Introduction
Do you know from the rock salt we use to eat to the Kohinoor placed in the crown of England’s queen are all minerals!! More than 4000 naturally occurring minerals have been found on earth. Metals, precious gems such as ruby, sapphire, diamonds etc. many valuable products we get from the minerals. Even coal, natural gas and petroleum are also types of minerals which are known as energy minerals or fossil fuels.
Some minerals are valuable due to their usage in various fields while some are because of their beauty, rarity and durability. Almost 90% of the earth crust is composed of silicate minerals. You must remember here that minerals and rocks are different. Minerals have a definite chemical structure which is the same throughout that mineral. While rocks are composed of many minerals and are not consistent throughout their structure.
What are Minerals?
Minerals can be defined as naturally occurring chemical compounds which are inorganic in nature and have definite chemical composition and structure. They are generally found in all three forms solid, liquid and gaseous in nature. Iron ore, bauxite, hematite, mica, salt, potash, coal, petroleum, natural gas etc. are examples of minerals.
Classification of Minerals
Minerals can be classified into the following three types on the basis of their composition –
Metallic Minerals
Non-metallic Minerals
Energy Minerals
Metallic Minerals
Metals are obtained by extraction of these minerals. These are very valuable as they provide metals in pure form. Examples of metallic minerals – iron ore, bauxite, hematite etc.
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Non-Metallic Minerals
Those minerals which do not contain metals are called non-metallic minerals. Examples of non-metallic minerals – diamond, mica, salt, potash etc. The Kohinoor diamond placed on the crown of England’s queen is an example of non-metallic mineral.
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Energy Minerals
Those minerals which provide energy are called energy minerals. These are also known as fossil fuels. Examples of energy minerals – Coal, petroleum, natural gas etc.
Difference Between Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals
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Energy minerals are studied under the category of fossil fuels. They are quite visibly different from metallic and non-metallic minerals. But generally, students get confused between metallic and non-metallic minerals so for your clear understanding we are providing here key differences between metallic and non-metallic minerals
This was a brief about metallic and non-metallic minerals, if you are looking for detailed study material on the topic then register yourself on Vedantu or download Vedantu learning app for class 6-10, IIT JEE and NEET.
Conclusion
Minerals are the country's natural resources, which can be used in a variety of ways. Mineral formation and concentration take hundreds of years, making it a finite and non-renewable resource. As a result, it is critical to save resources, which can be accomplished through recycling metals.
Non-metallic minerals, such as limestone, mica, and gypsum, do not contain any metals, according to the difference between metallic and non-metallic minerals. Metallic minerals, on the other hand, contain metal in its unprocessed form.
FAQs on Metallic Minerals and Non-Metallic Minerals
1. What element is the most metallic?
The most metallic component is francium. Nonetheless, francium is a man-made element, with the exception of one isotope, and all isotopes are so radioactive that they almost immediately decay into the other. Cesium, which is immediately above francium on the periodic table, is the natural element with the most metallic property.
2. Define non-metallic minerals?
Non-metallic mineral reserves include stone and clay quarries, sand pits, chemical and fertiliser mineral resources, salt deposits, quartz deposits, gypsum, natural gemstones, asphalt and bitumen, peat, and other non-metallic minerals besides coal and oil.
3. Define metallic minerals?
Metallic minerals are those that include one or more metals, as the name implies. Iron, copper, silver, bauxite, manganese, and other metals that exist as mineral deposits and are excellent heat and electricity conductors.
4. Explain what metallic elements are?
The metallic elements (also known as short metals) have the following properties: they carry electricity and heat. They're ductile and malevolent (that is, they can be deformed without breaking) and usually solid at room temperature (the exception being mercury).
5. What are metallic minerals? Give some examples?
Some common metal minerals are iron, copper, gold, and silver. Non-metallic minerals have no metal components in their inorganic chemical formula. Some common examples include clay, diamond, dolomite, gypsum, mica, amethyst, and quartz.