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07. Minerals And Ores

Self Study

Prepared by: learnloophq@gmail.com

Last edited 9 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 07. Minerals And Ores

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Minerals and Ores: An Exciting Journey Beneath the Earth!

Welcome, young explorer! Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey to discover the amazing world of minerals and ores. These natural treasures are all around us, in the ground beneath our feet, and even in many things we use every single day!

In this chapter, you will discover:

How to tell the difference between metallic and non-metallic minerals.

Why minerals are so important in our daily lives.

Where important minerals are found around the world.

The different ways we bring minerals out of the Earth (mining!).

Why it’s super important to protect and conserve our mineral resources.

What Are Minerals and Ores?

Have you ever wondered what rocks are made of? Well, all rocks are composed of minerals! Minerals are natural substances that have a very specific chemical makeup. Think of them like the building blocks of the Earth. There are about 3,500 different types of minerals known to us!

You can often recognize a mineral by looking at its:

Colour: Is it red, blue, green, or something else?

Lustre: How shiny is it? Does it sparkle like glass or look dull?

Hardness: How easy is it to scratch?

Shape: Does it have a specific crystal shape?

Some common examples of minerals are shiny diamonds, clear quartz, colourful topaz, and white gypsum.

Minerals are usually found inside special rocks called ores. An ore is a naturally occurring solid material that contains a large amount of a particular mineral (often a metal) that we can dig out and use to make a profit.

Examples of ores: Iron ores, copper ores, bauxite (which gives us aluminium), zinc, lead, and manganese.

The process of taking minerals out of the Earth is called mining.

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Characteristics of Minerals

Minerals have some special qualities that help us understand them better:

Mostly Solid: Most minerals you’ll find are in solid form.

Naturally Occurring: They are formed in nature, not made by humans.

Similar Characteristics: Each type of mineral has its own unique set of properties (like colour, hardness, etc.).

Not Pure Substances: Minerals are usually a combination of different elements, not just one pure element.

Exhaustible: This means they are limited and can run out if we use them too much. They take thousands of years to form!

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Types of Minerals

Minerals are generally divided into two main groups based on their physical and chemical properties: Metallic minerals and Non-metallic minerals.

Metallic Minerals

These minerals contain metals. They often have a shiny look.

Ferrous Minerals: These are metallic minerals that contain iron.

Examples: Iron ore, manganese, chrome.

Non-Ferrous Minerals: These are metallic minerals that do not contain iron.

Examples: Gold, silver, copper, lead.

Non-Metallic Minerals

These minerals do not contain metals and usually have a dull appearance.

Here’s a table to help you easily see the differences between metallic and non-metallic minerals:

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Where are Minerals Found? (Distribution of Minerals)

Not all parts of the world have the same amount of minerals. Some places are rich in many mineral deposits, while others have very few or none at all.

Globally Rich Countries: The USA, Russia, China, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Sweden, Japan, South Africa, France, Canada, and Kuwait are some countries with lots of mineral resources.

India’s Mineral Map:

Areas with thick layers of alluvium (like the Ganga Plains) usually don’t have many minerals.

However, the igneous and metamorphic rocks in the central and southern peninsular parts of India are very rich in minerals.

North-eastern parts of India also have mineral reserves, but it’s hard to get them out because of the difficult mountains and terrain.

Minerals are also found in the north-western part of India.

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Metallic Minerals: A Closer Look

Let’s explore some important metallic minerals, where they are mainly produced, and who the key producers are.

Iron Ore

Iron ore is the most important mineral in the world! When pure, iron isn’t super strong, so it’s usually mixed with other elements to make strong alloys (like steel) for machines and industries.

There are four different types of iron ores:

Haematite:

Most abundant (common) iron ore.

Contains about 70% iron.

Natural ore, reddish in colour.

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A Haematite

Magnetite:

Best quality iron ore, contains almost 75% iron.

Called ‘magnetite’ because it has magnetic properties.

Deep brown or almost black in colour, also known as ‘black ore’.

Limonite:

Yellowish coloured iron ore, contains about 60% iron.

Easier and cheaper to mine because it’s closer to the Earth’s surface.

Turns yellowish when exposed to air and water.

Siderite:

An inferior (lower quality) variety of iron ore.

Contains only about 48% iron.

Iron Ore Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: Australia (912 million tonnes)

Followed by: Brazil (380 million tonnes), China (360 million tonnes), and India (240 million tonnes).

Fun Fact! Indians were among the first people in the world to make and use iron. There’s proof that surgical tools made from iron were used in India as early as the 4th century BCE!

Uranium

Uranium is a hard, silvery material. It’s very malleable (can be shaped easily) and ductile (can be stretched into wires). You can find tiny traces of it in rocks, ocean waters, and some minerals in the Earth’s crust.

Uranium Production Areas (2021):

Top 5: Kazakhstan, Australia, Namibia, Uzbekistan, and Canada.

India produces less than 1% of the world’s uranium.

Bauxite

Bauxite is a clay-like substance containing several minerals. From bauxite, we extract alumina, and then aluminium.

Colour: Pinkish, whitish, or reddish, depending on how much iron it contains.

Lightest Metal: Aluminium (from bauxite) is the lightest metal, which is why it’s used in making aircraft.

Good Conductor: It’s also a good conductor of electricity, making it important for the electrical industry.

Bauxite Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: Australia (over 28% of global production). The world’s largest bauxite mine, the Wcipa Mine, is in Australia.

Second: China (22%).

India produced about 6% of the world’s total production.

Manganese

The word ‘manganese’ comes from the Latin word ‘magnes’, meaning magnet. It’s found in many different minerals and is used in making alloys (mixtures of metals).

Manganese Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: South Africa (19.16 million metric tonnes).

Second: Gabon (7 million metric tonnes).

Total global production: 49.5 million metric tons.

India was the 6th largest producer of manganese.

Gold

Gold is a soft, yellow metal with a beautiful glossy shine. It’s considered a precious metal because it’s found in very limited quantities. Gold also helps a country feel economically secure during tough times.

Gold Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: China (around 9% of total global production).

Silver

Silver is a soft, shiny metal. It’s the best conductor of heat and electricity! Silver can handle extreme temperatures and reflects light very well. It’s also a precious metal used in making jewellery.

Silver Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: Mexico (nearly 24% of global production).

Second: China (about 14%).

Third: Peru (13.1%).

Copper

Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Many important alloys, like brass and bronze, are made using copper.

Copper Production Areas (2021):

Leading Producers: Chile, Peru, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Chile produces nearly 25% of the world’s copper.

World’s Largest Copper Mine: Escondida, located in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile.

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A Copper mine

Knowledge of India: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

SAIL is one of India’s largest steel companies and an important public sector enterprise.

It produces iron and steel at five large plants and three special steel plants, mostly in eastern and central India.

These plants are built close to where raw materials like iron ore, coal, limestone, and water are found.

SAIL makes many steel products for industries and homes. They have a wide network to ensure quick supply across the country.

Here’s a summary table for metallic minerals:

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Non-Metallic Minerals: A Closer Look

Now, let’s explore some important non-metallic minerals.

Limestone

Limestone is a very versatile non-metallic mineral.

Uses:

Generally used as a construction material.

Used to treat wastewater.

Increased demand for decorative uses like wall and floor tiles.

India’s Use: Almost 94% of India’s limestone production is used in the cement industry, 5% in the iron and steel industry, and the remaining 1% in chemicals, sugar, glass, and fertilizers.

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A Limestone mining

Limestone Production Areas (2022):

Top 3 Producers: China, the United States, and India.

Mica

Mica is a mineral known for its excellent insulating properties.

Uses:

Used in the glass-making and electrical industries.

Important for insulation and heat resistance.

Found in components of electronic and automotive products.

Also used in cosmetic products and paint.

Mica Production Areas (2022):

Largest Producer: China (about 100,000 metric tonnes).

Second: Madagascar (65,000 metric tonnes).

India is also a major producer of mica.

Coal

Coal is a very important sedimentary rock formed from the decayed remains of ancient plants and trees over millions of years. It has a high percentage of carbon and is a non-renewable energy resource. It’s a major conventional energy resource.

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A Coal mining

Based on how much carbon they contain, coal is divided into four categories:

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Coal Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: China (over 50% of worldwide production).

Second: Indonesia (9%).

India (8%), USA (7%), Australia (7%), and Russia (6%).

Petroleum

Petroleum is the most important fuel in the world today! It’s also known as mineral oil, rock oil, or crude oil.

Formation: Petroleum forms from ancient plants and animals that sank into the ocean, were buried under layers of sand, and hardened into sedimentary rocks over millions of years.

Importance: Life today would almost stop without petroleum.

Products from Petroleum: After refining (processing), petroleum is used to make:

Petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas.

Synthetic fibres, synthetic rubber, varnish paints.

Grease, lubricating oils, detergents.

Fertilizers, pesticides, cosmetics, plastic products.

Pharmaceutical products, food colours, dyes, motion picture films, and many more!

“Black Gold”: Because of its wide use and importance, petroleum is sometimes called ‘black gold’. It’s a major conventional energy resource.

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A An offshore oilfield

Fun Fact! Many top oil-producing countries are part of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC was founded in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. As of 2021, 15 nations were members. OPEC plays a big role in deciding oil prices because its members contribute about 37% of the world’s crude oil production.

Petroleum Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: The United States.

Second & Third: Saudi Arabia and Russia.

India: The Krishna-Godavari Basin in Andhra Pradesh is a new centre for oil production.

Natural Gas

Natural gas deposits are usually found along with petroleum deposits.

Properties: It is colourless, tasteless, and odourless in its natural state.

Uses: Widely used for cooking in homes.

Did You Know? Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a type of natural gas used as a fuel for cars and buses. It’s considered eco-friendly because it causes little pollution. Many public transport vehicles in large Indian cities now use CNG!

Natural Gas Production Areas (2021):

Largest Producer: The United States (approx. 934 billion cubic metres).

Second: Russia (approx. 700 billion cubic metres).

These two countries are the biggest contributors. Iran is also a major producer.

Here’s a summary table for non-metallic minerals:

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A A world map showing the distribution of major minerals in the world

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Types of Mining

Mining is the process of taking out minerals from the Earth. Some minerals are found close to the surface and are cheaper to mine, while others are deep down and are more expensive to extract. There are two main types of mining:

1. Surface Mining

In surface mining, the top layer of soil and rock is removed. Large pits or holes, called open cast mines or quarries, are dug. The minerals underneath are then extracted using heavy machinery.

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A Open cast mining

Common in India: Open cast mining is a common way to mine coal in India.

Minerals Extracted: Minerals found close to the surface, such as coal and some sedimentary rocks like limestone and mica.

Environmental Impact: This method can destroy trees and other natural vegetation.

2. Underground Mining

In underground mining, a long, narrow passage called a shaft is dug vertically deep into the ground. People and machinery are sent down this shaft. Sometimes, after going down the shaft, tunnels are blasted into the Earth using dynamite to reach the minerals. Miners then move through these tunnels to extract minerals.

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A Trucks at a site of underground mining

Minerals Extracted: Minerals found deep underground, such as coal, gold, silver, tin, lead, and copper.

Environmental Impact: Underground mining can cause:

Sinking of the land above the mine.

Underground water pollution.

Surface water pollution.

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Importance of Minerals

Minerals are super important and play a huge role in our daily lives! Think about it: many things around you, like door knobs, latches, window grills, and utensils, are made from minerals.

Iron & Steel: Iron and its alloy, steel, are used to build bridges, buildings, machines, and tools that make our lives easier.

Copper: Copper wires are essential for our electrical and electronic gadgets. Copper tools and utensils are also widely used.

Gold & Silver: These precious metals are used to make beautiful jewellery.

Aluminium (from Bauxite): Aluminium is used to make aeroplanes, our fastest way to travel!

Mica: Used in electrical goods.

Limestone: Used as cement for constructing houses and buildings.

Energy Resources: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are vital energy or power resources.

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