Iron ore is the main raw material for the world metallurgical industry. The economy largely depends on the market for this mineral. different countries, therefore, the development of mines is given increased attention around the world.

Ore: definition and features

Ores are rocks that are used to process and extract the metals they contain. The types of these minerals differ in origin, chemical content, concentration of metals and impurities. The chemical composition of the ore contains various oxides, hydroxides and carbonic salts of iron.

Interesting! Ore has been in demand in the economy since ancient times. Archaeologists managed to find out that the manufacture of the first iron objects dates back to the 2nd century BC. BC. For the first time this material was used by the inhabitants of Mesopotamia.

Iron is a common chemical element in nature. Its content in the earth's crust is about 4.2%. But in its pure form, it is almost never found, most often in the form of compounds - in oxides, iron carbonates, salts, etc. Iron ore is a combination of minerals with a significant amount of iron. IN national economy economically justified is the use of ores containing more than 55% of this element.

What is made from ore

iron ore industry— the metallurgical industry, which specializes in the extraction and processing of iron ore. The main purpose of this material today is the production of iron and steel.

All products made from iron can be divided into groups:

• Pig iron with high carbon concentration (above 2%).
• Cast iron.
• Steel ingots for the manufacture of rolled products, reinforced concrete and steel pipes.
• Ferroalloys for steel smelting.

What is ore for?

The material is used for smelting iron and steel. Today there is practically no industrial sector that does without these materials.

Cast iron It is an alloy of carbon and iron with manganese, sulfur, silicon and phosphorus. Pig iron is produced in blast furnaces, where the ore is separated from iron oxides at high temperatures. Almost 90% of the iron produced is marginal and is used in steel smelting.

Various technologies are used:

• electron-beam smelting to obtain pure high-quality material;
• vacuum processing;
• electro-slag remelting;
• steel refining (removal of harmful impurities).

The difference between steel and cast iron is the minimum concentration of impurities. For purification, oxidative smelting in open-hearth furnaces is used.

The highest quality steel is smelted in electric induction furnaces with extremely high temperature.

Ore differs in the concentration of the element contained in it. It is enriched (with a concentration of 55%) and poor (from 26%). Poor ores should be used in production only after enrichment.

By origin, the following types of ores are distinguished:

• Magmatogenic (endogenous) - formed under the influence of high temperature;
• Surface - the settled remains of the element at the bottom of sea basins;
• Metamorphogenic - obtained under the influence of extremely high pressure.

The main compounds of minerals with iron content:

• Hematite (red iron ore). The most valuable source of iron with an element content of 70% and with a minimum concentration of harmful impurities.
• Magnetite. A chemical element with a metal content of 72% or more is distinguished by high magnetic properties and is mined at magnetic iron ore.
• Siderite (iron carbonate). noted great content waste rock, the iron itself in it is about 45-48%.
• Brown ironstones. A group of aqueous oxides with a low percentage of iron, with impurities of manganese and phosphorus. An element with such properties is distinguished by good reducibility and porous structure.

The type of material depends on its composition and the content of additional impurities. The most common red iron ore with a high percentage of iron can be found in a different state - from very dense to dusty.

Brown ironstones have a loose, slightly porous structure of brown or yellowish color. Such an element often needs to be enriched, while it is easily processed into ore (high-quality cast iron is obtained from it).

Magnetic iron ore is dense and granular in structure and looks like crystals interspersed in the rock. The shade of the ore is a characteristic black-blue.

How ore is mined

Iron ore mining is a complex technical process that involves diving into the earth's interior in order to search for minerals. To date, there are two ways to extract ore: open and closed.

Open (quarry method) is the most common and safest option compared to closed technology. The method is relevant for those cases when working area there are no hard rocks, and there is no nearby settlements or engineering systems.

First, a quarry is dug out up to 350 meters deep, after which iron is collected and removed from the bottom by large machines. After mining, the material is transported by diesel locomotives to steel and iron factories.

Quarries are dug by excavators, but such a process takes a lot of time. As soon as the machine reaches the first layer of the mine, the material is submitted for examination to determine the percentage of iron content and the feasibility further work(if the percentage is above 55%, work in that area continues).

Interesting! Compared to the closed method, mining in quarries costs half as much. This technology does not require the development of mines or the creation of tunnels. At the same time, the efficiency of work in open pits is several times higher, and material losses are five times less.

Closed mining method

Mine (closed) ore mining is used only if it is planned to preserve the integrity of the landscape in the area where ore deposits are being developed. Also, this method is relevant for work in mountainous areas. In this case, a network of tunnels is created underground, which leads to additional costs - the construction of the mine itself and the complex transportation of metal to the surface. The main drawback is the high risk to the lives of workers, the mine can collapse and block access to the surface.

Where is the ore mined

The extraction of iron ore is one of the leading areas of the economic complex of the Russian Federation. But despite this, Russia's share in world ore production is only 5.6%. World reserves are about 160 billion tons. The volume of pure iron reaches 80 billion tons.

countries rich in ores

The distribution of fossils by country is as follows:

• Russia - 18%;
• Brazil - 18%;
• Australia - 13%;
• Ukraine - 11%;
• China - 9%;
• Canada - 8%;
• USA - 7%;
• other countries - 15%.

Significant deposits of iron ore are noted in Sweden (the cities of Falun and Gellivar). In America, a large amount of ore has been discovered in the state of Pennsylvania. In Norway, metal is mined in Persberg and Arendal.

Ores of Russia

The Kursk magnetic anomaly is a large iron ore deposit in the Russian Federation and in the world, in which the volume of crude metal reaches 30,000 million tons.

Interesting! Analysts note that the scale of mining at the KMA mines will continue until 2020, and then there will be a decline.

The mine area of ​​the Kola Peninsula is 115,000 sq. km. Iron, nickel, copper ore, cobalt and apatite.

The Ural Mountains are also among the largest ore deposits in the Russian Federation. The main area of ​​development is Kachkanar. The volume of ore minerals is 7000 million tons.

To a lesser extent, metal is mined in the West Siberian basin, in Khakassia, the Kerch basin, in Zabaikalsk and the Irkutsk region.

A considerable period of my life is connected with the extraction of minerals - I had to work in a gas producing company. But I was at the mine only once, in the city of Zheleznogorsk, not far from Kursk. There they are mining iron ore in a huge quarry. To be honest, the spectacle is very impressive! I recommend everyone to visit this place and see with their own eyes, and at the same time gain additional knowledge.

What are called ore minerals

Ore minerals are one of the types of solid natural minerals that contain metals. They were formed in most cases from magma that rose along the faults in earth's crust and froze. This happened during the movements of tectonic plates, therefore deposits of various ores are often found in mountainous areas.

Ore minerals are considered only those ores that contain an amount of metal sufficient for its profitable extraction and in an accessible form.

Basic metal ores

All ores of metals are divided into several groups: ores of non-ferrous, ferrous, noble and radioactive metals.

Iron ores are considered the main among the ores of ferrous metals. After all, iron is used in many industries.

The minerals that contain the most iron are:

• hematite;
• magnetite;
• chamosite;
• limonite;
• thuringitis;
• siderite.

For the production of ferrous metals, such as cast iron and steel, other metals are also needed, which are also classified as ferrous. These are chromium, manganese and (the rarest of all metals of this group) vanadium. They improve the quality of iron.

The main ores of non-ferrous metals are copper, zinc, tin, nickel, lead, silver ores.

The most common non-ferrous metal on earth is aluminum. Bauxites and nepheline ores are its main source.

Ore pantries of the country

In terms of reserves of metal ores, our country is the first in the world. The main regions where these minerals are concentrated are: the Urals, different regions of Siberia, the Kola Peninsula, Altai region, Caucasus, Krasnoyarsk region.

The Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, where Zheleznogorsk is located, is the largest iron ore basin in Russia.

Minerals are formations of the earth's crust, consisting of minerals, chemical and physical properties which allow them to be used in the production and household sphere. Without the variety of substances that the Earth is rich in, our world would not be so diverse and developed. Technological progress would be unattainable and prohibitively complex. Consider the concept, types of minerals and their characteristics.

Concepts and terms related to the topic

Before analyzing the types of minerals, it is necessary to know the specific definitions related to this topic. So it will be easier and easier to deal with everything. So, minerals are mineral raw materials or formations of the earth's crust, which can be of organic or inorganic origin and used in the production of tangible objects.

A mineral deposit is the accumulation of a certain amount of mineral matter on the surface or in the bowels of the Earth, which are divided into categories depending on the field of application in industry.

An ore is a mineral formation formed in natural conditions and consisting of such components and in such a ratio that its use is possible and appropriate for the industrial and technical sphere.

When did mining start?

It is not known exactly when the first mining took place. According to historians, the ancient Egyptians opened the veil. The expedition was sent to the Sinai Peninsula in 2600 BC. They were supposed to mine mica. However, there was a breakthrough in the knowledge of the ancient inhabitants about raw materials and materials: copper was found. The mining and processing of silver is known from the history of Greece. The Romans learned about metals such as zinc, iron, tin, and lead. Having founded mines from Africa to Britain, the Roman Empire mined them, and then used them to make tools.

In the 18th century, after the industrial revolution, minerals became urgently needed. In this connection, their production developed at a rapid pace. Modern technologies based on the discoveries of that particular period. In the 19th century, the famous “gold rush” took place, during which a huge amount of the precious metal, gold, was mined. In the same places (South Africa), several diamond deposits were discovered.

Characteristics of minerals by physical state

It is known from the lessons of physics that substances are capable of being in one of the four aggregate states: liquid, solid, gaseous and plasma. In ordinary life, everyone can easily observe the first three. Minerals, like any other chemical compounds, can be found on the surface of the Earth or in its depths in one of three states. Thus, the types of minerals are primarily divided into:

• liquid ( mineral water, oil);
• solid (metals, coals, ores);
• gaseous (natural gas, inert gas).

Each of the groups is an important and integral part of industrial life. The diversity of resources allows countries to develop in the technical and economic sphere. The number of mineral deposits is an indicator of the wealth and well-being of the country.

Industrial types, classification of minerals

After the discovery of the first mineral rocks, a person seriously thought about what benefits they could bring to his life. With the birth and development of industry, a classification of mineral deposits was formed based on their use in the technical field. Consider these types of minerals. Table contains full information about their characteristics:

Industrial types of deposits and minerals, their components

Type of mineral deposit	The groups in it	Fossil types
Combustible (fuel)	Solid state	Peat, coal
	Liquid/gaseous state	Gas, oil
metal	Black metals	Manganese, chromium, titanium, iron
	Non-ferrous metals	Lead, copper, cobalt, aluminum, nickel
	noble metals	Platinum, gold, silver
	Rare metals	Tin, tantalum, tungsten, niobium, molybdenum
	radioactive compounds	Thorium, radium, uranium
non-metallic	Mining raw materials	Mica, magnesite, talc, limestone, graphite, clays, sands
	Chemical raw materials	Fluorite, phosphorite, barite, mineral salts
	Construction Materials	Marble, gypsum, gravel and sand, clays, facing stones, cement raw materials
	Semi-precious stones	Precious and ornamental stones

Considered types of minerals together with reserves fresh water are main characteristic riches of the earth or a separate country. This is a typical gradation of mineral resources, with the help of which all natural substances used in the industrial and domestic sphere are grouped depending on physical and chemical properties. Let's take a look at each category separately.

fossil fuels

What type of mineral is oil? What about gas? A mineral is more often represented as a solid metal than an incomprehensible liquid or gas. They are familiar with metal from early childhood, while the understanding of what oil or even household gas is comes a little later. So, to what type, according to the classifications already studied, should oil and gas be attributed? Oil - to the group of liquid substances, gas - to the gaseous. Based on their application, unequivocally, to fuel or, in other words, fuel minerals. After all, oil and gas are used primarily as a source of energy and heat: they run car engines, they heat living quarters, they cook food with their help. The energy itself is released by burning fuel. And if you look even deeper, then this is facilitated by carbon, which is included in all fossil fuels. What type of minerals oil belongs to, figured out.

What other substances are included? These are solid fuel compounds formed in nature: hard and brown coal, peat, anthracite, oil shale. Consider a brief description of them. Types of minerals (combustible):

• Coal was the first fuel used by man. The main source of energy used on a large scale in production, it was thanks to this fossil that the industrial revolution took place. It is formed due to the remains of plants without air access. Depending on the specific gravity of carbon in coal, its varieties are distinguished: anthracites, brown and coal, graphite;
• oil shale was formed at the bottom of the sea about 450 million years ago from the remains of vegetation and animals. Consists of mineral and organic parts. When dry distilled, it forms a resin that is close to oil;
• peat is an accumulation of incompletely decomposed plant remains in wetlands, more than half of its composition is carbon. It is used as fuel, fertilizer, thermal insulation.

Combustible natural substances are the most important types of minerals. Thanks to them, mankind has learned to produce and use energy, and also created many industries. Currently, the need for fossil fuels is very acute for most states. This is a large segment of the world economy, on which the well-being of countries around the world depends.

Metal minerals: types, characteristics

We know the types of minerals: fuel, ore, non-metallic. The first group has been successfully studied. We are moving further - ore, or metal, fossils - for the sake of which industry was born and developed in general. Since ancient times, man has understood that metal gives in Everyday life much more opportunities than its absence. IN modern world it is already impossible to imagine life without any metal. In household appliances and electronics, in homes, in the bathroom, even in a small light bulb - it is everywhere.

How are they mined? Only noble metals, which, due to their chemical properties, do not react with other simple and complex substances, can be found in their pure form. The rest actively interact with each other, turning into ore. The mixture of metals, if necessary, is separated or left unchanged. Alloys formed by nature "take root" due to mixed properties. Iron, for example, can be made harder by adding carbon to the metal to form steel, a strong compound that can withstand heavy loads.

Depending on the individual characteristics, as well as the field of application, ore minerals are divided into groups: ferrous, non-ferrous, noble, rare and radioactive metals.

Black metals

Ferrous metals are iron and its various alloys: steel, cast iron and other ferroalloys. It is used in the production of a wide variety of areas: military, shipbuilding, aircraft building, mechanical engineering.

Many iron products are used in everyday life: kitchen utensils are made of steel, many elements of plumbing are covered with it.

Non-ferrous metals

The group of non-ferrous metals includes a large number of minerals. The name of the group comes from the fact that many metals have a specific color. For example, copper is red, aluminum is silver. The remaining 3 types of minerals (noble, rare, radioactive), in fact, are a subspecies of non-ferrous metals. Many of them are mixed into alloys, because in this form they have better properties.

Non-ferrous metals are classified into:

• heavy - highly toxic with a large atomic weight: lead, tin, copper, zinc;
• light, with low density and weight: magnesium, titanium, aluminum, calcium, lithium, sodium, rubidium, strontium, cesium, beryllium, barium, potassium;
• noble, due to their high resistance, practically do not enter into chemical reactions, beautiful in appearance: platinum, silver, gold, rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, osmium;
• small (rare) - antimony, mercury, cobalt, cadmium, arsenic, bismuth;
• refractory have a high melting point and wear resistance: molybdenum, tantalum, vanadium, tungsten, manganese, chromium, zirconium, niobium;
• rare earth - the group consists of 17 elements: samarium, neodymium, lanthanum, cerium, europium, terbium, gadolinium, dysprosium, erbium, holmium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium, thulium, promethium, terbium;
• scattered are found in nature only in the form of impurities: tellurium, thallium, indium, germanium, rhenium, hafnium, selenium;
• radioactive ones independently emit a stream of radioactive particles: radium, plutonium, uranium, protactinium, californium, fermium, americium and others.

Of particular importance to mankind are aluminum, nickel and copper. Developed countries are striving to increase their production, since the amount of these non-ferrous metals directly affects the technical progress in the aircraft industry, astronautics, atomic and microscopic devices, and electrical engineering.

Non-metallic natural elements

Let's sum up a little. The main categories from the table "Types of minerals" (fuel, ore, non-metallic) have been studied. What elements are classified as non-metallic, i.e., non-metallic? This is a group of hard or soft minerals found in the form of individual minerals or rocks. modern science more than a hundred such chemical compounds are known, which are nothing more than a product of natural processes.

In terms of the scale of their extraction and use, non-metallic minerals are ahead of only fuel types of minerals. The table below contains the main rocks and minerals that make up the non-metallic group of natural resources, and their brief description.

Nonmetallic minerals

Group of non-metallic minerals/rocks	Type of rock/mineral	Characteristic
Mining raw materials	Asbestos	Fireproof rock. Used for the manufacture of fire-resistant materials, roofs, fire-fighting fabrics.
	Limestone	Sedimentary rock, widely used in construction. When it is fired, quicklime is obtained.
	Mica	Rock-forming mineral. By chemical composition subdivided into aluminum, magnesian-ferruginous lithium micas. Used in modern technology.
Chemical raw materials	Potassium salts	Sedimentary rocks containing potassium. It is used as a raw material for the chemical industry and in the manufacture of potash fertilizers.
	Apatite	Minerals containing large amounts of phosphate salts. Used for the manufacture of fertilizers, as well as in the production of ceramics.
	Sulfur	Occurs as native sulfur ore and in compounds. It is used mainly for the production of sulfuric acid, in the vulcanization of rubber.
Construction Materials	Gypsum	sulfate mineral. It is used in various fields of human activity.
	Marble	A rock based on calcite. Used in electrical engineering, for the manufacture of plaster and mosaics, monuments.
Semi-precious stones	Precious	Possess beautiful pattern or color, shine, easy to polish and cut. Used for making jewelry and other decor.
	Semi-precious
	ornamental

Non-metallic types of minerals are very important for various industries, construction, and are also necessary in everyday life.

Classification of resources by exhaustibility

In addition to the gradation of minerals according to their physical condition and characteristics, they consider indicators of their exhaustibility and renewability. The main types of minerals are divided into:

• exhaustible, which certain moment may run out and be unavailable for production;
• inexhaustible - relatively inexhaustible sources natural resources eg solar and wind energy, oceans, seas;
• renewable - fossils that, at a certain level of exhaustibility, can be partially or completely restored, for example, forests, soil, water;
• non-renewable - if the resources have been completely exhausted, it is usually not possible to renew them;
• replaceable - fossils that can be replaced if necessary, for example, fuel species.
• irreplaceable - those without which life would be impossible (air).

Natural resources require careful handling and rational use, since most of them have an exhaustible limit, and if they are renewable, it will not be very soon.

Minerals play an important role in human life. Without them, there would be no technical and scientific discoveries, and no ordinary life in general. The results of their extraction and processing surround us everywhere: buildings, transport, household goods, medicines.

The vast territory of our country is rich in valuable resources, including coal, oil, natural gas, precious stones, and minerals. What minerals are rich central part and other regions where the richest deposits of these riches, what are their reserves and what is Russia's share in the world. Let's answer these questions.

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Fossil types

Minerals are minerals, rocks and combustible raw materials laid down in the depths of the earth's crust and are valuable to humans. The wealth of these resources, among other indicators, determines the position of the country on the world market. It is customary to distinguish types of fossils depending on the purpose of their use. The list of minerals is quite impressive.

combustible

In most cases, they are used as fuel. These include:

Oil is an oily liquid, which is an excellent fuel and raw material for many substances. Oil in Russia is called black gold.

It is used in almost all industries and brings enormous profits. In terms of its reserves, Russia is in 7th place among all countries, however, it has been established that the possibilities of oil production are only half realized.

An important characteristic of oil is its density: the smaller it is, the more the product is valued.

Gas- the most convenient and environmentally friendly fuel, which is extracted from the voids of rocks. Natural gas is formed due to the breakdown of organic compounds in the depths. In terms of deposits of this substance, Russia ranks first in the world.

Coal- is the result of the decomposition of a huge number of plant organisms. It lies in layers, the process of formation of which takes thousands of years. This is the most demanded combustible material, actively used in metallurgy and industry. Only the United States and China are ahead of Russia in coal reserves.

Peat- a combustible substance (contains up to 50% carbohydrate), which is the result of rotting plants, mainly mosses. Places of peat deposits are swamps. The thickness of the peat layer is at least 30 cm. The demand for it is huge, as it burns well and is used to fertilize the soil. There are more than 40 thousand peat deposits, most of them are located in the Asian part of the country.

oil shale, on the contrary, are mined in the west. This is a combination of organic matter and siliceous clay, solid formations of a gray or brown hue. Oil shale deposits are found at the bottom of reservoirs. During the processing of this material, a resin is extracted, which in its properties is similar to oil. Shale is an additional source of heat, but since their reserves exceed the amount of all fossil fuels in the world, it is possible that in the foreseeable future, shale will become the main raw material for fuel.

Ore

Ore is not one specific type of raw material, but a combination of several components with the content of the main substance in such an amount that the extraction and processing of ore is profitable and justified from an economic point of view.

Minerals mined in this way are called ore minerals. Central Russia is rich in these reserves.

metal ores- these minerals of Russia are named so because they contain various metals in their composition. These are deposits of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, tin, tungsten, aluminum.

On the territory of our country, gold is mined (our country is in 4th place together with Canada), silver (first place in terms of reserves on the planet), and polymetals.

Iron ore- This is a mineral formation that has a large amount of iron in its composition. This fossil is the main raw material for the manufacture of cast iron.

Gold- fusible, soft, very dense, but plastic in its properties a precious metal. Jewelers allocate yellow, white, red gold (the color depends on the added metals; additives give gold products greater strength). Gold is also used in manufacturing, medicine, and cosmetology.

Silver- white metal, soft, ductile, conducts electricity well. Silver is used for the manufacture of jewelry, dishes, cutlery, as well as electrical engineering.

Non-metallic ores (as the name implies, not containing metals): titanium, uranium, manganese, mercury and others.

uranium ore- a mineral with a high concentration of uranium. This is a radioactive element used in nuclear fuel, geology, machine and aircraft building. In addition, this substance generates heat many times more powerful than oil or gas. Uranium is a very common element in nature.

manganese ore, the main component of which is manganese, is used very widely in metallurgy, ceramics, and medicine.

Nonmetallic

Precious and ornamental stones are rocks of organic and inorganic origin, used in jewelry, industry, and often in medicine. The main wealth is diamonds, the first of which was found at the end of the 19th century. Also mined:

• topaz,
• emeralds,
• sapphires,
• rubies,
• rhinestone,
• cornelian,
• amethysts,
• malachite,
• amber.

Diamond- This is a mineral that is the hardest in the world, but at the same time very fragile. Diamonds are widely used in jewelry art, and due to its strength also in the nuclear industry, optics, microelectronics, for the manufacture of sharp cutting and grinding objects.

Rhinestone- a transparent mineral used in the manufacture of jewelry and some interior details, as well as in radio engineering.

Other minerals include amber, topaz, malachite, ruby, and so on.

Note! What mineral is called a fertility stone. These are minerals from which mineral fertilizers are produced: phosphorite, potassium salts, apatite

Construction rocks: different kinds sand, gravel, granite, basalt, volcanic tuffs. The bowels of the earth also store graphite, asbestos, mica of various types, graphite, talc, kaolin. Widely used in construction.

Place of Birth

Mineral deposits in our country are distributed throughout the territory. are located in the southern, eastern and northeastern parts, as well as on. Valuable breeds are mined in these areas. In the central and European parts of Russia, which are more flat, rich deposits of ore have been discovered.

Detailed mineral map in Russia looks like this:

1. Combustible minerals are concentrated in the northwestern part of Siberia and the Volga delta, that is, in the European part of Russia, and the largest deposits are Sakhalin and the Yamalo-Nenets district.
2. Gold is mined in five large deposits, 200 primary and 114 complex. The regions richest in gold are Magadan, Yakutia, and Sakha.
3. Silver is mined in the Urals and Eastern Siberia. Almost 98% of the deposits are located in the region of the Okhotsk-Chukotka and East Alin volcanic belts.
4. Most of the numerous sources of peat are located in the Urals and Siberia, in marshy places. The Vasyuganskoye field, which is located in Western Siberia, is considered the largest.
5. Coal is mined almost throughout the country, but the main wealth is concentrated in the east (more than 60% of the total).
6. Deposits of gypsum, sand, limestone rocks are located in the area. Potassium salts are mined in Perm region, rock salt - in Eastern and Western Siberia.
7. The location of building raw materials is recorded in the Urals, the Sayans, Transbaikalia, the Irkutsk region, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and Siberia.
8. Aluminum ores in in large numbers can be found in the northern Urals and the Komi Republic.

Expert forecast

Information on the share of minerals in Russia among world reserves varies somewhat, but on average it is very significant indicators. Thus, in Russia there is about 12% of the total oil reserves, 32% - natural gas, 30% - coal, 25% - iron.

Note! The problem is that, according to experts, the main part of Russian deposits is not of high quality compared to world ones (in terms of the ratio of useful components, they are less valuable than samples from other countries of the world, but their extraction is much more difficult due to natural and geographical conditions).

To improve the situation, a strategy has been developed up to 2020, the result of which should be a more rational and expedient use of raw materials.

The situation is aggravated by the reduction of replenishable mineral reserves in Russia. In this regard, many oil companies lose profitability.

Coal mining is carried out at a low rate and does not provide industrial sectors with a sufficient amount of raw materials. Many enterprises for the extraction of iron ore are provided with reserves for no more than 2 decades. Working with other metal ores is also very difficult and continues to deteriorate.

The main types of minerals in Russia

Minerals of Russia - ores, diamonds, oil

Conclusion

Now, despite the colossal reserves of minerals throughout the vast territory, our country lags far behind most countries in the world in terms of their development and use. The improvement of the country's economy and development prospects largely depend on the solution of this problem.

Remember which minerals are ore What is the origin of ore minerals?

DISTRIBUTION OF ORE RESOURCES. Minerals and rocks containing various metals lie in the bowels of Ukraine - from aluminum and iron, which are the most common in the earth's crust, to rare elements that occur only occasionally or are scattered in small quantities as impurities with other minerals. Reserves of some ores have no industrial value. And in terms of reserves of iron, manganese, titanium and uranium ores, Ukraine ranks first among European countries. These ores are mined in large volumes. Our state provides for its own needs and sells ore mineral resources to other countries. Ukraine also has significant reserves of mercury ores (2nd place in Europe).

Most ore deposits are associated with the rocks of the Ukrainian shield, as well as the ancient (Donetsk) and young (Carpathian) folded regions (Fig. 77

ORES OF FERROUS METALS. Ukraine is a unique country in the world in terms of reserves and deposits of iron and manganese ores, from which ferrous metals (cast iron, steel) are smelted. The largest deposits of these minerals are located nearby - within the Dnepropetrovsk and neighboring regions.

The total reserves of iron ore amount to more than 27 billion tons. The Krivoy Rog iron ore basin (Krivbass) is the main mining region in Ukraine and one of the largest in the world (Fig. 76). It includes a number of deposits stretching over 100 km across the Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd and Nikolaev regions. The industrial development of the basin began in the 19th century. Highest value for the economy they have rich (with an iron content of more than 46%) and high-quality ores - red iron ore (hematites), which contain almost no harmful impurities.

They are mined by mining. Poor ores (ferruginous quartzites), in which the iron content is less (from 20%), are developed open way(in quarries). Iron ores with a high metal content also occur in the Kremenchug (Poltava region) and Belozersk (Zaporozhye region) iron ore regions. They are mined both by quarry and mine methods. In the future, the Priazovsky iron ore region (Zaporozhye region) may become promising. But in the Kerch iron ore basin (Crimea), ore was no longer mined.

Manganese ores are used as a raw material for the production of high-quality steel grades. Their reserves in Ukraine amount to more than 2.5 billion tons. They are concentrated in

The Dnieper manganese ore basin is one of the largest in the world in terms of reserves and production. From the end of the 19th century Ore mining is carried out by open and mine methods in the western part of the basin - the Nikopol deposit ( Dnipropetrovsk region) (Fig. 78).

At the same time, twice as many ore reserves have been explored in the Velikotokmakskoye deposit (Zaporozhye region).

Ferrous metal ores also include chromite ores, small deposits of which were found in the Bug region (Kirovograd region).

ORES OF NON-FERROUS METALS. Titanium and its alloys are light and resistant metals, and therefore are essential materials in aircraft, rocket and shipbuilding, and the production of chemical reactors. deposits titanium ores concentrated within the Ukrainian shield. The largest explored deposits are Irshanskoe (Zhytomyr region) and Samotkanskoe (Dnepropetrovsk region).

From the end of the 19th century in Ukraine, mercury ores were mined in one of the largest in Europe Nikitovsky deposit (Donetsk region), but their development was stopped. In the Po-Bugsky nickel-ore region (Kirovograd region), nickel ores are mined and cobalt ores are explored. In Ukraine, there are many deposits of non-ferrous metal ores, which are not yet developed. Some of them were discovered relatively recently, and the reserves of metals are being specified there, others are well explored and prepared for exploitation. These include deposits of polymetallic, aluminum ores, gold, molybdenum, many rare metals. Among the deposits of polymetallic (lead-zinc) ores, the largest is Beregovskoye (Transcarpathian region). Deposits of aluminum ores have been found in Transcarpathia, in the Dnieper and Azov regions. However, the total reserves of these types of raw materials are insignificant, so they are not mined.

Exploration work carried out in last years, testify that in the bowels of Ukraine

there are industrial reserves of gold, silver, copper, many rare and rare earth metals. Thus, gold was found in the Carpathian and Donetsk regions, on the southern slopes of the Ukrainian Shield. In Transcarpathia, it was mined in the Muzhievsky deposit. Large reserves of native copper have been discovered and are being explored in Volhynia.

URANIUM ORES. A special place among ore minerals is occupied by uranium ores. It is an important fuel and energy resource. Three uranium deposits are being exploited in Ukraine, but much more have been explored. Most of the deposits are in the Kirovograd region, among them Novokonstantinovskoye. It belongs to the world's leading reserves. The total reserves of uranium ores, for which Ukraine is among the top ten countries in the world, make it possible to meet the needs of operating domestic nuclear power plants for 100 years.

REMEMBER

In terms of reserves of iron and manganese ores, Ukraine is one of the leading countries in the world. iron ore mined in the Krivoy Rog basin and the Kremenchug region, manganese ore - in the Dnieper basin.

Of non-ferrous metal ores, Ukraine has significant reserves of titanium and mercury ores, reserves of other ores are limited or have no commercial value.

Ukraine has large reserves of uranium ores, with which it can provide itself in the long term.

QUESTIONS AND TASKS

1. Name the ore minerals, the reserves of which Ukraine occupies a leading position in Europe and the world.

2. What tectonic structures are mainly associated with deposits of ore minerals?

3. Where is iron ore mined in Ukraine? Which ores are considered rich in iron content, and which are poor?

5. What non-ferrous metal ores are mined in Ukraine? Where are their deposits located?

6. Are there any ore minerals in your locality (region)? If so, where are they mined?

7*. Describe the prospects of Ukraine for the extraction of traditional for her ore resources and development of new mineral deposits.

This is textbook material.