Iron Ore continued

Iron ore mining has grown into a massive industry over the last thirty years of the twentieth century. Overall production reached 20 million tonnes a year in 1968, doubled to 40 million in 1970 and hit 70 million in 1973. By 1998 iron ore production had reached 150 million tonnes a year. In1999 the iron ore industry was worth nearly $3,500 million dollars, or roughly 20% of the State's mineral production, providing royalties to the State Government of nearly $200 million a year.