大约10年以前,美国《工程与采矿杂志》的封面上写着密执安州和明尼苏达州铁矿区的“球团矿生产能力新增到3100万长吨(1长吨=1.016t)”。几年以后,这些矿区的总产量下降到2500万长吨以下。与金、铜或其它商品不同,铁球团矿并不广泛地在公开市场上销售,矿山的产品往往直接供给垂直联合的母公司或控股公司。铁矿山 About 10 years ago, the cover of the US Journal of Engineering and Mining reads “The pellet production capacity increased to 31 million tons (1 long ton = 1.016t)” in Michigan and Minnesota iron mines . A few years later, the total output of these mines fell below 25 million tons. Unlike gold, copper or other commodities, iron pellets are not widely sold on the open market and mined products are often supplied directly to vertically integrated parent or holding companies. Iron mines