**4.2 Current characteristics of deposit**

In Ukraine, by the exploration stages, reserves are coded differently from International system applied by CRIRSCO (Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards) and the **Table 1** for conversion is shown below. Collectively, the sum of A + B + C1 categories is referred to as a proven reserve.

**23**

**Table 1.**

**Figure 6.**

**Figure 7.**

**Former Soviet code**

*Share of export in the usable iron ore production.*

*Level of confidence*

*Level of confidence*

*Classification* A - fully

*Table of correspondence between CRIRSCO and former soviet codes.*

explored

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

*Iron amount of the produced ore versus output of pig iron in Ukraine (elaborated by authors on [7, 9]).*

**CRIRSCO** *Classification* Measured Indicated Inferred

B - studied based on industrial development

High Reasonable Low

C1 - studied based on the results of pilot development and testing

Proven Probable

C2 - studied based on the results of testing and exploration

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

**Figure 5.** *Production and export of usable ore (elaborated by authors on [7]).*

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

#### **Figure 6.**

*Iron Ores*

**4. Sector development in modern Ukraine**

Collapse of the USSR in 1991 broke established supply chains and stopped large infrastructural projects thus substantially reducing demand for steel. Therefore, the

iron ore production in Kryvyi Rih in early 1990s plunged down as shown in **Figure 5**. Mining enterprises faced a severe financial situation. Profit and available capital decreased drastically: up to 80% of transactions in the steel sector were made

via barter schemes during this period, impeding accumulation of capital [8]. Further drop of iron ore output was prevented in the frames of a large scale "sectorial experiment" covering the entire mining-metallurgical complex of Ukraine and conducted from August 1999 to January 2003, providing enterprises with state assistance and allowing companies to accumulate finances for improving technologies and environmental safety under special taxation regime [8]. The state of Ukraine's mining sector was improved and iron ore output started to rapidly grow, as shown in **Figure 5**. Meanwhile export opportunities have been gradually exploited, especially after 2008, when the domestic demand shrank drastically in the aftermath of financial crisis followed by recession. **Figure 6** compares iron amount of the produced ore with the output of pig iron (blast furnace ironmaking is the sole large consumer of iron ore products - sinter and pellets in Ukraine). The both values, after being fluctuating almost in parallel, since 2009 gradually decouple from each other, and in 2019, first ever, output of pig iron drops by 2.4% although the iron amount of the produced ore grew by 2.8%. This illustrates orientation of mining sector rather not on the domestic needs but on the global markets -

as shown in **Figure 7**, since 2015 over 60% of the iron ore output is exported.

In Ukraine, by the exploration stages, reserves are coded differently from International system applied by CRIRSCO (Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards) and the **Table 1** for conversion is shown below. Collectively, the sum of A + B + C1 categories is referred to as a proven reserve.

**4.1 General development trends**

**4.2 Current characteristics of deposit**

*Production and export of usable ore (elaborated by authors on [7]).*

**22**

**Figure 5.**

*Iron amount of the produced ore versus output of pig iron in Ukraine (elaborated by authors on [7, 9]).*

#### **Figure 7.**

*Share of export in the usable iron ore production.*


#### **Table 1.**

*Table of correspondence between CRIRSCO and former soviet codes.*

Over 70% of Ukraine's proven reserve is located in Kryvyi Rih iron ore deposit. Iron ores mainly belong to the following three geo-industrial types: rich magnetite– hematite-martite ores, ferruginous quartzites and brown ironstones. Rich ores are used without concentration. Magnetite and cummingtonite-magnetite quartzites and brown ironstones of Kryvyi Rih deposit are concentrated by relatively simple methods – washing and magnetic separation. Oxidized quartzites and brown ironstones require roasting-magnetic and gravity-floatation methods of concentration.

Rich ores occur in bodies of 10-60 m and, occasionally, up to 100 m thickness. The iron content varies from 46% to 70%, phosphorus and sulfur contents – from 0.01% to 0.03%.

Magnetite and oxidized ferruginous quartzites are encountered in bodies of up to 100-200 m and, occasionally, up to 500 m thickness. The iron content in such ores varies from 14% to 46%, phosphorus content - from 0.03% to 0.16% and sulfur content - from 0.02% to 0.24%.

Currently, approximately 51% of all proven reserve is exploited. Substantial part of the reserve is not considered for mining in the near future for economic reasons. Along with underground enterprises, five large enterprises mine the ore in 10 open pits at depths of 150-450 m with further processing. Since the early 1970s the open pit mining method became and to date remains predominant as shown in **Figure 8**. In terms of maintaining production on current level, available reserves of iron ores covered by ongoing open pit mining activities remain sufficient to ensure functioning of mining and processing plants in the long term perspective as shown in **Table 2**.

Currently, rich iron ores and magnetite quartzites are mined via the underground method by Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Sukha Balka. Magnetite and oxidized quartzites are mined using the open pit method by Ingulets MPP, Southern MPP, Northern MPP and Arcelor Mittal Kryvyi Rih, whereas Central MPP applies both underground and open pit mining methods.

The depth of occurrence of commercial reserves of iron ore in Kryvyi Rih reaches 2.7 km, therefore underground mining remains essential. However, mining conditions are rather complicated - eight underground iron ore mines are functioning with mining operations conducted at depths of 600-1300 m in particularly risky underground conditions. Three of underground mines are operating in a flooding prevention mode.

**25**

**Reserves** Proven reserve Available within current mining boundaries

Resource endowment, Years

Accessed reserve

Developed reserve

Blocked out reserve

**Table 2.**

*Iron ore reserves covered by ongoing open pit mining activities in Kryvyi Rih, Mt. [10].*

236.625

29 29.593 5.795 1.556

2.792

0.13

0.16

0.15

0.926

0.77

0.16

0.2

11.577

3.15

0.51

0.52

1.57

1.5

0.5

0.9

30.503

5.74

1.42

4.42

3.24

2.4

0.9

22.8

27

28

50

33

39

34

157

35.7

750.084

501.458

372.819

972.060

15.912

214.463

152.472

1045.040

**ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih**

**# 2-bis** 265.619

1126.037

858.345

870.873

1956.064

197.078

209.902

157.202

1045.040

**# 3**

**Pervomaiskyi**

**Annivskyi**

**# 1**

**# 2**

**# 3**

**Northern MPP**

**Ingulets MPP**

**Central MPP**

**Southern MPP**

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

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

**Figure 8.** *The ratio between an underground and an open pit iron ore mining in Kryvyi Rih (%).*


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

*Iron Ores*

0.01% to 0.03%.

prevention mode.

sulfur content - from 0.02% to 0.24%.

**24**

**Figure 8.**

*The ratio between an underground and an open pit iron ore mining in Kryvyi Rih (%).*

Over 70% of Ukraine's proven reserve is located in Kryvyi Rih iron ore deposit. Iron ores mainly belong to the following three geo-industrial types: rich magnetite– hematite-martite ores, ferruginous quartzites and brown ironstones. Rich ores are used without concentration. Magnetite and cummingtonite-magnetite quartzites and brown ironstones of Kryvyi Rih deposit are concentrated by relatively simple methods – washing and magnetic separation. Oxidized quartzites and brown ironstones require roasting-magnetic and gravity-floatation methods of concentration. Rich ores occur in bodies of 10-60 m and, occasionally, up to 100 m thickness. The iron content varies from 46% to 70%, phosphorus and sulfur contents – from

Magnetite and oxidized ferruginous quartzites are encountered in bodies of up to 100-200 m and, occasionally, up to 500 m thickness. The iron content in such ores varies from 14% to 46%, phosphorus content - from 0.03% to 0.16% and

Currently, approximately 51% of all proven reserve is exploited. Substantial part of the reserve is not considered for mining in the near future for economic reasons. Along with underground enterprises, five large enterprises mine the ore in 10 open pits at depths of 150-450 m with further processing. Since the early 1970s the open pit mining method became and to date remains predominant as shown in **Figure 8**. In terms of maintaining production on current level, available reserves of iron ores covered by ongoing open pit mining activities remain sufficient to ensure functioning of mining and processing plants in the long term perspective as shown in **Table 2**. Currently, rich iron ores and magnetite quartzites are mined via the underground method by Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Sukha Balka. Magnetite and oxidized quartzites are mined using the open pit method by Ingulets MPP, Southern MPP, Northern MPP and Arcelor Mittal Kryvyi Rih, whereas Central MPP applies both underground and open pit mining methods. The depth of occurrence of commercial reserves of iron ore in Kryvyi Rih reaches 2.7 km, therefore underground mining remains essential. However, mining conditions are rather complicated - eight underground iron ore mines are functioning with mining operations conducted at depths of 600-1300 m in particularly risky underground conditions. Three of underground mines are operating in a flooding
