Industrial Minerals

Industrial minerals are geological materials which are mined for their commercial value and are used in their natural state or after beneficiation either as raw materials or as additives in a wide range of applications. Industrial minerals are non-fossil fuel rocks, minerals and sediments that have an industrial use and consist of two broad groups, bulk rocks and ore minerals. Bulk rocks are used as aggregates or for the production of lime, ceramics, cement or as a product used in coal-fired electricity-generating plant for the removal of sulphur. The ore minerals are mineral concentrations found in veins or in uncommon sedimentary rocks. In some cases even organic materials, industrial products or by-products such as cement, slag and silica fume are categorized under industrial minerals, as well as metallic compounds mainly utilized in non-metallic form.

A metal is an element that readily forms ions and has metallic bonds. Some well-known metals are aluminium, copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, titanium, uranium and zinc. They have certain physical properties:  they are shiny,  dense, ductile and malleable,  have high melting points, are hard, and conduct electricity and heat well. In chemistry the term base metal is used informally to refer to a metal that oxidizes or corrodes quite easily. Examples include iron, nickel, lead and zinc. Copper is considered a base metal as it oxidizes easily. In alchemy a base metal was a common and inexpensive metal as opposed to precious metals, mainly gold and silver. In chemistry the term base metal is used informally to refer to a metal that oxidizes or corrodes quite easily. Examples include iron, nickel, lead and zinc. Copper is considered a base metal as it oxidizes easily. In alchemy a base metal was a common and inexpensive metal as opposed to precious metals, mainly gold and silver.