Minerals and Ores

Marmugao port in Goa has historically been the major export point for iron ore from India due to its proximity to rich iron ore mining belts in Karnataka and Goa. The port infrastructure and strategic location made it the primary hub for iron ore exports. Paradip and Visakhapatnam also handle significant mineral exports but Marmugao specialized in iron ore.

Bauxite is the primary ore of aluminium, containing aluminium hydroxides minerals like gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore. Hematite and magnetite are iron ores. Gypsum is a calcium sulfate mineral used in cement and plaster, not aluminium extraction.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been historically called 'mineral cotton' or 'oak cotton' due to its fibrous, cotton-like appearance. It is composed of silicate minerals and was used for insulation and fireproofing.

The percentage of copper in cuprite (Cu₂O) is 88.8%. Hence, cuprite has the maximum purity among all the given minerals.

Sylvine (KCl) and rock salt (NaCl) are the ores of potassium and sodium respectively. Wood metal consists of Bi = 50%, Pb = 25%, Sn = 12.5% & Cd = 12.5% and is used in the making of automatic sprinklers as it melts in hot water (m.p.= 68 ^oC). Duralumin is used in the manufacturing of aeroplane parts and consists of Al = 95.5%, Cu = 4%, Mg = 0.5% and Mn = 0.5%.

Copper ores are - covellite (CuS), chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), bornite (2Cu₂S.CuS.FeS), etc. Anglesite (PbSO₄) is the ore of lead.

Cerussite (PbCO₃) is the carbonate ore of Pb.

Angelesite (PbSO₄) is the oxide ore of lead.

The ores of iron are- Marcasite or iron pyrite (FeS₂): sulphide ore, Haematite (Fe₂O₃): oxide ore, Magnetite (Fe₃O₄): oxide ore, Orpiment (As₂S₃) is the sulphide ore of arsenic.

Iron pyrite (FeS₂) has a yellow metallic appearance and so it is called fool’s gold because it had been mistaken for gold in ancient times.

Wulfenite is a lead molybdate mineral with the formula PbMoO₄. It is most often found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange colour, sometimes brown, although the colour can be highly variable.

Azurite (2CuCO₃.Cu(OH)₂) is commonly known as mountain blue or American stone.

P. Cuprite (Cu₂O) has 88.8% copper while chalcocite (Cu₂S) has 79.8% copper. Q. Chalcopyrite is called blister copper. It has the chemical composition CuFeS₂. Chalcocite (Cu₂S), is an important copper ore. It is also known as redruthite or vitreous copper. R. Goethite is hydroxide ore of iron with the chemical formula of FeO(OH).

Zincite (ZnO) is the oxide ore of zinc.

Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in colour from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The oxide ores of iron are - magnetite (Fe₃O₄), haematite (Fe₂O₃) and limonite (Fe₂O₃.3H₂O). Siderite (FeCO₃) is the carbonate ore of iron.