Explaining the meaning of 'Mineral Resource' | Throw light on its Classification and Importance.

Ques.- What is mineral resource? How many types of minerals are there? Mention the importance of minerals
Or, - Explaining the meaning of 'Mineral Resource', Throw light on its Classification and Importance.

Answer - 

Minerals are chemical compounds, Which are stored in rocks. By separating them from rocks, durable and useful materials are prepared. The things which are excavated from the earth's surface or from its womb are called minerals. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance which has its own physical characteristics and whose texture is obtained by chemical properties. The special places from which minerals are extracted are called mines. Mineral substances, in which raw metals are found, are called Ores.

Classification(Types) of Minerals - Minerals are classified on the basis of utility. Generally there are two major classes of minerals -

Metallic Minerals and

Non - Metallic Minerals

1. Metallic minerals - Metallic minerals are those minerals, which are first refined after being extracted from the mines. Refinement brings luster to the metallic mineral. Gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead and iron are minerals of this category.

2. Non-Metallic minerals - Non-metallic minerals are those minerals, which are not possible to refinish. They can be converted into various shapes by simply scraping or cutting. Examples of such minerals are coal, lime, stone, sulphur, gypsum, salt, mineral oil, etc.

On the basis of Use, Minerals are divided into the following Categories:

        Minerals, fuels, metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals, minerals used in food industries, construction-useful (building) minerals, anti-corrosion minerals, precious or cosmetic minerals. A description with details of these minerals is being presented.

(i) Minerals used as fuel - There are some mineral substances from which different types of energy are produced. Such minerals are called 'fuel minerals', such as coal, mineral or fossil oil and natural gas.

(ii) Metallic Minerals - Minerals whose sophistication is possible, due to the sophistication which shine and which are often obtained from different types of ores, they are called metallic minerals, such as - iron, tungsten, Manganese, copper, gold etc.

(iii) Non-metallic minerals - Refining of minerals of this category is not possible. These are extracted from mines by scraping or cutting, such as coal, lime, mica, sulfur, graphite, marble, etc.

(iv) Minerals used in food industries, such as apatite, phosphorite, feldspar.

(v) Minerals for construction - There are some minerals which are used in the construction of buildings, such as limestone, marble, granite, asbestos etc.

(vi) Insulating Minerals – There are some mineral substances which are resistant to electric current or heat-flow etc. Therefore, they are used as insulation, such as asbestos, gypsum, mica, etc. They are used in the manufacture of electrical equipment etc. remove which

(vii) Precious or Cosmetic Minerals - Some such minerals discovered by man from the earth's womb are not in his use, but they have been used since ancient times as a cosmetic symbol and as a sign of wealth and luxury, like daily prestige, , have been used in social work like diamond, gold, silver etc. Gold and silver coins (coins) were in circulation till one and a half century ago. Even today gold is recognized internationally in banks as a guarantee of money.

(viii) Radioactive substances- Uranium, Thorium, Borium etc. Some such minerals have been obtained from the mines which are having radioactive properties. Today they are widely used for cheap production of munitions and energy.

Importance of Minerals

 Certain minerals are absolutely essential for the formation and functioning of the human body. These minerals are naturally present in a certain amount in the body of every living being, plant and animal for their maintenance and functioning. Due to the deficiency of these minerals, the body becomes disordered and diseased, which man makes up for in the form of medicine.

 But in the modern era, humans have started using different types of minerals in different ways for the development of industries. Today's civilization rests on the exploitation and use of minerals. Minerals decide the criteria of happiness and prosperity of a nation or country. The countries which have abundance of minerals, their vast reserves are found and the more efficient the country is in their use, the more civilized, advanced, prosperous and powerful that country is considered. United States of America, Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium and Japan are the only countries whose progress has been highest in comparison to other nations. Today's civilization is largely dependent on minerals. How important the role played by minerals in the development of human civilization can be estimated on the basis of naming of civilizations after various minerals, such as Stone Age, Iron Age, Bronze Age and Golden Age etc.

At present, the development of agriculture, industry, transport and conveyance etc. is all dependent on mineral wealth. The development of the world's warmest desert (especially the Kalahari) and cold desert (especially Alaska), etc., has been possible only due to the discovery of minerals in these areas.