Minerals and Ores Natural materials - juraj-hrivnak/Underdog GitHub Wiki
Characteristics of a mineral
+ It must occur naturally.
+ It must be inorganic
+ It must be a solid
+ It must possess an orderly internal structure, that is, its atoms must be arranged in a definite pattern.
+ It must have a definite chemical composition that may vary within specified limits.
- Ores are those minerals from which metal are extracted conveniently and profitably.
Types of Ores
There are mainly four types of ores such as Oxides; Carbonate Ores; Sulphide; Halides Ores.
| Types of Ores |
Element |
Name of Ores |
| Oxides |
Aluminium |
Bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O) |
|
Copper |
Cuprites (Cu2O) |
|
Iron |
Hematite (Fe2O3) |
|
Tin |
Casseterite (SnO2) |
| Carbonate Ores |
Calcium |
Limestone (CACO3) |
|
Zinc |
Calamine (ZnCO3) |
|
Iron |
Siderite (FeCO3) |
| Sulphide |
Zinc |
Zinc blende (ZnS) |
|
Copper |
Copper glance (Cu2S) |
|
Lead |
Galena (PbS) |
|
Mercury |
Cinnabar (HgS) |
| Halide Ores |
Sodium |
Rock Salt (NaCl) |
|
Fluoride |
Fluorspar (CaF2) |
|
Silver |
Horn silver (AgCl) |
Ores and Methods of Extraction of some Common Metals
| Metals |
Occurrence |
Extraction method |
| 1. Lithium |
Spodumeme LiAl(SiO3)2 Lepidolite |
Electrolysis of fused LiCl/ KCl |
| 2. Sodium |
Rock salt (NaCl) |
Electrolysis of fused NaCl / CaCl2 |
| 3. Magnesium |
Carnallite (KCl.MgCl2.6H2O), Magnesium (MgCO3) |
Electrolysis of fused MgO or MgCl2 / KCl carbon reduction of MgO |
| 4. Calcium |
Limestone (CACO3), Dolomite (MgCO3.CaCO3), Gypsum (CaSO4) |
Electrolysis of fused CaCl2/ CaF2 |
| 5. Copper |
Cuprites (Cu2O), Copper glance (Cu2S) |
Roasting of sulphide partially and reduction 1Cu2O + Cu2S+ 6Cu+SO2 |
| 6. Aluminium |
Bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O), Cryolite (Na2AlF6) |
Electrolysis of Al2O3 dissolved in molten Cryolite or Na2AlF6 |
| 7. Zinc |
Zinc blende (ZnS), Zincite (ZnO), Calamine (ZnCO3) |
Roasting and then reduction with C |
| 8. Lead |
Galena (PbS) |
Roasting of sulphide ore then reduction of the oxide |
| 9. Iron |
Hematite (Fe2O3), Magnetite (Fe2O4), Siderite (FeCO3), Iron pyrite (FeS2), Limonite (Fe2O3.3H2O) |
Reduction with the help of CO and Coke in a blast furnace, chemical reduction with CO, Calcination followed by reduction with CO. Roasting followed by reduction with CO. |