Ore
Topic: Mineral Resources of India: Distribution and Conservation · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 5 "Minerals and Energy Resources"
Meaning
An ore is a mineral mixed with other elements, in a concentration high enough to make mining pay. A mineral becomes an ore only when it can be extracted at a profit. The way the ore formed decides how easy and how costly it is to mine. A deposit becomes a working mine only when its grade, ease of extraction and nearness to market make it profitable.
Example
Bauxite from Panchpatmali in Koraput, Odisha, is an ore. NALCO refines it into alumina at Damanjodi and then smelts it into aluminium at Angul.
Don't confuse with
- Mineral: any natural substance with definite chemical and physical properties. Every ore is a mineral source, but most mineral occurrences are too poor or too costly to be called ore.
Related concepts
- Mineral
- Classification of minerals
- Characteristics of minerals
- Ferrous minerals
- Non-ferrous minerals
- Non-metallic minerals