Fortescue Metals

Iron may be a bit dull, to your point of view, but Fortescue Metals Group thinks it shines as brightly as any gold. The company, Australia's third-largest miner (behind Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton), has more than 1 billion tons of iron ore reserves; it began production in 2008 and expects to produce about 55 million tons per year. The first year's shipment has already been sold to Chinese steel producers, including Baosteel. Fortescue Metals was formed in 2003 after its majority shareholder, The Metal Group, purchased Allied Mining & Processing. At the time, the infrastructure in the region wouldn't support mining operations, so the company built a rail line and two ports.