* Composition: Iron ore is a naturally occurring rock that contains iron oxides (like hematite and magnetite) but also includes other minerals and impurities. This means the composition of iron ore varies from place to place.

* Appearance: You can often see different colored minerals and textures within a sample of iron ore.

* Separation: You can physically separate the different components of iron ore.

In contrast, a homogeneous substance has a uniform composition throughout and cannot be physically separated into its components.