Is there a level of decomposition after rust? Or is there any way (either naturally or through processing) to return rusted iron to a deoxidized state?

Question

From my understanding, iron veins in mines are spotted by their bright red color due to rust on the exposed surface. Then when it’s refined, the rust separates as slag and is discarded, leaving the pure iron behind.

Is this accurate? Or does the refining process deoxidize iron while separating impurities?

In: 16

Answer 1

> Is there a level of decomposition after rust?

You can bind up iron in other molecules. I dunno of any naturally occuring reactions though.

The iron element is stable though and doesn’t have a halflife.

>Or is there any way (either naturally or through processing) to return rusted iron to a deoxidized state?

Sure. An oven in a vacuum will essentially cook out the oxygen. It’s not worth it though, so no, this isn’t part of the mining / refining process.