An iron mine is a site for the extraction of natural deposits of iron from the earth. Iron is a very common metal and a chemical element with atomic number 26. It is widely used in the construction of machinery, vehicles, and buildings, especially as a component of steel. In spite of its abundance in the earth's crust, only certain ores (especially magnetite, titanomagnetite, hematite, and pisolitic ironstone) are commercially viable sources of iron.

The iron is obtained from naturally occurring ore. The definition does not require a deposit of pure metallic iron.

Steelmaking and the manufacture of vehicles or building components are later industrial uses. A plant carrying out those activities without ore extraction is not an iron mine.