Ironmaking is the process of producing iron from iron ore. This typically involves heating the ore in a furnace, where it is combined with carbon, often from coke, to remove impurities. The result is molten iron, which can be cast into various shapes or further processed to create steel. The primary method of ironmaking is the use of a blast furnace, where layers of iron ore, coke, and limestone are added. As the materials are heated, chemical reactions occur, producing carbon dioxide and molten iron. This iron can then be refined and alloyed to create different types of metal products.