{{Coord|42|13|55|N|129|16|09|E|display=title}} {{Infobox mine | name = Musan mine | image = | width = | caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | place = [[Musan County]] | subdivision_type = | state/province = [[North Hamgyong Province]] | country = [[North Korea]] | owner = | official website = | acquisition year = | products = [[Iron ore]] | financial year = | amount = | opening year = 1935 | closing year = }} The '''Musan mine'''(무산광산연합기업소) is a large [[Iron ore|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.<ref name="muncelu">{{cite web|url=http://www.ecns.cn/business/2013/03-28/56308.shtml|title=Tianchi halts work on mine in DPRK over iron ore prices|year=2013|publisher=ecns.cn|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref>
Industrial-level mining operations began in 1935 during the [[Japanese occupation of Korea]] and was carried out by the Mitsubishi Mining Co.<ref name=History/> 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.<ref name=History>{{cite web|url=https://mynorthkorea.blogspot.com/2020/08/history-of-musan-iron-mine.html|title=History of the Musan Iron Mine|author=Jacob Bogle|publisher=AccessDPRK|date=13 August 2020|accessdate=28 August 2020}}</ref> 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.
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Musan Mine}} [[Category:Iron mines in North Korea]] [[Category:North Hamgyong Province]]