Question

What is an ore? Where are the ores of metallic minerals generally located?

Answer 1

Hint:One of the natural resources that our Earth has is called minerals. Minerals are naturally occurring substances which have definite structure and characteristics. Minerals can be classified into metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals.

Complete Answer:Most minerals are found in ‘ores’. An ore is a mixture of many minerals or an accumulation of minerals mixed with other elements. The ore must have minerals in sufficient quantity for it to be commercially extracted. Example of an ore is bauxite. Bauxite is the ore of aluminium.

Ores are often mined, smelted and treated to extract the mineral.

Minerals are of two types- metallic and non-metallic. Metallic minerals can conduct heat and electricity , and are hard in nature. Metallic minerals are further categorised into ferrous and non-ferrous minerals. Ferrous minerals like iron ore and chromite contain iron. Whereas non-ferrous minerals don't contain iron but have other metallic minerals like gold and silver.

Metallic minerals are mostly found in igneous and metamorphic rock formations that form large plateaus. Igneous rocks are formed when hot lava cools down and solidifies. Metamorphic rocks are formed when other kinds of rocks are subjected to extreme heat and pressure, changing the arrangement of mineral components or reacting with fluids ,and this ultimately leads to formation of new minerals.

Metallic minerals are found in the cracks and joints of these metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are found in larger deposits called veins and smaller deposits called lodes. An example of a metallic rock rich plateau is the Chota Nagpur plateau in India.

Note:One must also note that non metallic minerals are found in sedimentary rocks of young-fold mountains. Sedimentary rocks are formed when mineral or organic matter accumulate or get deposited on the surface of earth.