The term "ore" is used in connection with a rock or mineral mass when it contains enough of an element or compound to make it economically feasible to mine. 15 specimens of the more important ores are included. Approximately 1 1/2".
A mineral or rock, which contains enough of a chemical element to make it economically feasible to mine, is called an ore. Ore is used in describing rocks containing a metallic element or elements, and may be used in connection with nonmetallic substances. In nature the ore minerals are found in veins or in deposits in association with rocks of little or no value. In native ores the valuable element is found free as an element. Gold, silver, platinum and copper may occur as elements. More commonly the element to be recovered is chemically combined with sulfur, oxygen, carbon, silicon or other elements and must be separated from them. The separation of the desired element is done by roasting, smelting, electrolysis or various chemical treatments.
The collection contains:
Sources of Aluminum
1. Bauxite - Product of leaching from aiuminum bearing rocks in tropics.
Other Sources: diaspore, gibbsite, boehmite, and cryolite
Sources of Copper
2. Chalcopyrite - Occurs in hydrothermal veins and replacement deposits.
3. Malachite - Occurs in oxidized copper veins as a supergene mineral.
Other Sources: native copper, chalcocite, bornite, cuprite, chrysocolla, azurite
Sources of Iron
4. Pyrite - Pyrite is formed in high and low temp, igneous & metamorphic rocks.
5. Hematite - Large deposits are formed by leaching or iron bearing rocks.
6. Magnetite - Occurs in large beds and lenses in metamorphic rocks.
7. Limonite -A weathered product of iron minerals.
8. Pyrrhotite - Found in deposits associated with basic igneous rocks.
9. Siderite - Occurs in concentric layers in shale and clay formations.
Other Sources: goethite
Sources of Lead
10. Galena - Found in hydrothermal veins.
Other Sources: cerussite, anglesite, vanadinite, and wulfenite
Caution: This sample contains a mineral known as galena, a naturally occurring lead compound. Avoid consuming or inhaling. Wash hands thoroughly after handling all rock or mineral samples.
Sources of Magnesium
11. Dolomite - Replacement mineral after limestone in sedimentary strata.
Other Sources: magnesite, carnallite, and brucite
Sources of Manganese
12. Pyrolusite - Develops in deposits from sea floors and lake bottoms.
Other Sources: manganite, franklinite, rhodochrosite, and rhodonite
Sources of Tin
13. Cassiterite - Found near granitic rocks in hydrothermal veins.
Sources of Zinc
14. Sphalerite - Occurs in replacement deposits and hydrothermal veins.
Other Sources: smithsonite, hemimorphite, franklinite, and wiliemite
Alloys
15. Beryl - Found in granitic rocks and pegmatites.
Other Examples: molybdenite
Product No.2251 |
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