Minerals are the solid substances that are made up of the combination of one or more elements that occur naturally. Minerals are mined for their economic and commercial value and are mainly categorized into metallic and industrial minerals (non-metallic minerals).
Metallic vs Industrial Minerals
The main difference between metallic and industrial minerals is that in metallic minerals metals occur in the raw form which can be further extracted for useful purposes whereas industrial or non-metallic minerals are the substances that lack the presence of metals in them.
Metallic minerals are minerals that contain one or more than one metal. These occur in rare and naturally occurring concentrations as mineral deposits. Industrial minerals are the minerals that do not contain metals are often called non-metallic substances which are used in various industries to produce a variety of products.
Metallic minerals are the good conductor of heat and electricity due to the presence of metals whereas Industrial minerals are the poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Metallic minerals can be further classified into two more categories that are:
- Ferrous minerals- the metallic minerals which contain iron are called ferrous metallic minerals. Ex. Iron ore, manganese, nickel, etc.
- Non-ferrous minerals- the metallic minerals which do not contain iron are called non-ferrous minerals. Ex. aluminum, lead, copper, etc.
Comparison Table Between Metallic and Industrial Minerals (in Tabular Form)
| Parameters of Comparison | Metallic Minerals | Industrial Minerals |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Metallic minerals are the minerals that contain metal which can be further broken down to useful substances. | Industrial minerals are also synonymous with non-metallic minerals because they do not contain metals and are used for industrial purposes. |
| Conductivity | Metallic minerals are good conductors of heat and electricity because of the presence of metals. | These are good insulators (do not conduct) of heat and electricity because they lack metallic qualities. |
| Originated from | These minerals are usually found in igneous and metamorphic rock formations. | They are usually obtained from fold mountains and sedimentary rocks. |
| Malleability and ductility | Metallic minerals have high malleability and ductility due to the presence of metallic properties. | Industrial minerals lack malleability and ductility and they break down easily. |
| Examples | Examples of metallic minerals are iron ore, copper, lead, aluminum, zinc, lead, gold, etc. | Examples of non-metallic minerals are limestone, clay, gravel, silica, sand, diatomite, etc. |
What are Metallic Minerals?
Metallic minerals are the minerals that contain one or more than one kind of metal in the rare and concentrated forms of mineral deposits. These metals are extracted through various chemical processes to obtain the raw form of the metal as a single chemical compound.
They have a hard and shiny surface and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Metallic minerals are malleable and ductile therefore can be molded up into sheets and wires for various purposes.
Metallic minerals can be further classified into ferrous and non- ferrous metallic minerals. Ferrous minerals are those metals that contain iron in them. For example, manganese, and nickel. Non-ferrous minerals are those which do not contain iron in them. For example, gold, platinum
Examples and Application: some of the examples of metallic minerals are silver, gold, aluminum, copper, manganese, zinc, etc.
- The hard and shiny surface of gold, silver, and platinum make them extensively useful for the jewelry industry.
- Copper is a great conductor of heat and electricity and is therefore used in electric appliances.
- Properties such as malleability and ductility are used in making of the aluminum in the sheets which has multiple uses.
What are Industrial Minerals?
Industrial minerals are also precisely referred to as non-metallic minerals which have significant importance in the economic sector. They are usually mined for their economic value but are not fuels and do not contain metal. They are used just based on their physical and chemical qualities.
These minerals are largely used in the natural and the raw forms as additives and are obtained from the deposits of sedimentary rocks and young fold mountains.
Such materials lack metallic characteristics like good electric and thermal conductivity, luster, rigor, and malleability; they are, however, essential for many industries.
Examples and Application: some of the examples of industrial minerals are silica, granite, gypsum, bentonite, talc, limestone, etc.
The non-metallic minerals are best known for the production of cement, ceramic glass, paints, plastics, filtration, detergents, paper, construction, etc.
Main Differences Between Metallic and Industrial Minerals
- Metallic minerals are the chemical compounds that contain one or more than one metal which usually occurs in the raw form whereas industrial minerals (also called non-metallic minerals) do not contain metals.
- Metallic minerals are good conductors of heat and electricity whereas industrial minerals lack these qualities because they do not contain metals.
- Malleability and ductility are important aspects of metallic minerals that are not found in Industrial minerals.
- Igneous and metamorphic rocks are the important sources of metallic minerals whereas industrial minerals are obtained from sedimentary rocks.
- Examples of metallic minerals are copper, gold, aluminum, silver, zinc, etc.
- Examples of Industrial minerals are silica, gypsum, clay, diatomite, granite, etc.
Conclusion
Minerals are the chemical compounds that are formed by the combination of one or more substances. These can be categorized as metallic minerals and industrial/non-metallic minerals. Metallic minerals are those minerals that contain metals in the raw form whereas Industrial minerals are the minerals that do not contain metals.
Metallic minerals are hard, shiny, a good conductor of heat and electricity, malleable and ductile whereas non-metallic minerals lack these properties. Industrial minerals have significant commercial value due to their physical qualities.
Copper, aluminum, zinc, iron are largely used for electrical and mechanical purposes whereas non-metallic minerals such as silica, clay, gypsum, etc are used as additives or catalysts for various purposes such as construction, filtration, paints, ceramics, etc.
References
- https://bib.irb.hr/prikazi-rad?rad=305527
- https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJMME.2014.058921