Isabella Carter
Ore and mineral resources are terms used to describe valuable deposits found in the Earth's crust. Ore deposits are mineral deposits that can be mined for profit, and they are distinguished from mineral resources by their high concentration of valuable minerals or metals. Mineral resources, on the other hand, are mineral deposits that may or may not be economically viable to extract. The distinction between ore and mineral resources depends on various factors, including the concentration of valuable minerals, the cost of extraction, and the economic and technological conditions. Ore deposits are typically classified as magmatic, hydrothermal, or sedimentary, and they contain valuable metals or minerals such as copper, gold, and iron. Mining and refining processes are used to extract these valuable resources, which are essential for modern society and various industrial applications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A mineral resource is a mineral deposit consisting of a useful concentration of minerals that may or may not exceed the economic cost for obtaining the valuable minerals. |
| Ore is a deposit in Earth's crust of one or more valuable minerals that are economically viable to mine and process. | |
| Composition | Minerals of interest are generally oxides, sulfides, silicates, or native metals. |
| Examples of Minerals | Copper, gold, iron, aluminium, bauxite, asbestos, micas, halite, gypsum, clays, calcite, asbestos, micas, zeolites, limestone, coal, oil, gas, uranium, platinum, chromium, tin, tungsten, fossil fuels, building stones, groundwater. |
| Extraction | Ore is extracted from the earth through mining and treated or refined, often via smelting, to extract the valuable metals or minerals. |
| Types of Deposits | Magmatic, hydrothermal, sedimentary, skarns, greisens, polymetallic nodules. |
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What You'll Learn
- Ore deposits are distinct from mineral resources as they are economically viable
- Ore deposits are formed by different geological processes
- Ore deposits are classified according to economic geology
- Ore deposits are mined for valuable, nonrenewable resources
- Mineral deposits become mineral or ore reserves based on economic viability
Ore deposits are distinct from mineral resources as they are economically viable
The value of the metals or minerals a rock contains must be weighed against the cost of extraction to determine whether it is of sufficiently high grade to be worth mining and is therefore considered an ore. Ore is a deposit in Earth's crust of one or more valuable minerals. The most valuable ore deposits contain metals crucial to industry and trade, like copper, gold, and iron. Ore deposits are formed in the Earth's crust by different geological processes and accumulate minerals or ores in such quantities that it is technologically possible to mine and economically profitable to designate them as "Ore" and "Ore Body."
Mineral deposits become mineral or ore reserves when the input cost for obtaining the target valuable minerals is justified by the technological process, the needs of the economy, and prices in the market. For example, bauxite is a mineral raw material for obtaining aluminum, hematite for iron, and kaolin for porcelain. Pure clay is a mineral raw material for the manufacture of ceramics, and impure clay is used for the production of tiles or bricks.
Ore deposits are classified according to various criteria developed through the study of economic geology or ore genesis. The most important kinds of ore deposits are magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary. Ore genesis can be classified into three types: internal, hydrothermal, and surficial. Internal processes occur when volcanoes bring ore from deep within the planet to the surface. Hydrothermal processes occur when seawater circulates through cracks in Earth's crust and deposits minerals around hydrothermal vents. Surficial processes occur through erosion or when ore falls to Earth as rocky debris from elsewhere in the solar system.
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Ore deposits are formed by different geological processes
Ore deposits are formed by a variety of geological processes, generally referred to as ore genesis. These processes are often complex and spread over geological time. The most important kinds of ore deposits are magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary.
Magmatic ore deposits are rocks of igneous origin, formed from the crystallisation of magma. They are the source of many metals, including copper, nickel, and platinum. Magmatic deposits can be further categorised as magmatic sulphide deposits, which gain sulfur through interaction with the Earth's crust, and stratiform chromites, which are a source of chromium.
Hydrothermal ore deposits are formed by the circulation of hot fluids through permeable and fractured rocks. These fluids can efficiently transport metals in a chemically selective manner, leading to the concentration of valuable minerals in the ore deposit.
Sedimentary ore deposits are formed through the weathering and deposition of detrital sedimentary rocks in basins. An example of a sedimentary ore deposit is the sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) process, where brine is discharged onto the sea floor, leading to the precipitation of ore minerals. Lead and zinc deposits are commonly formed through this process.
Ore deposits can also be formed by metamorphic reactions during shearing, known as lateral secretion. This process liberates mineral constituents such as gold, sulfides, and carbonates, concentrating them in zones of reduced pressure or dilation.
Additionally, ore deposits can be classified based on their geological setting, such as the telethermal deposits formed at shallow depths and relatively low temperatures, or the formation of polymetallic nodules on the sea floor through the precipitation of iron and manganese over millions of years.
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Ore deposits are classified according to economic geology
Ore deposits are classified according to various criteria developed through the study of economic geology, or ore genesis. The most important kinds of ore deposits are magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary. Magmatic deposits are those that originate directly from magma. Orthomagmatic deposits, for instance, are hosted in the igneous rocks in which they formed. Most of the world's nickel, chromium, and platinum group elements are derived from these deposits.
Metamorphism is another process that forms ore deposits. Skarns, for example, are silicates derived from the recrystallization of carbonates like limestone. They are one of the most diverse and abundant mineral deposits, and those with potential value are classified depending on the dominant element, such as Ca, Fe, Mg, or Mn. Greisens, like skarns, are a metamorphosed silicate, quartz-mica mineral deposit. They are large ore sources of tin and tungsten in the form of wolframite, cassiterite, stannite, and scheelite. These are the leading source of copper ore.
Ore deposits are also classified by their commodity groups: metallic and semi-metallic elements, non-metallic elements, gems, construction and manufacturing materials, fertilizer and chemical minerals, and energy resources. The most economical metal and semi-metal deposits are found near the margins of continents or former margins of continents, where mountain-building and igneous activity have occurred.
The profitability of an ore deposit is determined by the reserves (the amount of known ore in a deposit) and the ore grade (the concentration of a commodity in the ore). The costs of extraction, processing, and market price are also important factors. A high-grade ore deposit may be uneconomical to mine if the reserves are low, or if it is in a remote area. The largest and most easily produced mines control market prices.
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Ore deposits are mined for valuable, nonrenewable resources
Ore deposits are mined for valuable, non-renewable resources. Ore is a deposit in Earth's crust made up of one or more valuable minerals. The most valuable ore deposits contain metals crucial to industry and trade, such as copper, gold, and iron. Ore deposits are formed in the Earth's crust by different geological processes over time, and they accumulate minerals in such quantities and qualities that it is technologically possible and economically profitable to mine them.
Mineral deposits become ore deposits when they occur in high enough concentrations to be economically viable. The concentration of a commodity in the ore (the "richness" of the ore) determines the ore grade. The value of the metals or minerals in a rock must be weighed against the cost of extraction to determine whether it is of sufficiently high grade to be worth mining and thus considered an ore.
Ore deposits are classified according to various criteria developed through the study of economic geology or ore genesis. The most important kinds of ore deposits are magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary. Ore genesis refers to the different processes by which ore can accumulate. Ore can accumulate through internal processes, such as when volcanoes bring ore from deep in the planet to the surface. It can also accumulate through hydrothermal processes, when seawater circulates through cracks in the Earth's crust and deposits minerals in the areas around hydrothermal vents. Ore can also accumulate through surficial processes, such as erosion, or fall to Earth as meteorites.
Mining methods depend on the concentration, depth, geometry, land-use policies, economics, surrounding rock strength, and physical access to the ore. Open-pit mining is used to access ore deposits closer to the surface, while underground mining is used for deposits that are deeper and more concentrated. Underground mining can involve introducing chemical agents to dissolve the target mineral and then bringing the solution to the surface for precipitation. It can also involve digging tunnels and shafts to reach buried ore bodies.
Ore deposits are a source of non-renewable resources that are crucial to modern society. Nearly everything that we manufacture contains mineral resources, and the sources for these resources are mineral deposits. For example, bauxite is a mineral raw material for obtaining aluminium, which is used in containers, cosmetics, and medicines. Copper is used in electrical wiring and construction materials, while gold is used in electronics and jewellery. Iron is used to make magnets for microphones and speakers, and fossil fuels are used as energy sources.
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Mineral deposits become mineral or ore reserves based on economic viability
The profitability of an ore deposit is influenced by several factors, including the amount of known ore in the deposit (reserves) and the concentration of valuable commodities in the ore (ore grade or richness). While these geological factors are significant, economic considerations such as extraction costs, processing costs, and market price often play a more decisive role in determining the economic viability of a mineral deposit.
For example, a high-grade ore deposit may be uneconomical to mine if the reserves are low, as the start-up costs could outweigh the potential profits. Similarly, a large high-grade deposit in a remote area may be uneconomical due to the high transportation costs involved. The feasibility and economic benefit of a mineral resource must be carefully demonstrated before it can be classified as a mineral or ore reserve.
Mineral or ore reserves refer to the portion of mineral resources that are deemed economically viable for extraction. The economic viability of extracting these minerals depends on factors such as market prices, extraction costs, and technological advancements in processing. Mineral reserves are further classified into two main categories: Probable and Proved (or Proven) Mineral (or Ore) Reserves, based on increasing levels of confidence in the mineral reserve estimate. These classifications are crucial for project development, investment decisions, and assessing the overall viability of mining projects.
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Frequently asked questions
A mineral resource is a mineral deposit consisting of a useful concentration of minerals that may or may not be economically viable to extract.
Ore is a deposit in Earth's crust of one or more valuable minerals that are economically viable to mine and process.
A mineral resource becomes an ore when it is economically viable to extract.
