Menu Close

What is an economic mineral deposit?

What is an economic mineral deposit?

A mineral deposit is simply an enriched body of rock with a particular metal or mineral of economic (or strategic) interest that could be considered for mining. From: Encyclopedia of Geology (Second Edition), 2021.

What are the 2 types of mineral deposits?

Generally we can classify mineral deposits into two major groups: Industrial and non industrial.

Which is a rock that contains mineral deposits?

Magma is one such medium that transports ores. When magma or lava cools, the magma and ore carried within it crystallize to form tiny minerals in the newly-created igneous rock. Minerals found in such rock might include feldspar or mica.

Why are there large deposits of minerals in the Philippines?

The Philippines is blessed with metal and mineral deposits due to its geology. The islands are on the top of underwater mountains that were formed due to the molten rocks from the interior of the earth, which created the ideal setting of a variety of valuable minerals.

How do you identify mineral deposits?

To find a mineral deposit, geologists study the geology of a lot of places. They then go to a spot where that type of mineral deposit could be found. They test the properties of the soil and rocks. They look at the chemistry and the physical properties.

What do you call a deposit of minerals?

High School Earth Science/Mining and Using Minerals. A mineral deposit that contains enough minerals to be mined for profit is called an ore. Ores are rocks that contain concentrations of valuable minerals. The bauxite shown in the Figure 3.26 is a rock that contains minerals that are used to make aluminum.

What are the different types of ore deposits?

Thus, diamonds and many other mineral commodities are used in many different ways. Ore deposits and ore minerals fall into several main commodity groups: metallic and semimetallic elements, nonmetallic elements, gems, construction and manufacturing materials, fertilizer and chemical minerals, and energy resources (table below).

What makes an ore deposit a good investment?

Some ores are valued for their mineral properties, some for the elements they contain, and others because they contain valuable gems. The best ore deposits are those containing large amounts of ore minerals. The best metal ore minerals are those that contain large amounts of metals of value.

What kind of minerals are found in rocks?

Many nickel, platinum sulphide and chromium deposits form this way. Simple weathering of rocks can leave an oxidized soil residue of concentrated metal-minerals. In tropical environments rocks that do not themselves have sufficient metal to be mined are weathered to a soil called a regolith or laterite.