Types of Minerals
Metallic minerals contain metal in raw form. Metals are
hard substances that conduct heat and electricity and
have a characteristic lustre or shine. Iron ore, bauxite,
manganese ore are some examples.
Metallic minerals may be ferrous or non-ferrous. Ferrous minerals like iron ore, manganese and chromites contain iron.
A non-ferrous mineral does not contain iron but may contain some other metal such as gold, silver, copper or lead.
Non-metallic minerals do not contain metals. Limestone, mica and gypsum are examples of such minerals. The mineral fuels like coal and petroleum are also non-metallic minerals.
The process of taking out minerals from rocks buried under the earth’s surface is called mining.
Minerals that lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer; this is known as open-cast mining.
Deep bores, called shafts, have to be made to reach mineral deposits that lie at great depths. This is called shaft mining.
Petroleum and natural gas occur far below the earth’s surface. Deep wells are bored to take them out, this is called drilling
*Minerals that lie near the surface are simply dug out, by the process known as quarrying.
A green diamond is the rarest diamond.
Metallic minerals may be ferrous or non-ferrous. Ferrous minerals like iron ore, manganese and chromites contain iron.
A non-ferrous mineral does not contain iron but may contain some other metal such as gold, silver, copper or lead.
Non-metallic minerals do not contain metals. Limestone, mica and gypsum are examples of such minerals. The mineral fuels like coal and petroleum are also non-metallic minerals.
The process of taking out minerals from rocks buried under the earth’s surface is called mining.
Minerals that lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer; this is known as open-cast mining.
Deep bores, called shafts, have to be made to reach mineral deposits that lie at great depths. This is called shaft mining.
Petroleum and natural gas occur far below the earth’s surface. Deep wells are bored to take them out, this is called drilling
*Minerals that lie near the surface are simply dug out, by the process known as quarrying.
A green diamond is the rarest diamond.