium, Great Britain, France and Switzerland. In addition to manufacturing organization, leading foreign experts have been assigned to deliver mining and metallurgical businesses towards the best European practice. Already by 1887, Kryvyi Rih became the dominant iron ore extraction site of the Russian Empire. In 1892 Gdantsevka Ironmaking Plant (**Figure 3**), also owned by Societe Anonyme Minerais de Fer de Krivoi Rog, was put into operation in the outskirts of Kryvyi Rih. The major part of iron ore extracted in Kryvyi Rih deposit was consumed in Russian Empire, and 10-20% was exported.

In the beginning of the XX century as many as 63 mines have been in operation with cumulative depth of more than 100 km [2]. Each mine was a separate unit with its own infrastructure and administration. The largest production volume of 6.2 Mt. was achieved in 1913, constituting 72% of total production of iron ore in the Russian Empire. Almost 20 thousand employees worked at the mines, 40 engineers controlled the production, 7 of them were foreigners.

However, during World War I followed by the Bolshevik Revolution (1917) and civil war lasted through 1921, the extraction of ore practically ceased: during seven months from January to July 1918 just 264 kt of iron ore was supplied, whereas before the war average monthly supply was around 480 kt. By August 1918 all iron ore mines in Kryvyi Rih were stopped and most of them – flooded [3].
