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MINERALS DEPOSITES AND ITS TYPESSUBMITTED TO:-DR.SURAJ KR.SINGHSUBMITTED BY:-SANJAY KUMARCENTER FOR:-LRM3RD SEMREG NO:-CUJ/I/2014/IGIO/038

What is a mineral deposit?Mineral resources are defined as natural concentrations of minerals or, bodies of rock that are, or may become, of potential economic interest due to their inherent properties. There frequently is confusion in the understanding of the terms resources and reserves, and they are sometimes used interchangeably. These are classified according to the degree of geological assurance and economic feasibility based on the McKelvey resource classification system and compiled in the national resource inventory described inAustralia's Identified Mineral Resources.

Where do minerals come from?Minerals can be found throughout the world in the earth's crust but usually in such small amounts that they not worth extracting. Only with the help of certain geological processes are minerals concentrated into economically viable deposits. Mineral deposits can only be extracted where they are found.Mineral deposits come in many shapes and sizes depending on where and how the mineral was concentrated. Minerals are concentrated by igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic processes.

Minerals and Their UsesEvery segment of society uses minerals and mineral resources everyday. The roads we ride or drive on and the buildings we live learn and work in all contain minerals. Below is a selected list of commonly used metallic and non=metallic minerals, ore minerals, mineral by products, aggregates, and rock types that are used to make products we use in our daily life.

Aggregates Natural aggregates include sand, gravel, and crushed stone. Aggregates are composed of rock fragments that may be used in their natural state or after mechanical processing, such as crushing, washing, or sizing. Recycled aggregates consist mainly of crushed concrete and crushed asphalt pavement.Aluminum Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust. Bauxite ore is the main source of aluminum. Aluminum is used in automobiles and airplanes (36%), bottling and canning industries (25%), building and electrical (14%) and in other applications (25%).

Antimony Antimony is a silvery-gray, brittle semi-metal. It rarely occurs in nature as a native element, but is found in a number of different minerals. Antimony is used principally for flame retardants as well as in ammunition and automotive batteries and as a decolorizing agent in glassmaking.

Types of Mineral Resources

Minerals in general have been categorized into three classes fuel, metallic and non-metallic. Fuel minerals like coal, oil and natural gas have been given prime importance as they account for nearly 87% of the value of mineral production whereas metallic and non-metallic constitutes 6 to 7%. (A) Fuel Minerals: Coal, oil and natural gas are the basic fossil fuel. We have good reserves for coal but are very poor in more essential fuel oils and natural gas.

(1) Coal: Proven coal reserves of the country as on January 1994 (estimated by GSI) is about 68 billion tonnes. We are mining about 250 tonnes annually and this rate is expected to go by 400 450 tonnes by 2010 A.D. If we could maintain our mining rate of 400 tonnes per year then the coal reserves might last for about 200 years taking proven reserves as 80 billion tonnes.

(2) Crude Oil (Petroleum):

It is believed that petroleum has been formed over a period of millions of years, through conversion of remains of micro organisms living in sea, into hydrocarbon by heat, pressure and catalytic action. The petroleum on fractional distillation and further processing provides us numerous products and by-products.(3) Natural Gas: The proven reserve for natural gas on April 1993 works out to be approx. 700 billion cubic meter (BCM). As regard to production vis a vis utilization aspect in earlier years, more than half of gas coming out of the wells remained unutilized. However, in recent years, we have achieved a utilization rate of 80 90%. Keeping in view the future demands and proven gas reserves, it is unlikely that our gas reserves might last for more than 20 years.

(B) Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals:

(B) Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals: India is poorly endowed with mineral wealth. Except for iron ore and bauxite our share of world reserves of every other mineral is one percent or less. However, there has been a phenomenal growth in production since independence. As per estimates if the present trend of production continues, we will exhaust our reserves of all the important minerals and fuels, except coal, iron ore, limestone and bauxite, in 25 to 30 years.