ores and minerals - locating ores Flashcards
1
Q
What are ores?
A
- ores are naturally-ocurring materials that can be profitably mined
- can be mineral or rock, metallic or nonmetallic
2
Q
What is a deposit?
A
It is considered as a potential ore body if its localized abundance is greater than its average abundance or distribution on the Earth’s crust
3
Q
A rock or mineral is considered an ore based on…
A
- overall chemical composition
- percentage of extractable resource with respect to its total volume
- market value of resource
*good ores may not be considered if additional costs (money and environmental) weigh out the profit
4
Q
What are examples of ores?
A
Iron ores - hematite, magnetite
Copper ores - pyrite, bernite
Zinc ores - shpalerite, zinc polende, calamine
5
Q
What are the different types of ore processes?
A
- hydrothermal fluid circulation
- metamorphic processes
- magmatic processes
- kimberlite magma
- chemical sedimentary processes
- action of currents
- chemical weathering
6
Q
Steps in mining
A
- Prospecting or exploration
- Drilling
- Modeling
- Identifying and assessing the potential impacts
- Designing and constructing the mine
- Ore extraction
- Milling
- Mine site decommissioning
7
Q
Different types of ore extraction methods
A
- sand and gravel extraction
- extraction from buried ore bodies
- ore processing
