Mineral resources they are inorganic substances extracted from Earth and which are useful as a raw material. They are the elements or chemical compounds found naturally in the earth's crust, that is, they are part of its own formation. Therefore, there is no human participation in the creation process.
There are thousands of mineral resources in the earth's crust that are classified into metallic and non-metallic minerals. Among the metallic minerals are iron, copper, zinc, lead, tin, titanium, gold, silver, platinum, etc. Among the non-metallic minerals are sulfur, sodium chloride, phosphate, gypsum, quartz, granite, sand, gravel, water, precious and semi-precious stones, etc.
Mineral resources can be found in nature, in their pure state, such as gold and silver, but in general, they are associated with other minerals. To extract the desired raw material from them, it is necessary to benefit them, that is, to separate them from the others, many of them without economic value, which make up the rocks in which they are found. The benefited minerals are called ores.
Energy mineral resources are those used for the production of electrical, heat or mechanical energy, including coal, gas, oil, uranium, shale, etc.
Use of Minerals
Mineral resources are useful as raw material for the manufacture of various products, from household objects, to automobiles, bridges, artificial satellites, space rockets, etc. From simple gravel, sand or clay used in construction to chemical elements extracted from minerals, almost all of these known elements have some commercial use.
See too: asbestos and meet the types of natural resources.
