Metals
Chemistry: Research task 1
5.1- define the terms mineral and ore with reference to economic and non-economic deposits of natural resources
The term ‘ore minerals’ is commonly referred to as economic minerals
Mineral: naturally occurring compounds. Rocks are mixtures of various minerals. Most minerals are lattice structures, both ionic and covalent.
Economic minerals have been divided into two main categories:
Metalliferous minerals- mined to extract a metal
Industrial mineral- either has some direct practical use, or take part in some industrial process
Gems and precious stones are an exception to industrial metals as they do have a direct ‘practical’ application but are dealt with separately.
Some common minerals include: * * Silica- (silicon dioxide) most common mineral on earth * Calcite- (calcium carbonate) main mineral in limestone and marble
Ore: A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.
Or
A rock extracted during mining which contains minerals such as gemstones or metals. The metals in ores are found either combined or as pure metals and if combined the ore must be processed to extract the pure metal which can be sold for a profit.
A mineral is a pure crystalline compound that is in the earth’s crust. An ore is a compound or mixture of compounds from which a substance such as a metal can be extracted to gain a profit.
5.2- describe the relationship between the commercial prices of common metals, their actual abundances and relative costs of production
The commercial price of common metals is proportional to the abundance of the metal and the relative cost of production. Therefore, the higher the actual abundance and the lower the relative costs of production, the lower the commercial price.
The economic feasibility of a metal is determined by three factors: * The commercial price for which the metal can be sold * The production costs of mining and
5.1- define the terms mineral and ore with reference to economic and non-economic deposits of natural resources
The term ‘ore minerals’ is commonly referred to as economic minerals
Mineral: naturally occurring compounds. Rocks are mixtures of various minerals. Most minerals are lattice structures, both ionic and covalent.
Economic minerals have been divided into two main categories:
Metalliferous minerals- mined to extract a metal
Industrial mineral- either has some direct practical use, or take part in some industrial process
Gems and precious stones are an exception to industrial metals as they do have a direct ‘practical’ application but are dealt with separately.
Some common minerals include: * * Silica- (silicon dioxide) most common mineral on earth * Calcite- (calcium carbonate) main mineral in limestone and marble
Ore: A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.
Or
A rock extracted during mining which contains minerals such as gemstones or metals. The metals in ores are found either combined or as pure metals and if combined the ore must be processed to extract the pure metal which can be sold for a profit.
A mineral is a pure crystalline compound that is in the earth’s crust. An ore is a compound or mixture of compounds from which a substance such as a metal can be extracted to gain a profit.
5.2- describe the relationship between the commercial prices of common metals, their actual abundances and relative costs of production
The commercial price of common metals is proportional to the abundance of the metal and the relative cost of production. Therefore, the higher the actual abundance and the lower the relative costs of production, the lower the commercial price.
The economic feasibility of a metal is determined by three factors: * The commercial price for which the metal can be sold * The production costs of mining and