Iron ore is one of the most important minerals mined in Australia. When the ore is heated in a blast furnace the iron can be separated from the rocky materials it is found with. It can then be refined to make steel, which is flexible and relatively cheap, and is used for a huge range of purposes – from railway tracks to buildings to machines including cars and trains. For about 20 years after 1938 the Australian government prohibited the export of iron ore because they were worried that Australia might run out. They were also worried that they might end up supplying countries that Australia would fight against in wars. The discovery of more than 20,000 million tonnes of iron ore in the Pilbara region of north west Australia was made public in 1962. Not only was this deposit of iron ore huge, but it was of a very high standard. It was to become the most important source of iron ore in Australia. There was more than enough for Australian manufacturers to use, as well as plenty left over to sell to other countries, especially Japan where there was a large steel-making industry. This created many jobs in Australia, and brought more money into the country.