Rocks & Minerals

Gold ore is a concentration of gold in rock, particles or flakes in water. Gold ore is only technically considered to be ore if it is feasible to mine it for extraction of the precious metal content.

Sphalerite's claim to fame is that it is the chief ore of the metal zinc, which is the fourth-most common metal in use. It is a mineral that not only contains zinc sulfide in its crystalline form,...

Hematite is a common mineral that is often used for ornamental purposes since it can be polished to a lustrous sheen. The mineral comes in different textures and colors, from a steely dark gray to...

Silver ore and scrap silver have to go through a refining process in order for the pure silver to be separated from the dross. Cupellation is when it is heated to 1,200 degrees Celsius in a...

Sources of copper ore have varied over the centuries. The mineral chalcopyrite provides about half of the world's copper ore. In general, sulfide minerals provide copper--bornite, covelite and...

Iron ore is one of the most important materials mined from the surface of the Earth. A lack of pure iron ore causes the world's mining operations to create inventive methods of extraction. Iron is...

Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust, making up about 8.3 percent of it by weight. Aluminum bonds easily with oxygen, so it is almost never found naturally in its...

Open pit mining is the process of extracting ore, rocks or any valuable material from the ground by digging. Some people call open pit mines quarries. Most open pits are designed in a step-like...

Gold is a precious metal mined to create practical and ornamental pieces of work. Refined gold ore can be melted, poured and cast into almost any shape to make jewelry. There are numerous...

Silver is a precious metal located throughout the world in geological deposits. Colorado's state nickname is the "Silver State" due to the large deposits of silver ore found there. Many areas...

Gold does not combine with other elements readily and is primarily found in elemental form or alloyed with other metals. It is one of the most valuable metals in the world and is worth mining even...