Abstract: Iron ore, a crucial industrial raw material, plays a vital role in the global economy. Its production and consumption have a profound impact. In the context of ongoing economic expansion, the demand for iron ore globally is progressively increasing. The global iron ore resources, while plentiful, are unevenly distributed, with a significant portion concentrated in Australia and Brazil. The African Continent holds considerable iron ore reserves, recognized as the third-largest source of global supply following the Carajás Region in Brazil and the Pilbara Region in Australia, accounting for 13.8% of the global iron ore resources. Notably, the majority of high-quality iron ores in Africa are of the Banded Iron Formation（BIF） type, making up over 90% of its iron ore assets. Enhancing the development and utilization of African iron ore resources necessitates a deeper understanding of the current development situation and exploration patterns. The research shows that African iron ores are mainly clustered within the African Craton and its bordering areas, displaying zonal, clustered, and segmented distribution patterns. These ores can be classified into five types: BIF-related, magmatic, skarn, sedimentary, and lateritic, with ore-forming periods spanning from Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. Different types of iron ore deposits are concentrated in distinct geological and tectonic settings. Currently, South Africa and Mauritania are at the forefront of iron ore development in Africa. However, high-quality iron ore projects in Africa are largely dominated by international mining corporations like Glencore, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group（FMG）, and Vale. The overall production of African iron ore remains relatively low, averaging less than 100 million tons per year, which represents approximately 3% of the global production during the same period. Moreover, the focus is primarily on exports. Chinese enterprises have been actively participating in the development of African iron ore resources through acquisitions and cooperation initiatives, aiming to contribute to the more efficient utilization of these resources.