Magnetite is the most magnetic of all the common naturally occurring minerals on Earth, and magnetite iron ore deposits exhibit very significant magnetic anomalism. Hence airborne magnetic data is very well suited for exploration for magnetite iron ore deposits. Whilst magnetite is strongly magnetic (k ~1000 - 3000 . 10-3 SI), hematite is less so (k ~1.3 - 7.0 . 10-3 SI). Hematite banded iron formation (BIF) deposits thus have much less of a magnetic anomaly signature. Hence the use of airborne magnetic data is less suited for exploration of hematite BIF deposits However, although pure magnetite has a slightly lower density (~5.17 g/cm3) than pure hematite (~5.26 g/cm3), both magnetite-rich iron ore and hematite-enriched iron ore generally exhibit a significant positive density contrast to the surrounding host rock.The size of an average magnetite/hematite iron ore deposit, combined with the density contrast between the deposit and the surrounding host rock, most often result in a quite significant, positive gravity and gravity gradient anomaly.The FALCON Airborne Gravity Gradiometry (AGG) system, operated by Fugro Airborne Surveys, is specifically designed for airborne deployment, with the sensitivity and accuracy required for minerals exploration targets. FALCON AGG is particularly useful in exploration for magnetite/hematite-enriched iron ore deposit within magnetite-rich BIFs.The joint interpretation of FALCON AGG data and magnetic data enables the explorer to effectively risk and screen iron ore exploration targets into magnetite- and hematite-rich targets, either through two-dimensional (2D) mapping or three-dimensional (3D) inversion of the observed data sets into density and susceptibility earth-models.Case study examples from North America illustrate that fixed-wing and helicopter-borne AGG and high-resolution magnetics provide the means to rapidly, safely and efficiently explore for magnetite and hematite iron ore deposits.CITATION:Christensen, A N, Hodges, G and Smith, C, 2013. Airborne gravity gradiometry for rapid screening of iron ore exploration targets, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 67-74 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).