Question

Define the terms: Mineral, Ore and Gangue.

Answer 1

Minerals

• Minerals are naturally occurring compounds of metals mixed with earthly materials.
• All minerals are not ore, but all ores are minerals.

Ore

• An ore is a mineral from which a metal can be extracted economically and easily on a commercial scale.
• Example: Bauxite (${\mathbf{Al}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{O}}_{\mathbf{3}}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{2}{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}\mathbf{O}$) and Clay (${\mathbf{Al}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{O}}_{\mathbf{3}}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{2}{\mathbf{SiO}}_{\mathbf{2}}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{2}{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}\mathbf{O}$) are the minerals of Aluminium. Bauxite, on the other hand, is the primary ore of Aluminium. Clay is not suitable for use as an Aluminium ore since it is a Silicate mineral that is difficult to process.
• Ores typically contain a high concentration of unwanted earthly materials.

Gangue

• Gangue is an unwanted earthly material found in ore. It is the commercially useless material that surrounds or is tightly associated with the desired mineral.
• Gangue can be either acidic or basic in nature.