The branch of science and technology that studies the properties of metals and their production and purification is known as metallurgy.
Naturally occurring solid inorganic substance is known as a mineral.
Naturally occurring solid material from which valuable mineral or metal can be extracted is known as ore.
The following table illustrates the major elements and their ores −
Element | Ores | Chemical Composition |
---|---|---|
Aluminum | Bauxite | Al2O32H2O | Corundum | Al2O3 |
Kryolite | Na3AlF6 | |
Dyspore | Al2O3.H2O | |
Copper | Copper Pyrite | CuFeS2 |
Malachite | 2CuCO3Cu(OH)2 | |
Iron | Hematite | Fe2O3 |
Magnetite | Fe3O4 | |
Siderite | FeCO3 | |
Sodium | Sodium Carbonate | Na2CO3 |
Sodium Chloride | NaCl | |
Sodium Nitrate | NaNO3 | |
Sodium Sulphate | Na2SO4 | |
Potassium | Potassium Chloride | KCl |
Potassium Carbonate | K2CO3 | |
Potassium Nitrate | KNO3 | |
Magnesium | Magnesite | MgCO3 |
Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 | |
Epsom Salt | MgSO4 | |
Calcium | Calcium Carbonate | CaCO3 |
Tin | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
Lead | Galena | PbS |
Cerussite | PbCO3 | |
Anglesite | PbSO4 | |
Silver | Argentite | Ag2S |
Tetrahedrite | Sb4S3 | |
Zinc | Zinc Carbonate (known as calamine) | ZnCO3 |
Zinc Sulphide | ZnS | |
Mercury | Cinnabar | HgS |
Manganese | Pyrolusite | MnO2 |
Phosphorous | Phosphorite | Ca3(PO4)2 |
Fluorapatite | Ca5 (PO4)3F | |
Chlorapatite | 3Ca3(PO4)2.CaCI2 | |
Gold | Calaverite | AuTe2 |
Sylvanite | (Ag,Au)Te2 | |
Nagyágite | (Pb5Au(Te, Sb)4S5-8) | |
Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 | |
Antimony | Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
Stibiconite | (Sb3+ Sb25+ O6(OH)) | |
Cobalt | Cobaltite | CoAsS |
Nickel | Pentlandite | ((Ni, Fe)S) |
Chromium | Chromite | (FeCr2O4) |