MINERAL WEALTH OF OUR PLANETNON RENEWABLE AND INEXHAUSTABLE NATURE OF MINERALS,MINERAL CLASSIFICATION,MINERALS OF INDIA AND IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS.

PRESENTED BY GOWRI V PRABHU 1st MSc EVS

INTRODUCTION • Minerals are naturally occurring homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure,colour and hardness.

• A mineral resource is the concentration of materials that are of economic interest in or on the crust of the Earth. Almost all minerals found on Earth are used in one way or another for economic benefit.

•The Social and Economic development of a nation depends on its capacity to utilize its natural resources without its wasteful use to the extent possible. Examples of minerals include gold, gravel, sand, aluminum, copper, limestone, clay and diamond.

MINERAL WEALTH OF OUR PLANET• The Earth is a huge storehouse. It has great supply of minerals.

•The slow but persistent action of number of geo-chemical processes and biological activity has given rise to large deposits of different minerals in various parts of the world.

• More than 3500 different minerals have been identified. The three classes of mineral resources are metals, non-metals and fuels.

• Minerals are not evenly distributed in the Earths crust. Concentrations of mineral resources profitable to extract are found in just a few areas.

MINERAL WEALTH OF OUR PLANET

• Iron minerals like Hematite, Magnetite and Siderite are the most abundant minerals .In the form of these minerals a huge quantity of Iron, about 100000 Million metric tons is available to us.

•Iron is followed by Aluminum which occurs as Bauxite, Manganese which occurs as pyrolusite, Chromium as chromites, Copper as chalcopyrite, Zinc as sphalerite and Lead as Galena in the order of decreasing abundance .

Metallic Minerals

I. Metallic mineral are those minerals which can be melted to obtain new products.II. Iron, cooper, bauxite, tin, manganese are some examples.III. These are generally associated with igneous rocks.IV. They are usually hard and have shines or luster of their own.V. They are ductile and malleable.VI. When hit, they do not get broken.

Non -Metallic Minerals I. Non-metallic minerals are those which do not yield

new products on melting.II. Coal, salt, clay, marble are some examples.III. These are generally associated with sedimentary

rocks.IV. They are not so hard and have no shine or luster

of their own.V. They are not ductile and malleable.VI. When hit, they may got broken into pieces.

I. The Mineral resources which are used for generating energy.

II. Coal , petroleum ,Oil are fuel minerals.

Fuels

NON-RENEWABLE NATURE OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

• Earth minerals and metal ores, fossil fuels[such as coal, petroleum and natural gas] are non renewable resources.

•These are present in Earths crust and their extraction occurs where they are concentrated by natural geological processes(such as heat,pressure,organic activity, weathering and other processes) enough to become economically viable to extract. These processes generally take thousands to millions of years, through plate tectonics, tectonic subsidence and crustal recycling. Thus mineral deposits are of Non-Renewable nature.

INEXHAUSTIBLE NATURE OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

• Though Mineral deposits can get exhausted, their elements or the metal which are obtained from these deposits cannot be conveniently consumed in real sense as the matter is indestructible.

•These can be changed from one state to another, from one chemical combination to another.

• We may exhaust high grade of deposits but the element concerned will be always there, to be obtained from lower grade deposits, to be recovered from waste dumps or from any of its form.

CLASSIFICATION OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

• Classification of mineral deposits are based on their geologic certainty and economic values.• Mineral deposits can be classified as :• Mineral occurrences of geological interest but not necessarily of economic interest.• Mineral resources that are potentially valuable and for which reasonable prospects exists for eventual economic extraction.• Mineral resources or ore reserves that are variable and legally, economically technically feasible to extract.

CLASSIFICATION OF MINERAL

• Minerals are classified based on key chemical constituents. The two dominant systems are :

• Mineralogists group minerals into families based on their chemical composition. There are different grouping systems in use but the Dana system is the most commonly used.

•The Dana system divides minerals into seven basic classes.

SilicatesSilicates Silicates are often divided into two major groups: Silicates are often divided into two major groups:

ferromagnesian silicates and non-ferromagnesian silicatesferromagnesian silicates and non-ferromagnesian silicates Ferromagnesians include minerals such as olivine and Ferromagnesians include minerals such as olivine and

pyroxene.pyroxene. Non-ferromagnesians include feldspar, and quartzNon-ferromagnesians include feldspar, and quartz

Silicates comprise the majority of minerals in the Earth’s Silicates comprise the majority of minerals in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. Over 25% of all minerals are crust and upper mantle. Over 25% of all minerals are included in this group, with over 40% of those accounting included in this group, with over 40% of those accounting for the most common and abundant minerals.for the most common and abundant minerals.

Feldspar, Quartz, are the most common silicatesFeldspar, Quartz, are the most common silicates

OxidesOxides Oxides are minerals that include one or more metal cations Oxides are minerals that include one or more metal cations

bonded to oxygen or hydroxyl anions.bonded to oxygen or hydroxyl anions. Examples of oxide minerals include: Hematite (FeExamples of oxide minerals include: Hematite (Fe22OO33), and ), and

Magnetite (FeMagnetite (Fe33OO44).).

HematiteHematite

SulfidesSulfides Sulfides are minerals composed of one or more metal cations Sulfides are minerals composed of one or more metal cations

combined with sulfur. Many sulfides are economically important combined with sulfur. Many sulfides are economically important ores. ores.

Pyrite (FeSPyrite (FeS22) or “fool’s gold”, Galena (PbS), Cinnabar (HgS) and ) or “fool’s gold”, Galena (PbS), Cinnabar (HgS) and Molybdenite (MoSMolybdenite (MoS22) are a few commonly occurring sulfide ) are a few commonly occurring sulfide minerals minerals Pyrite “Fool’s Gold”Pyrite “Fool’s Gold” CinnabarCinnabar

SulfatesSulfates

Sulfates are minerals that include SOSulfates are minerals that include SO4 4 anionic groups combined anionic groups combined with alkali earth and metal cations. with alkali earth and metal cations.

Anhydrous (no water) and hydrous (water) are the two major Anhydrous (no water) and hydrous (water) are the two major groups of Sulfates. groups of Sulfates.

Barite (BaSOBarite (BaSO44) is an example of a anhydrous sulfate and ) is an example of a anhydrous sulfate and Gypsum (CaSOGypsum (CaSO4 4 · · 2H2H22O) is an example of a hydrous sulfate.O) is an example of a hydrous sulfate.

BariteBarite GypsumGypsum

Halides consist of elements like chlorine (Cl), Halides consist of elements like chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), fluorine (F), iodine (I) ,sodium (Na), bromine (Br), fluorine (F), iodine (I) ,sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and potassium (K)calcium (Ca) and potassium (K)

Some examples include Halite and Fluorite .Some examples include Halite and Fluorite .

HalidesHalides

Fluorite Fluorite HaliteHalite

CarbonatesCarbonates

Carbonates are anionic groups of carbon and Carbonates are anionic groups of carbon and oxygen. oxygen.

Common carbonate minerals include calcite Common carbonate minerals include calcite and dolomite.and dolomite.

CalciteCalciteDolomiteDolomite

Native ElementsNative Elements

Native elements are minerals that are Native elements are minerals that are composed of a single element.composed of a single element.

Some examples are: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Some examples are: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Diamonds (C), Graphite Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Diamonds (C), Graphite (C), and Platinum (Pt) .(C), and Platinum (Pt) .

GoldGold

Gold Silver

•The German mineralogist Karl Hugo Strunz introduced a scheme of classifying minerals based both on their chemical composition and their crystal structure.

•India is rich in mineral resources.• The major minerals produced in India are Iron-ore, Bauxite, Mica, Coal and Petroleum.

Iron-ore: •India possesses over 20% of world’s total reserves of iron.

•Iron ore of very good quality (Hematite and Magnetite) is obtained from principal areas in Orissa and Singhbhum in Bihar.

• Besides these, iron ore is obtained from Durg in Madhya Pradesh and Salem in Tamil Nadu.

• Deposits of iron ore are also found in Karnataka, Iron-ore accounts for nearly 2/3rd of the total value of metallic minerals produced in India. It is also a good foreign exchange earner next only to tea, sugar, jute and cotton.

Bauxite: •Bauxite is the ore of aluminum. Important bauxite deposits occur in Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

•Bauxite deposits are exploited at Lohardaga in Ranchi district.

• Amarkantaka in Madhya Pradesh contains the largest deposit of bauxite.

Mica: •India is the largest producer of mica in the world and the largest supply comes from Bihar.

•In Bihar the most important areas are Gaya and Hazaribagh in the ‘mica belt’ 150 km. long and 32 km. wide.

•Another important area is Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The Nellore mica belt 100 km. long and 25 km wide.

• Mica is also obtained from Rajasthan. It is used in electrical industry.

Coal: •India is one of the principal producers of coal in the world.

• Bihar and West Bengal produce the largest quantity of coal in India and the quality is good.

•Bokhara, Karanpura, in Bihar and Raniganj in West Bengal are the most important mining centers.

•Besides these areas, coal is found at in Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Petroleum :

•It is also called mineral oil or crude oil. It is dark, thick liquid found at a great depth under the rocks or the sea bed.

•We get petrol, diesel, kerosene oil, heavy oil, wax, Vaseline, and tar when petroleum is refined.

•Many other products as dyes, paints, drugs and chemicals are the by-products of petroleum.

•Petroleum is known as 'black gold'.

•Petroleum is found at Digboi in Assam, and Bombay High off the shore of Bombay.

• The petroleum produced in India is not sufficient to meet our requirements. Petroleum refineries have been set up at many places in India.

Manganese :

•Manganese is used in the manufacture of steel.

• It is also used in chemicals and glass industries.

•India is one of the largest producers of manganese in the world.

• Some manganese is exported to other countries.

•In India it is found in Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Copper :

•It is a valuable metal. Being a good conductor of electricity, it is used for making electric wires and electrical appliances.

• It alloys with zinc to form brass and with tin to form bronze.

• It is also used for making household utensils.

• It is found at Khetri in Rajasthan. Some copper has been found in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Gold :•It is a very precious metal. It is used for making ornaments. It is the basis of international trade.

•Some gold is produced from the mines at Kolar and Hutti in Karnataka and Anantapuram in Andhra Pradesh.

Diamond :•It is a precious stone.

• Diamonds are found at Panna mine in Madhya Pradesh and Kollur mine in Andrapradesh.

•The significance of mineral resources embraces several areas. They are an integral part of industrial development, economic progress, and national security.

•Mineral resources are related to significant economic activity that converts natural mineral wealth into goods for industrial and domestic consumption.

•Minerals are important to our health. We need small amounts of a wide variety of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, copper, fluoride, iron, and zinc. 

•Coal, oil and natural gas provide us with almost all of the energy we use to light, heat and run our world. 

•Minerals are ingredients in almost all of the products we use from fertilizer, plastics, toothpaste, medicines. Minerals also play an important role in the processing of materials. 

• Bentonite is important in well drilling and Barite is important in oil drilling.

•Chert Used to make stone tools and used as fill to provide a stable base for roads.

•Coal Used as a fuel (flammable). The oils and tars produced processing coal are processed into a variety of organic solvents and compounds such as plastics, motor fuel, photo developer, perfume, medicine, and sugar substitute. 

•Fluorite Used as a flux - i.e. used as an intermediate chemical to separate metals from waste material.

•The largest use of lead is in automotive batteries.   

•Gypsum is primarily used to make wallboard. It is also an ingredient in cement.

•Iron is used for tools, for appliances ,and for building supports.

•Limestone is used as building stone, ornamental stone for surfaces and sculpture and to make cement.

•Mussel shells are used as ceremonial objects. European Americans have used shells as ornaments - buttons and pearls for jewelry.

• Oil and natural gas are used as fuels and ingredients in the chemical industry to produce petroleum based products notably plastics. 

•Sand and gravel are used as fill to provide a stable foundation for buildings and roads

•Mineral deposits in the earth are limited.

•We should use them carefully.

•We should not exhaust all of our resources un-thoughtfully.

•We should find some alternative to minerals.

•We should use solar, wind and water energy as an alternative to coal and petrol.