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42°13′55″N129°16′09″E / 42.23194°N 129.26917°E / 42.23194; 129.26917
 Interactive map of Musan mine | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Products | Iron ore |
| Opened | 1935 |
The Musan mine(무산광산연합기업소) is a large iron mine located in north-east North Korea in North Hamgyong Province. Musan represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in North Korea and in the world having estimated reserves of 3 billion tonnes of ore grading 41% iron metal.[1]
Industrial-level mining operations began in 1935 during the Japanese occupation of Korea and was carried out by the Mitsubishi Mining Co.[2] From 1940-45, the mine produced a combined 3,838,454 tonnes of ore concentrate at an average iron concentration of 58% elemental iron. The Korean War brought mining operations to a halt but by 1989, national iron ore production had risen to 9.8 million tonnes, with Musan producing upwards of two-thirds of the total.[2] The mining industry once again collapsed as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union and the 1994-99 North Korean famine. Production levels at Musan have yet to rebound to pre-famine highs.