This document discusses mineral deposits and resources. It defines mineral resources as natural concentrations of minerals or rock bodies that may have economic value due to their properties. Mineral deposits form through geological processes that concentrate minerals. They come in various shapes and sizes depending on where and how the mineral was concentrated, such as through igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic processes. The document also provides examples of commonly used minerals like aggregates, aluminum, and antimony as well as their applications.

2. What is a mineral deposit?
 Mineral resources are defined as natural
concentrations of minerals or, bodies of rock
that are, or may become, of potential
economic interest due to their inherent
properties. There frequently is confusion in
the understanding of the terms resources and
reserves, and they are sometimes used
interchangeably. These are classified
according to the degree of geological
assurance and economic feasibility based on
the McKelvey resource classification system
and compiled in the national resource
inventory described in Australia's Identified
Mineral Resources.

3. Where do minerals come from?
 Minerals can be found throughout the world in
the earth's crust but usually in such small
amounts that they not worth extracting. Only
with the help of certain geological processes
are minerals concentrated into economically
viable deposits. Mineral deposits can only be
extracted where they are found.
 Mineral deposits come in many shapes and
sizes depending on where and how the
mineral was concentrated. Minerals are
concentrated by igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic processes.

4. Minerals and Their Uses
Every segment of society uses minerals and mineral
resources everyday. The roads we ride or drive on and the
buildings we live learn and work in all contain minerals.
Below is a selected list of commonly used metallic and
non=metallic minerals, ore minerals, mineral by products,
aggregates, and rock types that are used to make products
we use in our daily life.

5.  Aggregates
Natural aggregates include sand, gravel, and crushed
stone. Aggregates are composed of rock fragments that
may be used in their natural state or after mechanical
processing, such as crushing, washing, or sizing. Recycled
aggregates consist mainly of crushed concrete and
crushed asphalt pavement.
 Aluminum
Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the
Earth's crust. Bauxite ore is the main source of aluminum.
Aluminum is used in automobiles and airplanes (36%),
bottling and canning industries (25%), building and
electrical (14%) and in other applications (25%).
Antimony
Antimony is a silvery-gray, brittle semi-metal. It rarely
occurs in nature as a native element, but is found in a
number of different minerals. Antimony is used principally

6. Types of Mineral Resources
Minerals in general have been categorized into three
classes’ fuel, metallic and non-metallic. Fuel minerals like
coal, oil and natural gas have been given prime
importance as they account for nearly 87% of the value of
mineral production whereas metallic and non-metallic
constitutes 6 to 7%.
(A) Fuel Minerals:
Coal, oil and natural gas are the basic fossil fuel. We
have good reserves for coal but are very poor in more
essential fuel — oils and natural gas.
(1) Coal:
Proven coal reserves of the country as on January 1994
(estimated by GSI) is about 68 billion tonnes. We are
mining about 250 tonnes annually and this rate is expected
to go by 400 – 450 tonnes by 2010 A.D. If we could

7. (2) Crude Oil (Petroleum):
 It is believed that petroleum has been formed over a period
of millions of years, through conversion of remains of micro
organisms living in sea, into hydrocarbon by heat, pressure
and catalytic action. The petroleum on fractional distillation
and further processing provides us numerous products and
by-products.
(3) Natural Gas:
The proven reserve for natural gas on April 1993 works out
to be approx. 700 billion cubic meter (BCM). As regard to
production vis a vis utilization aspect in earlier years, more
than half of gas coming out of the wells remained unutilized.
However, in recent years, we have achieved a utilization rate
of 80 – 90%. Keeping in view the future demands and
proven gas reserves, it is unlikely that our gas reserves
might last for more than 20 years.

8. (B) Metallic and Non-metallic
Minerals:
 (B) Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals:
India is poorly endowed with mineral wealth.
Except for iron ore and bauxite our share of world
reserves of every other mineral is one percent or
less. However, there has been a phenomenal
growth in production since independence. As per
estimates if the present trend of production
continues, we will exhaust our reserves of all the
important minerals and fuels, except coal, iron
ore, limestone and bauxite, in 25 to 30 years.