the discovery of iron ore in ho territory opened the way for the first iron ore mine in india at pansira buru in 1901. over the years iron ore mining spread out in the area. many hos are engaged in mining work but that does not add up to any sizeable percentage. however, small, well planned mining towns dotting the territory have brought the ho people in close touch with the good and bad aspects of urbanization. some of the prominent mining towns in the area are chiria, gua, noamundi and kiriburu.