General Awareness · Geography

Minerals and Ores

1,167 Questions

Minerals and ores encompass the extraction, identification, and economic significance of naturally occurring crystalline substances. Topics cover specific ores like cinnabar and bauxite, alongside global mineral resource distribution. Candidates preparing for general awareness and geography sections should review these questions to master regional and global mineral reserves.

Ore identificationMineral extractionGlobal mineral reservesIndustrial minerals

Minerals and Ores Questions

Multiple choice

Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral mainly of

  1. calcium and zinc

  2. copper, zinc and magnesium

  3. calcium and magnesium

  4. lead and iron
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Asbestos minerals are primarily silicates of magnesium (e.g., chrysotile is Mg3Si2O5(OH)4). While magnesium is correct, calcium is not a major component of asbestos - this appears to be an error in the question or answer key. Among the given options, C is the closest to being correct since it includes magnesium, but scientifically, magnesium silicate alone would be more accurate.

Multiple choice

The hardest substance obtained from nature is _______.

  1. Diamond

  2. Copper

  3. Magnesium

  4. Zinc
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Diamond is an allotrope of carbon and is the hardest known natural material on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Its crystal structure provides exceptional durability.

Multiple choice

_______ is known as Flowing Gold.

  1. Petroleum

  2. Lithium

  3. Cinnabar

  4. Mercury
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Petroleum is often called Flowing Gold because of its liquid state and high economic value. It is a vital resource for global industry.

Multiple choice

The ore of mercury is known as _______.

  1. Petroleum

  2. Lithium

  3. Cinnabar

  4. Mercury
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cinnabar is the bright red mineral form of mercury sulfide and is the primary ore from which mercury is extracted.

Multiple choice

The yellow litharge is prepared by _________.

  1. massicoto

  2. red lead

  3. mosaic gold

  4. only 1 and 2

  5. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This option is correct because on heating of lead with galena in air at 3000C, yellow litharge is formed.

Multiple choice

Two geologists, Dr. Sushma and Dr. Mitra, have a difference of opinion over the significance of finding Samsonite ore, dating back to the Pregregory era, embedded in a section of Mount Agnes. Dr. Sushma postulates that the presence of Samsonite must have been a result of tremendous volcanic activity in the region, since Samsonite is not indigenous to Agnes. However, since volcanic eruptions contain several other minerals, these too should have been present in the section, yet none were. As a result of this evidence, Dr. Mitra refuses to accept Dr. Sushma’s conclusion.

Which of the following casts the most doubt on Dr. Sushma’s conclusion?

  1. The Samsonite that came from volcanic eruptions actually came from several different volcanic eruptions.

  2. When glaciers in the area beyond Mount Agnes receded, they dragged with them various mineral ores, including Samsonite, for hundreds of kilometers.

  3. Samsonite ore that can be reliably dated back to an era before the Pregregory has been discovered at Mount Pin, over a thousand miles away from Mount Agnes.

  4. Due to natural erosion of the mountains, the original composition of the mountain cannot accurately be determined.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Dr. Sushma’s point is that the Samsonite could only have come from volcanic activity, which assumes that there is no alternate explanation for its being there. To say it was actually dragged there by glaciers provides an alternate cause, which weakens the argument.

Multiple choice
Two geologists, Dr. Sushma and Dr. Mitra, have a difference of opinion over the significance of finding Samsonite ore, dating back to the Pregregory era, embedded in a section of Mount Agnes. Dr. Sushma postulates that the presence of Samsonite must have been a result of tremendous volcanic activity in the region, since Samsonite is not indigenous to Agnes. However, since volcanic eruptions contain several other minerals, these too should have been present in the section, yet none were. As a result of this evidence, Dr. Mitra refuses to accept Dr. Sushma's conclusion.
The difference of opinion between the two geologists is based on which one of the following?

  1. The comparative importance of different aspects of the information.

  2. The assumption that Pregregory Samsonite is distinguishable from other minerals.

  3. The potential for using the information about the Samsonite to determine the other minerals indigenous to Mount Agnes.

  4. The presumption that the information from one geologic region is sufficient to confirm a conclusion.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The two doctors disagree over whether the presence of the Samsonite ore is more important than the absence of the other minerals that should have also been found.

Multiple choice

Which statement is correct?

  1. All the ores are not minerals

  2. All the minerals are ores

  3. All the ores are minerals

  4. None of these.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition. Ores are specific minerals from which metals can be extracted profitably; therefore, all ores are minerals, but not all minerals are ores.

Multiple choice

Bauxite is ore of metal?

  1. Aluminium

  2. Iron

  3. Mercury

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bauxite is the primary ore of aluminium, consisting mainly of hydrated aluminium oxides.

Multiple choice

Cinnabar is ore of metal?

  1. Aluminium

  2. Iron

  3. Mercury

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cinnabar is a bright red mineral that is the principal ore of mercury (mercury sulfide).

Multiple choice

Pyrolusite is ore of metal?

  1. Manganese

  2. Iron

  3. Zinc

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Pyrolusite is a mineral consisting essentially of manganese dioxide and is the most important ore of manganese.

Multiple choice

Calamine is ore of metal?

  1. Aluminium

  2. Iron

  3. Zinc

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Calamine is a zinc ore, specifically zinc carbonate (ZnCO3).

Multiple choice

Hematite is ore of metal?

  1. Aluminium

  2. Iron

  3. Mercury

  4. None of these.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hematite is a common iron oxide mineral and is the most important ore of iron.