Resources from Rocks and Minerals

Mineral Resources- Earths storehouse of useful minerals that can be recovered for use. Include: Reserves- already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably and Deposits that are not let recoverable under present economic conditions or technology.

Metallic Mineral Resources

Ores- useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit Ex. Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead Produced by igneous and metamorphic processes that concentrate desirable materials so that extraction is economically feasible

How Minerals get Concentrated?

1) As magma cools, the heavy metallic minerals that crystallize settle to lower portions of the chamber Ex. Platinum 2)Hydrothermal Solutions- originate from hot metal rich fluid in magma bodies.
Liquids plus metallic ions accumulate near top of magma chamber Fluids are very mobile

Hydrothermal Solution movement

Some move along fractures or strata where it cools to produce Vein deposits Ex. Gold, silver, mercury
Some minerals are distributed as minute masses throughout entire rock mass called Disseminated Deposits

Ex. Copper

Nonmetallic Mineral resources

Minerals not used as fuels or processed as metals. Divided into building materials and industrial materials