Minerals basic properties and applications. Minerals message

A mineral deposit is a section of the earth's crust in which, as a result of geological processes, an accumulation of mineral matter has occurred in terms of quantity, quality and conditions of occurrence suitable for industrial use. Minerals are gaseous, liquid and solid. Gaseous minerals include combustible and noble gases, liquid ones include oil, underground and surface waters. The bulk of the minerals are solid, which are used in the "raw" form of granite, marble, clay, to extract valuable components from them, metals, in which case they are called ore, can be used as a whole, but for further processing of salt, piezoquartz crystals can be used. , Icelandic spar.

According to industrial use and application, deposits are divided into ore or metal, non-metallic or non-metallic, combustible and hydro-mineral. Each of these groups is divided into subgroups. Thus, ore deposits are subdivided into deposits of ferrous, non-ferrous, light, noble, radioactive, rare and scattered metals. Among non-metallic minerals, there are deposits of chemical, agronomic, metallurgical, technical and construction mineral raw materials. Combustible minerals include deposits of oil, combustible gases, coal, oil shale and peat. Hydromineral deposits are divided into deposits of drinking water, technical, balneological and mineral.

The amount of mineral raw materials in the bowels is called its reserves or resources. The quality of mineral raw materials is determined by the content of valuable and harmful components in it. The quality of many non-metallic compounds is related to their physical and chemical properties. The quality of combustible minerals is determined by the calorific value. The minimum reserves and content of valuable components, as well as the maximum allowable content of harmful impurities, under which the operation of the deposit is possible, are called industrial conditions. The concepts of a mineral deposit, of conditions are not strictly defined, once and for all given.

They change for the following reasons: historically, as humanity's needs for minerals change: the development of civilization is accompanied by a steady increase in the consumption of minerals, which leads to the fact that deposits with poorer ores are developed over time; improvement of mining techniques and technology for processing mineral raw materials; industrial conditions are not the same for different natural conditions and are determined each time with the help of economic calculations.

Depending on the scale of manifestation of mineral deposits, the following categories of ore-bearing areas are distinguished: province, belt region, basin, knot region, field, deposit, ore body. The provinces include large structural elements of the earth's crust, related to the platforms, the folded belt, the bottom of the seas and oceans with deposits located within them.

The area of minerals is an integral part of the province, it is characterized by a set of mineral deposits defined by composition and origin, confined to tectonic elements of the first order. Elongated linear areas associated with troughs, deep faults, reef systems are called ore belts. Mineral basins are areas of continuous or near-continuous distribution of reservoir minerals.

An ore region is a local accumulation of deposits within larger taxa of provinces, regions, belts and basins, confined to certain tectonomagmatic and lithofacies settings. In the case of a concentration of a series of deposits of certain types of minerals to the intersection of faults, such an area is called an ore cluster. An ore field is a small area of the earth's crust, within which are located simultaneously formed, genetically related deposits and united by the unity of the geological structure. An ore body is a local accumulation of natural mineral resources confined to a specific structural-geological element or a combination of them.

Ore bodies are extremely diverse: in form. Only the main types of ore bodies can be distinguished: layers, lenses, veins, pipes or pillars, stockworks, stocks, irregularly shaped bodies, nests, combined deposits. Layers are called flat bodies of minerals that are formed in water basins synchronously with the enclosing sedimentary rocks. Metasomatic bodies developing along separate layers of sedimentary rocks acquire the character of pasty deposits. There are layers of simple rocks without interlayers and complex rocks with interlayers, steeply dipping, with dip angles of more than 45 °, and gently dipping, with dip angles of less than 45 °. Lenses are flat bodies of a board-like or ribbon-like shape.

Veins are cracks in rocks filled with mineral matter, but there are also metasomatic vein-like bodies. The following elements of the veins are distinguished: selvages - contacts of the vein with the host rocks; apophyses - branches extending from the veins into the side rocks. Within the veins, areas with a high content of useful components are isolated, they are called ore pillars. According to the peculiarities of morphology, among the veins are clearly visible, chamber, saddle-shaped, stair-like and feathered. Pipes, tubes and tubular and columnar deposits are ore bodies elongated along one axis. They often have the form of elongated cones with their apex overturned to the depth.

The time of formation of deposits is quite commensurate with the duration of geological processes and, above all, the time of formation of rocks. Direct determinations of the absolute age indicate that ore formation can proceed, depending on the genetic nature and stability of ore-metallogenic processes, from thousands to tens of millions of years. In short periods of time up to tens of thousands of years, vein and stockwork deposits appear, associated with granitoid and magmatism. Longer epochs of 5 - 10 million years are necessary for the formation of sedimentary iron ore layers or ore complexes of layered ultrabasic massifs.

There are four levels of depth of formation of mineral deposits: near-surface 0 - 1.5 km, hypabyssal 1.5 - 3.5 km, abyssal 3.5 - 10 km and ultraabyssal more than 10 km. Surface deposits are represented by: all types of exogenous accumulations, volcanogenic and sedimentary ores. Their formation proceeded in an environment of abundance of oxygen, low pressures and temperatures. Ores are characterized by holomorphic and fine-grained aggregates. The hypabyssal level is the richest in the variety of ore formations. Almost all industrial-genetic types of endogenous deposits are localized here. This area is predominantly developed by hydrothermal, waste and igneous deposits of intrusion-stratified mineral deposits.

The abyssal zone is poor in ore formations. Here, mainly albitite-greisen, carbonatite, pegmatite and some igneous deposits associated with large granitoid, basic and ultrabasic semitones are formed. A small group of metamorphic deposits of disthene, sillimanite, andalusite schists, rutile, and corundum is formed in the ultraabyssal zone. In addition, significant transformations of ore are experienced here, which have formed at higher levels, primarily metamorphosed deposits of iron and manganese.

Thus, in the upper shell of the earth's crust with a thickness of about 15 km, the ore sphere, the concentration of minerals is most significant at the near-surface and hypabyssal levels. Below, the intensity of ore formation decreases and practically stops in the ultraabyssal zone. Mineral deposits are classified according to their use in the national economy according to the technology of use. A genetic classification is also used, which is based on age and characteristics of origin; in this case, resources of the Precambrian, Lower Paleozoic, Upper Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic geological epochs are usually distinguished.

Classification by technology of use

Mineral deposits are classified according to the technology of use:

1. Fuel and energy raw materials oil, coal, gas, uranium, peat, oil shale.

2. Ferrous, limiting and refractory metals iron, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, tungsten.

3. Non-ferrous metals - zinc, aluminum, copper, lead.

4. Noble metals - silver, gold, platinum group metals.

5. Chemical and agronomic raw materials - phosphorites, apatites.

Fuel resources. They are taken into account in two main categories - general geological and explored resources. In general, coal accounts for 70-75% of all fuel resources in the world, and the rest is approximately equally distributed between oil and natural gas. Coal is widely distributed in the earth's crust: more than 3.6 thousand of its basins and deposits are known, which together occupy 15% of the earth's land. Oil is even more common in the earth's crust than coal: geologists have identified about 600 oil and gas basins and examined about 400 of them. As a result, territories that are really promising for oil and natural gas occupy, according to various estimates, from 15 to 50 million km2. However, the world's oil resources are much smaller than those of coal.

This applies to general geological resources, estimates of which usually range from 250 to 500 billion tons. Sometimes, however, they rise to 800 billion tons. Natural gas is distributed in nature in a free state - in the form of gas deposits and deposits, and also in the form of gas caps over oil fields. Gases from oil and coal fields are also used. The total geological resources of natural gas in various sources are estimated at 300 trillion. m 3 to 600 trillion. and above, but the most common estimate is 400 trillion. m 3.

metal resources ore minerals are also widespread in the earth's crust. Unlike fuel deposits, which are always genetically associated with sedimentary deposits, ore deposits are found in deposits of both sedimentary and, to a greater extent, crystalline origin. Geographically, they also often form entire belts of ore accumulation, sometimes as gigantic as the Alpine-Himalayan or Pacific. The most widely represented in the earth's crust are iron and aluminum ores.

Bauxite is the main aluminum containing raw material, consisting mainly of aluminum hydroxides. Their deposits are found in sedimentary rocks and are mostly associated with areas of the weathering crust, moreover, located within the tropical and subtropical climatic zones. The general geological resources of bauxite are usually estimated at about 250 billion tons, and their explored reserves at 20-30 billion tons. The content of alumina in bauxites is approximately the same as iron in iron ores, therefore, bauxite reserves, like iron ore reserves, are always estimated by ore, and not by its useful component.

Technical resources, building materials. Sand, clay, gravel. Minerals are the wealth of nature that mankind uses to meet its needs. Resources are distributed unevenly, and their reserves are not the same, so individual countries have different resource endowments. There are various classifications of minerals in the world: by the time of formation; by technical use, and the same component can simultaneously be included in different classifications.

Introduction………………………………………………………………………..….4

Chapter 1 Minerals………………………………………………………..6

1.1 The history of the development of the use of minerals…………….……6

1.2 Classifications of minerals………………………………….….9

Chapter 2 Minerals on the territory of the Jewish Autonomous Region…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2.1 History of the development and use of minerals in the territory of the JAR.................................................................................. ................................................. .........................13

2.2 Minerals on the territory of the Jewish Autonomous Region .... 16

Conclusion………………………………………………………………….……27

References………………………………………………………………28

Melts of sonorous ores pierced

at intervals

And cracked rocks; underground couples.

Like snakes writhing between stones,

The voids of the rocks were filled with fires

Wonderful gems. All gifts

Brilliant Table of Elements

Here lay down for our tools

And solidified...

N. Zabolotsky

Introduction

Once upon a time, people used only what lies on the surface of the earth. They did not suspect what countless treasures are hidden in its thickness. But as the "appetites" of people grew, they willy-nilly had to first slowly "scratch" it, and then bite deeper and deeper into it, opening the "door" to the underground storerooms.

Minerals include fuel resources needed for energy and transport; ores containing metals; sand, granite, gravel, clay - something that construction cannot do without; precious stones and, of course, water - the basis of all life.

For a long time or recently, a person got the hang of extracting all this from the bowels of the earth. Each of these fossils required its own special approach. People learned to use even very poor ores when the rich ones were exhausted, switched from extracting one fuel to another, invented a huge number of methods and machines to help them find and extract minerals in very remote, difficult to reach areas, and deep underground.

Resources are the wealth of nature that humanity uses to meet its needs. They are located unevenly, and their reserves are not the same, so individual countries have different resource endowments, i.e. the ratio between the amount of natural resources and the size of their use.

The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that minerals are a factor in the economic state of the territory. If they are used correctly, then this territory will develop well economically.

Subject - minerals

Object - minerals in the JAO

The work consists of 25 sheets, it contains 2 chapters: theoretical and practical; 3 applications and 1 table.

In this course work, we used the following methods: mapping, the study of scientific literature, a visual method for determining minerals.

Chapter 1 Minerals

1.1 History of the development of mineral use

Minerals - natural mineral formations in the earth's crust of inorganic and organic origin, which, with the current level of technology, can be used in the national economy in their natural form or after appropriate processing. Accumulations of minerals in the earth's crust form mineral deposits.

Today, about 250 types of minerals and almost 200 types of ornamental and precious stones are known. However, their involvement in the economic turnover occurred gradually throughout human civilization.

The first metal that became known to man, apparently, was copper. According to archaeologists, the use of native copper began as early as 12-11 thousand years BC in the Stone Age. Then came the actual copper age. In the ancient world, copper was mined in Syria, Palestine, Cyprus, Spain, Serbia, Bulgaria, the Caucasus, and India. For several millennia, it was widely used for the production of tools, utensils, jewelry, and later for minting coins.

Then, about 4 thousand years BC, the Bronze Age began. This meant that people learned how to obtain an alloy of copper and tin, which by that time also became known, first in the Middle East, and later in Europe. It is believed that the very word "bronze" comes from the name of the port of Brindisi in southern Italy, where the production of this metal was mastered. Like copper, bronze was widely used to make a wide variety of tools. With the help of them, in particular, stone blocks of the famous pyramid of Cheops were processed. In addition, bronze began to be used as a structural material. For example, a statue of the colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the world, was assembled from bronze parts.

Along with them, some other metals and stones were already widely used.

First of all, this applies to gold. Native gold became known about as long ago as native copper. As for its mining, it obviously began in Ancient Egypt, where, as you know, this metal was associated with the cult of the Sun and deified. Long before the beginning of our era, gold was mined in Asia Minor, in India, in Ancient Rome. It was used mainly for the production of jewelry, religious products, for minting coins. The Inca Empire in the South also possessed the richest gold treasures. America. It was these treasures that especially attracted the Spanish conquistadors during their conquest of the New World.

Already in ancient Greece and in ancient Rome, and in other regions of the Earth, lead, mercury ore cinnabar were widely known - it was used to make red dye, sulfur, ornamental stones - marble, lapis lazuli, many precious stones - emerald, turquoise, etc. .. In the third millennium BC, diamonds began to be mined in the mines of Golconda (South India).

Gradually, the Bronze Age was replaced by the Iron Age, which lasted about 3.5 thousand years. Archaeological research has established that iron played a particularly important role in the development of human civilization. Iron ores were used in Europe, southern Russia, and the Caucasus. Iron was used to produce tools for work and life, weapons, and many other products.

Before the industrial revolutions of the XVIII-XIX centuries. - the mineral resource base of mankind was approximately the same metals (copper, iron, gold, silver, tin, lead, mercury) as in the ancient world, as well as ornamental and precious stones. But in the second half of the XIX and in the first half of the XX century. The composition of this base has undergone very large changes.

They touched on fuel minerals. The widespread use of fossil coals began. The same applies to oil. It is known that natural bitumen was used a millennium ago, but the first primitive oil wells appeared only in the 17th century, and industrial production began only in the middle of the 19th century, and almost simultaneously in Poland, Romania, Russia and the USA.

The changes also affected ore minerals. First of all, this applies to aluminum. Bauxite reserves were first discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. in the south of France near the town of Box (hence their name). In the middle of the same century, a technology for the industrial production of this metal was developed. But its mass production and use began already in the 20th century. Approximately the same milestones mark the "pedigree" of manganese, chromium (from the Greek "lame" - color), nickel, vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, magnesium.

Finally, these changes also affected non-metallic minerals - phosphorites, potassium salts, asbestos, diamonds. The first "diamond rush" was noted in Brazil in the first half of the 18th century. In the second half of the XIX century. such "fevers" occurred in South Africa and in the USA (California). In 1829, 14-year-old Pavel Popov found the first diamond in Russia - in one of the mines in the Urals.

A new quantitative and qualitative change in the mineral resource base of mankind began already in the middle of the 20th century. in connection with the scientific and technological revolution. We are talking primarily about the "metals of the XX century" - titanium, cobalt, beryllium, lithium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, germanium, tellurium, without which it would be almost impossible to develop the most modern industries. [Maksakovskiy]

1.2 Classifications of minerals

Their classifications may be different. Often used according to the technology of use. A genetic classification is also used, which is based on age and characteristics of origin; in this case, resources of the pre-Cambrian, Lower Paleozoic, Upper Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic geological epochs are usually distinguished.

1. Fuel and energy raw materials - oil, coal, gas, uranium, peat, oil shale, etc.

2. Ferrous limiting and refractory metals - iron, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, etc.

3. Non-ferrous metals - zinc, aluminum, copper, lead, etc.

4. Noble metals - silver, gold, platinum group metals, etc.

5. Chemical and agronomic raw materials - phosphorites, apatites, etc. [I.P. Romanova, L.I. Urakova, Yu.G. Ermakov Natural resources peace 1992]

Classification by technology of use:

1. Fuel resources. They are usually taken into account in two main categories - general geological and explored resources. In general, coal accounts for 70-75% of all fuel resources in the world, and the rest is approximately equally distributed between oil and natural gas.

Coal widely distributed in the earth's crust: more than 3.6 thousand of its basins and deposits are known, which together occupy 15% of the earth's land. Both total and proven coal reserves are much larger than oil and natural gas reserves. In 1984, at the XXVII session of the International Geological Congress, the total world coal resources were estimated at 14.8 trillion tons, and in the second half of the 1990s. as a result of various kinds of revaluations and recalculations - 5.5 trillion tons.

Top ten leading countries in terms of coal reserves: USA, China, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Germany, India, Ukraine, Great Britain, Kazakhstan.

Oil distributed in the earth's crust even more than coal: geologists have identified approximately 600 oil and gas basins and examined about 400 of them. As a result, territories that are really promising for oil (and natural gas) occupy, according to various estimates, from 15 to 50 million km2. However, the world's oil resources are much smaller than those of coal.

This applies to general geological resources, estimates of which usually range from 250 to 500 billion tons. Sometimes, however, they rise to 800 billion tons.

The top ten countries leading in terms of oil reserves: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, UAE, Venezuela, Russia, Mexico, Libya, USA.

Natural gas distributed in nature in a free state - in the form of gas deposits and deposits, as well as in the form of "gas caps" over oil fields. Gases from oil and coal fields are also used.

General geological resources of natural gas in various sources are estimated from 300 trillion m 3 to 600 trillion and more, but the most common estimate is 400 trillion m 3 .

Top ten leading countries in terms of natural gas reserves: Russia, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Venezuela, Algeria, Nigeria, Iraq.

Uranus very widespread in the earth's crust. However, it is economically profitable to develop only those deposits that contain at least 0.1% of the useful component: in this case, obtaining 1 kg of uranium concentrates costs less than $ 80. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in the middle of 1990- x years. explored (confirmed) uranium reserves available for extraction at this price were estimated at 2.3 million tons. They are concentrated in approximately 600 deposits in the territories of 44 countries of the world.

Australia ranks first in the world in terms of explored uranium reserves. Further, with a slight margin, Kazakhstan follows. The third place belongs to Canada. These three countries account for 45% of the world's uranium reserves. In addition to them, the top ten countries in terms of proven uranium reserves also include (in descending order) South Africa, Brazil, Namibia, the USA, Niger, Russia and Uzbekistan.

2. Metal resources (ore) are also widespread in the earth's crust. Unlike fuel deposits, which are always genetically associated with sedimentary deposits, ore deposits are found in deposits of both sedimentary and, to a greater extent, crystalline origin. Geographically, they also often form entire belts of ore accumulation, sometimes as gigantic as the Alpine-Himalayan or Pacific.

The most widely represented in the earth's crust are iron and aluminum ores.

The general geological reserves of iron ore, according to various estimates, vary from 400 billion to 800 billion tons, and the explored reserves - from 150 billion to 200 billion tons. India, China, Kazakhstan, South Africa.

Bauxite is the main aluminum-containing raw material, consisting mainly of aluminum hydroxides. Their deposits are found in sedimentary rocks and are mostly associated with areas of the weathering crust, moreover, located within the tropical and subtropical climatic zones. The major bauxite-bearing provinces include the Mediterranean in Europe, Guinea in Africa, the Caribbean in Latin America, and North Australia. The general geological resources of bauxites are usually estimated at about 250 billion tons, and their explored reserves - at 20-30 billion tons. The countries with the largest reserves of bauxites are Guinea, Australia, Brazil, Jamaica, India, China, Guyana, Suriname. The content of alumina in bauxite is approximately the same as that of iron in iron ores, so bauxite reserves, like iron ore reserves, are always estimated by ore, and not by its useful component.

3. Technical resources and building materials. Sand, clay, crushed stone, etc.

Minerals are the wealth of nature that mankind uses to meet its needs. Resources are distributed unevenly, and their reserves are not the same, so individual countries have different resource endowments.

There are various classifications of minerals in the world: by the time of formation; for technical use, etc. the same component can simultaneously be included in different classifications.

Chapter 2 Minerals on the territory of the Jewish Autonomous Region

2.1 The history of the development and use of minerals in the JAO

The Jewish autonomy is a young entity, but on its territory, in its Lesser Khingan part, a powerful mineral resource base has been created, and the mining industry operates on its basis. The Khinganolovo plant, Teploozersky cement, Londokovsky lime plants operate here, brucite, gold and other minerals are mined. The Kuldur resort operates on mineral springs. The modern mineral resource potential of the JAR was created by the work of several generations of geologists.

Geological research on the territory of the JAO began long before the formation of autonomy. There are several stages in their history. The first information about the geological structure and minerals of the JAO was obtained by the participants of the Muraviev rafting on the Amur, flying reconnaissance searches in the Lesser Khingan and route studies. They are associated with the names of N.P. Anosov, N.V. Basnin, Permykin and F. Schmidt. In 1864 N.P. Anosov from the village of Ekaterino-Nikolskoye informs about the discovery of a "reliable" seam iron deposit on the Lesser Khingan, on the basis of which he proposed "the construction of an iron plant."

The next stage of geological research in the JAO is associated with surveys along the route of the Siberian railway, in the gold-bearing regions of the Amur region and in connection with the laying of the Amur railway at the end of the 19th and 20th centuries. L.F. Batsevich, D.V. and M. M. Ivanov, P. K. Yavorovsky, E. E. Anert, SV. Constants. In the course of these studies, a number of deposits of iron ore along the route of the railway, coal (Turukskoye), limestone, dolomite, and graphite deposits (Soyuznoye, Birskoye, etc.) were discovered. At the same time, a general sequence of geological complexes was established, and the gold content of the area was studied.

Some apart at this stage of the study of the territory of the JAO is the search for a building stone deposit on the Churki ridge. The discovery of a suitable building stone deposit here put an end to many years of unsuccessful searches in the vicinity of the city of Khabarovsk. Granodiorites and hornfelsed sandstones from the vicinity of the village. Babstovo were used for the construction of the pedestal of the monument to Count N.N. Muravyov-Amursky in Khabarovsk - the first monumental work in the Far East.

The beginning of systematic and intensive geological research on the territory of the JAO falls on the end of the 20s and the beginning of the 30s of the XX century. It coincided almost with the time of the formation of the Jewish autonomy, or as Birobidzhan was said then. Interest in this territory has increased, which stimulated the geological study of the JAR. But the main reason for the accelerated study of the Lesser Khingan was the need to create a mineral resource base for the planned metallurgical plant in the Far East in a short time. This work began in 1929 with the prospecting for iron ore (N. I. Pavlov, A. S. Purtov) and exploration of the Soyuznoye graphite deposit on the banks of the Amur (A. S. Belitsky). Since 1931, Dalgeotrest began areal mapping in the northern part of the Lesser Khingan. They were attended by S. A. Muzylev, B. V. Vitgeft, A. S. Savchenko, V. D. Prinada. In 1933, the Lenozet expedition under the scientific guidance of A.N. Krishtafovich mapped the southern part of the Lesser Khingan. 3. A. Abdulaev, V. N. Davidovich, I. V. Moiseev, S. I. Shkorbatov and others took part in them. Later in this period, exploration work was carried out at many deposits of iron, manganese, limestone, magnesite, graphite and other minerals.

A dramatic situation developed at the initial stage of research of this period in connection with the assessment by Professor N. I. Pavlov of the insignificant size of the iron ore deposits of the Lesser Khingan. Exploration work was carried out against the background of a sharp struggle of opinions - iron ore deposits have practical significance or they do not have it, and then they cannot be a raw material base for the planned ferrous metallurgy plant. The point of view about the sedimentary origin and the great practical significance of the iron ores of the Lesser Khingan was defended most consistently and firmly by BV Vitgeft. Soon this was proved and exploration work gained a new dimension. Here we note that he also established the sequence of the Khingan stratum earlier than V.N. Danilovich and S.A. Muzylev. Somewhat later, B.V. Vitgeft was repressed and shot, his achievements were undeservedly hushed up and forgotten.

The Academy of Sciences of the USSR (G.D. Afanasiev, V.N. Dominikovsky, A.P. Lebedev, N.A. Bolshakov, V.P. Maslov) also participated in regional studies in the Lesser Khingan. The results of regional studies served as the basis for ideas about the geological structure of the Lesser Khingan for many years. These works showed the richness of the bowels of the Jewish Autonomous Region and expanded its prospects. The stratigraphy of the Khingan strata was developed, and the Kimkan iron deposit was discovered. An important point was the establishment of the eastern (S. A. Muzylev, G. P. Volarovich) and western (V. P. Tebenkov, M. N. Dobrokhotov) bands of ore distribution. In a short time, the Kimkan iron deposit, deposits of auxiliary raw materials (limestone flux, magnesite, dolomite) were explored. After the discovery of manganese minerals in 1938, M.N. Dobrokhotov began searching for manganese deposits, which were successfully completed already in the 50s.

We also emphasize that the discovery of the Khingan tin ore deposit (M. I. Iyaikson, A. P. Prokofiev) gave an additional impetus to intensive geological research in the JAO by various departments. Both large-scale geological mapping and prospecting and exploration work were carried out here simultaneously. Since 1948, the extraction of tin ores at the Khinganolovo plant began.

Since 1956 medium-scale mapping began at a scale of 1:200,000 and the publication of sheets of maps of this scale for the territory of the JAR. They were accompanied by geophysical work. Cartographic generalizations were carried out under the guidance of A.P. Glushkov and M.G. Zolotov. Let us note the long-term thematic studies of magmatism by GV Itsikson. Many names of researchers of the JAO over the past 50 years, whose merit is great in creating the mineral and raw material potential of the autonomy, are not named here and are not listed deliberately, because many of them are in the ranks and themselves have the opportunity to say "as it was.

In recent years, searches for hydrocarbon raw materials have been carried out in the JAO, deep geophysical studies have been carried out.

2.2 Minerals on the territory of the Jewish Autonomous Region

The region contains deposits and ore occurrences of many minerals. In terms of saturation with them and the concentration of useful components, this is one of the richest territories in the Russian Federation. This is due to the fact that geological formations of various ages are developed here, and the processes of tectonic-magmatic activation leading to the formation of deposits have manifested themselves repeatedly and intensively. More than 20 types of minerals have been discovered and explored on the territory of the region, including deposits of placer gold, iron, manganese, tin, graphite, beryllium, lithium, fluorite, brucite, magnesite, marbles, zeolites, talc, mineral paints and ceramic raw materials, peat , coal, hot and cold healing mineral springs. The region is promising for the discovery of industrial deposits and other minerals, including diamonds, oil and gas, molybdenum, uranium, rare metals, precious and ornamental stones, high-quality clays and mineral fertilizers.

To date, only a small part of minerals is being developed: tin, brucite, gold, limestone, dolomite, peat, building materials are being mined.

The main tin-ore areas on the territory, the region are Khingan and Sutaro-Bidzhan, within which 14 deposits are known. In addition to tin, ore bodies contain copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, bismuth, antimony, silver, molybdenum, and gold. Along with the main one, the production of fluorite concentrate, which is used as a flux raw material, as well as in glass and enamel production, was mastered.

11 magnesite deposits have been discovered in the region. The industrial value of magnesite is based on the high refractoriness and binding properties of magnesium oxide. Its consumers are the metallurgical, chemical and food industries. The main areas of application are the production of refractories, building materials, and the production of magnesium. At present, unique in terms of reserves, one of the world's largest Kuldur, Central, Savkinskoe, Taragai deposits of brucite - magnesian raw materials - are known.

Currently, gold deposits are developed mainly by hydraulic method from terraced deposits in the basin of the river. Sutar and in the upper reaches of the river. Biry. The most promising is the southern, border part of the territory. According to preliminary geological data, it is possible to find primary deposits of ore gold here.

There are 14 deposits of various building materials in the JAO: building and facing stones, cement and carbonate raw materials, mineral paints and lightweight concrete fillers, brick and expanded clay, sand, sand and gravel mixtures. Most of the explored deposits are concentrated along the railway and near the settlements with which they are connected by roads. All of them are suitable for open mining.

About 20 deposits and manifestations of facing stones are known in the region. In a relatively small area of the area, reserves of marble, calcite and other ornamental stones were found. Their predominant colors are pink, light gray and green. The Belorusskaya station of the Moscow metro, the concert hall of the regional philharmonic society, a number of objects in the Far East are lined with Birakan pink marble.

The region has several healing springs. The most famous is Kuldursky, on the basis of which the resort complex of the same name of federal significance operates. Treatment of diseases here is carried out using thermal nitrogen-siliceous mineralized hydrocarbonate-chloride-karts alkaline waters with a high content of fluorine.

There are enough water resources on the territory of the JAO to provide domestic and drinking water supply, while 90% of fresh water is annually consumed from groundwater.

For the time being, in insufficient volumes, clearly not meeting the needs of the region, the development of the Ushumunsky brown coal deposit is being carried out, the industrial reserves of which are over 50 million tons, and the predicted resources are estimated at 1 billion tons. open-pit coal at least 300-500 thousand tons per year.

There are significant and diverse mineral reserves in the region, which are not yet developed, but represent a raw material base in the future. An important place among them is occupied by iron ore and ferromanganese deposits, which can be successfully developed if the appropriate infrastructure is created. The Malo-Khingansky iron ore site is located in the Obluchensky district in close proximity to the Trans-Siberian Railway. At the largest - Kimkansky, Sutarsky and Kostenginsky deposits, exploration work was carried out and ore reserves were determined in the amount of 2.7 billion tons.

Iron-manganese ores are concentrated in large deposits: the South-Khinganskoye deposit, the explored reserves of which are 9 million tons, the manganese content in the ore is 19.2-21.1% and the Bidzhanskoye deposit, where the explored reserves are 6 million tons, and the manganese content in ore - 18.4%.

Preliminary feasibility studies based on the performed technological studies show the possibility of cost-effective open-pit processing of iron ore in combination with ferromanganese deposits and the associated use of overburden rocks (clays, limestones and limestone slates) as cement and construction raw materials.

One of the largest deposits in Russia is the Soyuznenskoye graphite deposit, located on the left bank of the Amur near the village. Allied. Graphite deposits of high quality, allow open-pit mining. Experiments on the use of graphite from the Soyuznenskoye deposit in industry have yielded good results.

Promising for the organization of mining and processing of the Birakan talc deposit, the Khingan basalt deposit, the Radden zeolite deposit, the Soyuznenskoe deposit of mineral paints, etc.

The presence of favorable geological and economic conditions in the region allows us to talk about the possibility of expanding mining, increasing the return on use, involving new types of deposits in circulation by continuing the search, establishing volumes and subsequent exploitation of oil and gas deposits, diamonds, placer and ore gold. [Jewish Autonomous Region: Encyclopedic Dictionary: Responsible. ed. V.S. Gurevich, F.N. Ryansky Khabarovsk 1999]

Minerals were formed both in the process of accumulation and formation of sedimentary rocks, and through ore deposition in the process of magmatic and postmagmatic activity. At the same time, some rocks are directly a mineral, others contain useful components that can be extracted by enrichment, and others act as an enclosing medium for the deposition of useful components. Deposits and ore occurrences of metallic, non-metallic and fuel and energy minerals, groundwater and mineral springs have been identified on the area of the region. Metallic minerals are represented by both deeply metamorphosed primary sedimentary rocks - iron-manganese ores, and hydrothermal formations. Gold ore manifestations, being hydrothermal deposits, in turn serve as primary sources of gold in gold placers. These include: gold, tin, iron and manganese, rare metals such as beryllium, fluorite, rare and trace elements: yttrium, lithium, lanthanum, strontium, gallium, scandium. Fuel and energy raw materials in the territory are represented by peat coal deposits. The presence of oil and gas is only assumed. Non-metallic minerals are mostly represented by metamorphosed primary sedimentary rocks or rocks that have experienced near-contact impact of granitoid intrusions, effusive and intrusive rocks. They are represented in our region: magnesite, brucite, talc, zeolites, mineral paints, limestones, graphite, basalts, phosphorites, boron. Some minerals are multipurpose in their properties and are used both in industrial production and in construction as building materials (limestone, basalt, peat, etc.).

magnesite. Magnesite deposits form sheet-like and lenticular deposits confined to the lower horizon of the Murandavskaya suite (mainly), composed of massive dolomites, less often to the upper one. The bodies of magnesites lie in conformity with the host dolomites. Magnesite is used in metallurgy as a refractory raw material and in the binder industry. The total reserves of explored deposits are 87 million tons. Predicted resources are very significant. The deposits are not exploited.

brucite. The deposits of brucite, as well as the deposits of magnesites, are confined to the rocks of the Murandav Formation, but were formed under the conditions of contact metamorphism of magnesites at the boundary with Paleozoic granitoids. Brucite is used in the same industries as magnesite. There are five brucite deposits in the Lesser Khingan area, of which Kuldurskoye has been explored in detail and has been in operation since 1971. The finished products of the enterprise are brucite grades I-III, sent for processing to the Sverdlovsk region, as well as rubble, crushed stone for construction work and road ballasting.

Talc. The Birakan talc deposit is located 1.0-3.0 km from the Trans-Siberian Railway. It is represented by a submeridional band of talcation of dolomites of the Murandava suite, 3 km long and 500-700 m wide. Within this band, sheet-like and lenticular bodies of dolomites with a talc content of more than 30% (talc-carbonate rocks) and one body of talcite (average content of 64%) are localized. . The fall of the bodies is steep, the length is 100-1000 m, the thickness is from 2.5-5 m to 50 m. The selection of ore bodies is carried out according to the results of chemical analysis. The development of a talc deposit can be carried out by a small enterprise. Let out production can be used in rubber, electroceramic and paper industry. Concentration waste can be used as a carbonate product.

Zeolites. The Radden zeolite deposit is located on the southwestern flank of the Khingan-Olonoi volcanic field of Mesozoic age. The structure of the stratified volcanic-sedimentary section includes (from bottom to top): fine-clastic tuffs of acidic composition up to 30 m thick, tuff sandstones up to 60 m thick, intensely zeolitized tuffaceous deposit up to 140 m thick, and a layer-like perlite body 10-20 m thick. Zeolitized rocks are represented lava breccias, volcanic glasses and tuffs with a zeolite content of 54-48%. The length of the deposit is more than 3 km, the width is 200-350 m. Zeolites can be used in agriculture to increase productivity, as an additive in poultry feed, to reduce the damage of vegetables by rot during storage; in water management practice for the treatment of underground and waste water, for the decontamination of contaminated areas; in the construction industry as a cement-saving additive. The deposit is not developed.

mineral paints. On the territory of the JAO, 6 deposits of mineral paints are known, which are primary or redeposited products of the Paleogene-Neogene weathering crusts of rocks of the ore-bearing suite (5 deposits in the southwestern part of the region) and Mesozoic basic effusive rocks. The colors are represented by deluvial clays and weathering crusts brown, yellow with a golden hue. The coloring pigment can be used in its natural form (common ocher), on water, oil, adhesive bases. The deposits are not being developed.

Limestones. In the immediate vicinity of the Trans-Siberian Railway there are 4 large and 6 small limestone deposits: Londokovskoe, Teploozerskoe, Kimkanskoe, Izvestkovoe, Abramovskoe, Sutarskoe. The South Khingan group of deposits is located in the southern part of the Lesser Khingan in a sparsely populated area of the region. The limestones are confined to the Londok Formation. These are rocks of white, gray and dark gray colors, massive, often banded. Limestones are used in metallurgy as fluxes, in agriculture - soil deoxidizers, in construction - binders and building stones, etc. Limestones of the Sutar deposit are suitable for glass melting. The largest are the Londokovskoye and Teploozerskoye deposits. Londokovskoye, Teploozerskoye, Izvestkovoe, Abramovskoye deposits are operated by OAO Londokovsky Lime Plant and OAO Teploozersky Cement Plant.

Graphite. Graphite deposits are located within the Lesser Khingan in the thickness of the Upper Proterozoic rocks. The most explored are the Soyuznoye, Birskoye and Sutarskoye deposits, the promising one is Londokovskoye. The large Soyuznoye graphite deposit is confined to the tops of the Soyuznenskaya suite, composed of gneisses, quartzites, limestones, crystalline schists with graphite, and graphite-micaceous schists. Minerals are black and brown graphite schists, greasy to the touch. The main rock-forming minerals in graphite schists are quartz and graphite, impurities are feldspar and mica. Crystalline flake graphite predominates, pulverized varieties are less common. Graphite content in ores is high 18-20%. The possibility of flotation enrichment with carbon recovery of 70-87% has been established. Graphite is used in industry as a refractory material (up to 70% graphite), in reactive engineering, in electrical engineering, in mechanical engineering - graphite lubricants and bearings, in nuclear, chemical; petrochemical industries, in the production of paints, pencils, in the synthesis of artificial diamonds. The deposit is not exploited.

Basalts.On the watershed of the Khingan and Udurchukan rivers on an area of about 1100 sq. km there is a cover of Cenozoic basalts up to 250 m thick. Part of this cover - the Khingan basalt deposit - has been explored for stone foundry production (cast basalt, black glass-ceramic, acid-resistant powder and powder peturgy). According to the tests and expert opinions, the physical and mechanical properties of cast products meet the requirements for stone casting products. However, due to the unsatisfactory state of the industry Far East there is no demand for stone casting. At present, technologies have been developed in Russia for obtaining super-thin fibers from basalts at a low cost of production. The vast territories of the JAO and the Amur Region are constantly in need of cheap heat-insulating materials, which are not produced in these regions. However, technological tests of basalts from the Khingan deposit for obtaining super-thin staple fiber have not yet been carried out.

Phosphorites. The manifestations of phosphorites of the JAO are quite numerous, but all of them are poor, difficult to enrich and insufficiently explored. Phosphate-carbonate rocks are confined to the Upper Murandavskaya, ore-bearing and Londokovo formations. Phosphorites are used for the production of phosphate fertilizers. Four manifestations may be of practical interest: Tigrovaya Pad, Burunbavskoye, Gremuchinskoye and Romashka.

Bor. Within the JAO, occurrences of boron are known in the Lesser Khingan. The most interesting are two sites - Kedrovy and Zaliv. Both sites are confined to magnesian skarns and calciphyres, which form zones in the dolomites of the Murandava Formation, at the contact with the Early Middle Paleozoic granitoids. Metasomatic zoning is observed in the structure of skarn-ore bodies, due to the alternation of diopside, spinel-diopside, forsterite-clinohumite and calciphyre zones. Most magnesian skarns bear traces of hydrothermal alteration, as a result of which most of the primary zones of magnesian skarns and borates are transformed into new mineral associations. The processes of carbonatization, silicification and brucitization were especially intensive. Note that the richest ores tend to calciphyres and magnesian skarns, which were not subjected to secondary hydrothermal alterations. The primary borates in the manifestations are kotoite, ludwigite, fluoroborite, saibelite is found among the secondary ones, and tourmaline is found among the borosilicates. [Natural resources of the Jewish Autonomous Region Zhurnist V.I., Kogan R.M., Kodyakova T.E., Komarova T.M., Rubtsova T.A. et al 2004 - 112s.]

Extraction of the main minerals

Mineral resource	Unit rev.	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Tin	t	36	58	294	298	295	616
alluvial gold	kg	97	169	183	66	89	172
brucite	thousand tons	15	16	15	13	14	9
cement raw materials	thousand tons	256	336	358	438	600	545
Limestone	thousand tons	749	780	770	400	400	935
Brown coal	thousand tons	48	37	8	57	128	11O

After analyzing the table, we found out that the extraction of all major minerals in the region significantly increased its volume over the time period of 1998 to 2003. The only exception is brucite, which began to reduce its production starting from 1999. Based on the table, we see that for three years limestone was the leader in terms of the largest volume of production, after which its place passed to cement raw materials, but after two years everything stopped into place. The smallest volume of mining is occupied by gold, already for a long time, and in the future this picture will not change, since gold mining is the most labor-intensive (small percentage in one ton).

Exploration of minerals in the territory of the JAO has been carried out since ancient times and continues its path in the present, this is due to the development of the technical process. Previously, people could only extract what lay on the surface, now they have learned how to extract minerals located under the thickness of the earth's crust. Most of the minerals are located in the northwestern part of the region, this is due to the geological development of this territory. In terms of production, limestone is the leader, and gold is the least mined. Every year the amount of extracted minerals is growing, which contributes to the discovery of new deposits in the area.

Conclusion

On the territory of the Jewish Autonomous Region, minerals are unevenly distributed, most of them are concentrated in the northwestern part. This is due to a long geological development: primarily mountain building and subsequent volcanism. The study area is very diverse in minerals that are already mined and explored today. In our area, acquaintance with minerals began even before its formation, and is still ongoing. During this time, many mineral deposits have been discovered that contribute to the formation of settlements. In the region, both settlements and deposits are concentrated mainly along the railway. The development of mineral deposits and their rational use contributes to the "promising" economic development of the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Bibliography

1. Buryak V.A., Zhurnist V.I., Kuzin A.A. . Jewish Autonomous Region (geological and industrial types of deposits, prospects, problems of development). Birobidzhan - Khabarovsk: IKARP FEB RAN, 2002. 123 p.

2. Varnavskip V.T. Paleogene and Neogene deposits of the Middle Amur depression. M: Nauka, 1972.

3. Verezhnikov A.V. Golden bottom. In the golden shelters of the Amur region. - St. Petersburg, 1915

4. Jewish Autonomous Region: Encyclopedic Dictionary: Responsible. ed. V.S. Gurevich, F.N. Ryansky Khabarovsk 1999

5. Jewish Autonomous Region / Ed. F.N. Ryansky. Birobidzhan: Izd-vo IKARP FEB RAN, 1992.

6. Ivashinnikov Yu.K. Physical geography of the Russian Far East. Vladivostok: FEGU, 1999.

7. Investment proposals for the development of mineral resources of the Jewish Autonomous Region / Akhmadulin V.A., Gurevich B.C., Kuzin A.A., Palachev A.M., Sinyakov E.Ya. Birobidzhan, 2002. 43 p.

8. Website: http://geoman.ru/

9. Krasny L.I. Geology of the region of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. M: Nedra, 1980.

10. Maksakovskiy V.P. Geographical picture of the world: In 2 books. Book 1: General characteristics of the world. – M.: Bustard, 2003. - 496s.: ill., maps.

11. Onikhimovsky V.V., Belomestnykh Yu.S. Useful minerals of the Khabarovsk Territory (promising for the development of deposits and manifestations) Khabarovsk, 1996

12. Natural resources of the Jewish Autonomous Region Zhurnist V.I., Kogan R.M., Kodyakova T.E., Komarova T.M., Rubtsova T.A. et al. 2004 - 112p.

13. Romanova I.P., Urakova L.I., Ermakov Yu.G. Natural Resources of the World 1992

14. The current state of the mineral potential of the JAO and the prospects for its development: abstracts of the regional conference in 2000. From red. Vrublevsky A.A., Nedorezov Yu.A. 79s. Article by L.P. Karsakov Milestones in the history of geological research and the creation of the mineral resource base of the JAR.

Russia, among other countries of the world, occupies a leading position in terms of mineral reserves. What minerals are mined in the bowels of the country at the moment? Everyone knows that more than 20,000 deposits of various types have already been discovered on the territory of the Russian Federation. The country has large deposits of coal, gold, raw aluminum, tin, platinum, tungsten, graphite, nickel and other minerals. In this article, we will consider in detail what minerals are in Russia and their types. Of course, the predominant minerals are solid, which are located almost throughout the country. We will also take a closer look at which minerals are fuels, as well as the most important strategic raw materials that provide energy for their country - these are coal, oil, natural gas and peat.

liquid minerals

Many are interested in what liquid minerals are available on the territory of Russia? Let's try to answer:

Oil

Everyone knows that the country ranks fifth in terms of oil production. These resources are mainly concentrated in the northern and eastern regions of Russia, western Siberia, and also in the Arctic shelves. At the moment, no more than half of all discovered reserves have been involved in development since the beginning of the 21st century. On average, exploited deposits have a depleted reserve of no more than 45%. Oil deposits are mainly found in sedimentary rocks ranging from the Vendian to the Neogene, as well as in Paleozoic and Mesozoic deposits.

At the moment, the main oil and gas provinces in Russia have been identified: the Volga-Ural, West Siberian, Caspian, Timan-Pechora, North Caucasian-Mangyshlak, Leno-Tungusskaya, Okhotsk, Yenisei-Anabar, Leno-Vilyuiskaya, as well as the Baltic, East Kamchatka and Anadyr oil and gas regions.

Ground, artesian and mineral waters

About 3367 underground water deposits are known on the territory of Russia. Of these, less than 50% are currently in operation.

solid minerals

Coal

In terms of coal reserves, Russia is second only to the United States and China. Explored coal deposits are found in the Devonian and Pliocene deposits. The main coal basins are: Pechora, Kuznetsk, Yuzhno-Yakutsk and part of the Donetsk basin located on the territory of Russia.

In western Siberia, in the spurs of the Kuznetsk Alatau, there is one of the largest coal basins. It is he who is currently the most used, among all the others. Coal is also being mined in the Donetsk region in the southeast and northeast of the country, where the Donetsk and Pechersk coal basins are located.

The Central Siberian Plateau and Yakutia also have large reserves of coal, but due to the poor development of the territory and difficult climatic conditions, they are practically not used, being considered promising. The most famous and largest brown coal deposit is Kansko-Anachinskoye, which is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Peat

Approximately 46,000 peat deposits have been discovered on the territory of Russia, of which the largest percentage, namely 76%, falls on the Asian part of the republic, and the rest on the European one. The largest reserves of this mineral are located in the northwestern regions of the country, as well as in Siberia and the Urals. Vasyuganskoye, which is located in Western Siberia, is considered the largest deposit.

Iron ores

Many are interested in what minerals in Russia are in first place in the world in terms of confirmed total reserves - this is iron ore - (264 billion tons). The deposits of iron ore are characterized by a large depth of occurrence, as well as increased strength and a complex mineral composition, which has 16-32% iron in its content.

The deposits are mainly concentrated in the European part of the country. One of the largest basins in the world is the Kursk magnetic anomaly. Russian deposits are represented by all genetic types and are characterized by industrial content of titanium, iron and vanadium, as well as low content of phosphorus and sulfur. Magmatic deposits are located in the Urals, Karelia, Gorny Altai, Transbaikalia and the Eastern Sayan Mountains.

Gold

At present, Russia ranks fourth in the world in terms of gold reserves, sharing it with Canada. There are five large deposits on the territory of the country, as well as more than 200 primary and more than a hundred complex ones. The main part of the gold reserves is concentrated in the Far East and East Siberian region. Approximately 80% of the reserves are located in ore deposits, and the rest in alluvial deposits.

titanium ores

This type of minerals is divided into two main types: loose and primary. Primary deposits contain titanium dioxide in a low content, yielding to Norway and Canada. Ore is mined from ancient coastal-marine rocks, as well as aluminum placers of ilmenite. These deposits are located in the Urals, on the East European platform, in Transbaikalia, as well as in eastern and western Siberia.

Silver

It is believed that Russia occupies a leading position in the world in terms of silver reserves. 73% of deposits are concentrated in complex ores of gold and non-ferrous metals. The largest amount of silver among complex deposits can be distinguished: Uzelskoye, Gayskoye and Podolskoye deposits, where the silver content is measured from 10-30 grams. About 98% of the main silver reserves in Russia are located in the East Sikhot-Alin and Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belts located on the territory of the republic. All deposits belong to volcanic-hydrothermal formations and are postmatic.

gaseous minerals

Natural gas

Russia ranks first in the world in terms of natural gas reserves. There are 867 fields with free gas reserves on the balance sheet of the country. They are concentrated mainly in Siberia and Eastern regions of Russia. The largest gas fields are concentrated here, such as: Uregoyskoye, Yamburgskoye, Balakhninskoye, Medvezhye, Kharasaveyskoye and others.

In recent years, new natural gas fields have been discovered in Russia, namely the Shtokman field, located on the shelf of the Barents Sea, and the Leningradskoye gas condensate field, located on the shelf of the Red Sea.

There are many natural deposits of substances important to humans. These are resources that are exhaustible and should be conserved. Without their development and production, many aspects of people's lives would be extremely difficult.

Minerals and their properties are the object and subject of study of mining geology. The results obtained by her are used in the future for the processing and production of many things.

Minerals and their properties

What are generally called minerals? These are rocks or mineral structures that are of great economic importance and are widely used in industry.

Their diversity is great, so the properties for each species are specific. There are several main options for the accumulation of the considered substances in nature:

placers;
layers;
veins;
rods;
nests.

If we talk about the general distribution of fossils, then we can distinguish:

provinces;
districts;
pools;
Place of Birth.

Minerals and their properties depend on specific type raw materials. This is what determines the scope of their use by humans, as well as the method of extraction and processing.

Types of minerals

There is more than one classification of the considered raw materials. So, if the basis is based on the signs of the state of aggregation, then such varieties are distinguished.

Mineral solid. Examples: marble, salt, granite, metallic ores, non-metallic.
Liquid - underground mineral waters and oil.
Gas - natural gas, helium.

If the division into types is based on the use of minerals, then the classification takes the following form.

combustible. Examples: oil, oil shale, coal, methane and others.
Ore or igneous. Examples: all metal-containing ores, as well as asbestos and graphite.
Nonmetallic. Examples: all raw materials that do not contain metals (clay, sand, chalk, gravel and others), as well as various salts.
Gemstones. Examples: precious and semi-precious, as well as (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, jasper, chalcedony, opal, carnelian and others).

According to the diversity presented, it is obvious that minerals and their properties are a whole world that is being explored by a huge number of geologists and miners.

Main deposits

Various mineral resources (minerals) are distributed throughout the planet quite evenly according to geological features. After all, a significant part of them is formed due to platform movements and tectonic eruptions. There are several main continents that are richest in almost all types of raw materials. It:

North and South America.
Eurasia.
Africa.

All countries that are located in the designated territories widely use minerals and their properties. In the same areas where there is no raw material, there are export deliveries.

In general, of course, it is difficult to determine the general plan of deposits of mineral resources. After all, it all depends on the specific type of raw material. Some of the most expensive are precious (containing minerals. Gold, for example, is found everywhere except Europe (of the continents listed above plus Australia). It is valued very highly, and its extraction is one of the most common occurrences in mining.

Eurasia is the richest in combustible resources. Mountain minerals (talc, barite, kaolin, limestones, quartzites, apatites, salts) are distributed almost everywhere in large quantities.

Mining

Various methods are used to extract minerals and prepare them for use.

Open path. The necessary raw materials are extracted directly from the quarries. Over time, this leads to the formation of extensive ravines, therefore, it is not sparing for nature.
The mine method is more correct, but expensive.
Fountain method of pumping oil.
pumping method.
Geotechnological methods of ore processing.

The development of mineral deposits is an important and necessary process, however, leading to very deplorable consequences. After all, resources are finite. Therefore, in recent years, special emphasis has been placed not on large volumes of extraction of mineral resources, but on their more correct and rational use by man.

Ore (igneous) rocks

This group includes the most important and largest minerals in terms of production. An ore is such a formation of a mineral nature that contains a large amount of one or another desired metal (another component).

Places of extraction and processing of such raw materials are called mines. Igneous rocks can be classified into four groups:

colored;
noble;
non-metallic components.

Let us give examples of some ore mineral resources.

Iron.
Nickel.
Argentite.
Cassiterite.
Beryl.
Bornite.
Chalcopyrite.
Uraninite.
Asbestos.
Graphite and others.

Gold is an ore mineral

There are among the ore and special minerals. Gold, for example. Its production has been relevant since ancient times, because it has always been highly valued by people. Today, gold is mined and laundered in almost every country in whose territory there are at least small deposits of it.

In nature, gold occurs in the form of native particles. The largest ingot was found in Australia weighing almost 70 kg layer. Often, due to the weathering of deposits and their erosion, placers are formed in the form of sand grains from this precious metal.

It is extracted from such mixtures by washing and sifting. In general, these are not too common and voluminous minerals in terms of content. That is why gold is called a precious and noble metal.

The centers for the extraction of this ore mineral are:

Russia.
Canada.
South Africa.
Australia.

fossil fuels

This group includes such mineral resources as:

oil;
gas (methane, helium);
coal.

The use of minerals of this kind is a fuel and raw material for the production of various chemical compounds and substances.

Coal is such a fossil that lies at a relatively shallow depth in wide layers. Its quantity is limited in one particular deposit. Therefore, having exhausted one pool, people move to another. In general, coal contains up to 97% pure carbon. It was formed historically, as a result of the death and compaction of plant organic remains. These processes lasted millions of years, so now there are a huge amount of coal reserves all over the planet.

Oil is also called liquid gold, which emphasizes how important it is as a mineral resource. After all, this is the main source of high-quality combustible fuel, as well as its various components - the basis, the raw material for chemical syntheses. The leaders in oil production are such countries as:

Russia.
Algeria;
Mexico.
Indonesia.
Venezuela.
Libya.

Which is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, it is also an important industrial fuel. It belongs to the cheapest raw material, therefore it is used on a particularly large scale. The leading countries in production are Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Non-metallic or non-metallic species

This group includes such minerals and rocks as:

clay;
sand;
pebbles;
gravel;
crushed stone;
talc;
kaolin;
barite;
graphite;
diamonds;
quartz;
apatite;
phosphorite and others.

All varieties can be combined into several groups according to the area of \u200b\u200buse.

Mining and chemical minerals.
Metallurgical raw materials.
Technical crystals.
Construction Materials.

Gemstones are often included in this group as well. The areas of use of minerals of non-metallic nature are multifaceted and extensive. These are agriculture (fertilizers), construction (materials), glass-making, jewelry, engineering, general chemical production, paint production, and so on.

All fossils are divided into many groups and subgroups based on different criteria. Each group accordingly has its own value for the national economy. The economic potential of the country largely depends on the amount of various kinds of minerals and the ability of the country to reasonably dispose of them, sell or process. It is important to know what types of minerals are and at least a few criteria for their classification.

Main groups of minerals

The richness of the earth's interior is so huge and diverse that the classification may be unrealistic to remember, so it is worth highlighting three main groups of the minerals section:

metal ores;
combustible underground minerals;
construction minerals.

metal ores

Metal ores occupy the largest group in the list of what types of minerals are. This group is unique in its diversity: it consists of various kinds of ores, which necessarily include metal, including gold, silver, zinc, iron and copper. Naturally, each ore has a different amount of metal in its composition, therefore, ores are divided into poor and rich.

Iron ore is one of the most important sources of iron. Rich iron ore contains a huge amount of this substance and its extraction is very profitable. This ore is the basis for steel production. Its deposits are located mainly among volcanic rocks, thanks to eruptions and the movement of tectonic plates, new deposits of iron ore are formed.

Nickel ore, the extraction and processing of which is also an important part of the national economy. Nickel mining is necessary because it is widely used for the production of stainless, heat-resistant steels.

combustible minerals

Everything is simple here, this is oil and gas known to everyone. Their deposits are often under water, the Caspian Sea is especially rich in oil. These fossils are used by man on the largest scale, and although there are many oil and gas deposits on our globe, scientists are already actively looking for an alternative, since in a few decades humanity is at risk of depleting all the earth's reserves. Combustible minerals are also peat, coal and brown coal. Coal is actively used for the work of power stations.

building minerals

The group is very diverse in its composition and is no less important than the previous two. It also includes cheap shell limestone, which was the main building material for many centuries, and expensive granite and marble (the cost of rare varieties of the latter can be fabulous). This also includes clay and sand. Clay is a material that a person has been using for more than one thousand years; it was from the remains of clay household items that scientists studied ancient civilizations.

It is impossible to learn what types of minerals are without mentioning gems. Their mining is carried out all over the world, and the number of gems that mankind uses both in jewelry and in other industries is immeasurable.