Question

classify minerals on general and commercial basis and give example of each

Answer 1

Minerals can be divided as follows:

• On the basis of commercial value

1) Metallic- from which valuable metals (e.g. iron, copper) can be extracted for commercial use

2) Non Metallic- they are valuable, not for the metals they contain, but for their properties as chemical compounds. Ex, halite for sodium chloride and borax for borates.

• Mineral Deposits (General Classification)

1. Hydro-thermal- formed when minerals are deposited by hot, aqueous solutions flowing through fractures and pore spaces of crustal rock
2. Magmatic-formed when minerals are deposited by hot, aqueous solutions flowing through fractures and pore spaces of crustal rock
3. Sedimentary-Water soluble salts can form sedimentary mineral deposits when they precipitate during evaporation of lake or seawater
4. Placer-Minerals with a high specific gravity (e.g. gold, platinum, diamonds) can be concentrated by flowing water in placer deposits found in stream beds and along shorelines.
5. Residual- formed form when weathering processes remove water soluble minerals from an area, leaving a concentration
   of less soluble minerals