A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has identified the largest iron ore deposit ever recorded—an estimated 55 billion metric tons buried in the Hamersley Province of Western Australia. A core of 1.3 billion-year-old deep blue iron ore from the Hamersley Province. (Image credit: Liam Courtney-Davies, Curtin University)Some ore samples exceed 60% iron content, far above the global average of about 30%, making the Hamersley deposit both massive and exceptionally high-grade. This dwarfs the output of many other mining regions and strengthens Australia’s position as the world’s top iron ore producer. Locally, the deposit could drive major infrastructure upgrades in Western Australia, from expanded rail lines to new port facilities.