Ore minerals. Mineral resources and patterns of their distribution

Sedimentary minerals most characteristic of platforms, as there is a platform cover. Mostly these are non-metallic minerals and combustibles, the leading role among which is played by gas, oil, coal, oil shale. They were formed from the remains of plants and animals accumulated in the coastal parts of the shallow seas and in the lacustrine-marsh conditions of the dry land. These plentiful organic remains could accumulate only in sufficiently moist and warm conditions favorable for luxuriant development. In hot dry conditions in shallow seas and coastal lagoons, salts accumulated, which were used as raw materials in.

Mining

There are several ways mining. Firstly, it is an open method in which rocks are mined in quarries. It is economically more profitable, as it contributes to obtaining a cheaper product. However, an abandoned quarry can lead to the formation of a wide network. The mine method of coal mining is expensive, therefore it is more expensive. The cheapest way to extract oil is by flowing, when oil rises through the well under oil gases. The pumping method of extraction is also common. There are also special ways of extracting minerals. They are called geotechnical. With their help, ore is mined from the bowels of the Earth. This is done by pumping hot water, solutions into the formations containing the necessary mineral. Other wells pump out the resulting solution and separate the valuable component.

The need for minerals is constantly growing, the extraction of mineral raw materials is increasing, but minerals are exhaustible Natural resources Therefore, it is necessary to use them more economically and fully.

There are several ways to do this:

• reduction of losses of minerals during their extraction;
• more complete extraction of all useful components from the rock;
• integrated use of minerals;
• search for new, more promising deposits.

Thus, the main direction of the use of minerals in the coming years should not be an increase in the volume of their extraction, but a more rational use.

In modern exploration of minerals, it is necessary to use not only the latest technology and sensitive instruments, but also a scientific forecast for the search for deposits, which helps to purposefully, on a scientific basis, conduct exploration of the subsoil. Thanks to such methods, diamond deposits in Yakutia were first scientifically predicted and then discovered. A scientific forecast is based on knowledge of the connections and conditions for the formation of minerals.

Brief description of the main minerals

The hardest of all minerals. Its composition is pure carbon. Occurs in placers and as inclusions in rocks. Diamonds are colorless, but there are also dyed in different colors. A cut diamond is called a diamond. Its weight is usually measured in carats (1 carat = 0.2 g). The largest diamond was found in the South: it weighed over 3,000 carats. Most diamonds are mined in Africa (98% of the production in the capitalist world). In Russia, large diamond deposits are located in Yakutia. Clear crystals are used to make gemstones. Until 1430, diamonds were considered common gemstones. The trendsetter for them was the Frenchwoman Agnes Sorel. Opaque diamonds, due to their hardness, are used in industry for cutting and engraving, as well as for grinding glass and stone.

Soft malleable metal yellow color, heavy, does not oxidize in air. It occurs naturally in pure form(nuggets). The largest nugget, weighing 69.7 kg, was found in Australia.

Gold is also found in the form of a placer - this is the result of weathering and erosion of the deposit, when grains of gold are released and carried away to form placers. Gold is used in the manufacture of precision instruments and various ornaments. In Russia, gold lies on and in. Abroad - in Canada, South Africa,. Since gold is found in nature in small quantities and its extraction is associated with high costs, it is considered a precious metal.

Platinum(from Spanish plata - silver) - a precious metal from white to gray-steel color. Differs in infusibility, resistance to chemical influences and electrical conductivity. It is mined mainly in placers. It is used for the manufacture of chemical glassware, in electrical engineering, jewelry and dentistry. In Russia, platinum is mined in the Urals and in Eastern Siberia. Abroad - in South Africa.

Gems(gems) - mineral bodies that have the beauty of color, brilliance, hardness, transparency. They are divided into two groups: stones for cutting and ornamental. The first group includes diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, aquamarine. To the second group - malachite, jasper, rock crystal. All gems are usually of igneous origin. However, pearls, amber, coral are minerals of organic origin. Precious stones are used in jewelry and for technical purposes.

tuffs- rocks of various origins. Calcareous tuff is a porous rock formed as a result of precipitation of calcium carbonate from springs. This tuff is used to produce cement and lime. Volcanic tuff - cemented. Tuffs are used as a building material. Has different colors.

micas- rocks that have the ability to split into the thinnest layers with a smooth surface; found as impurities in sedimentary rocks. Various micas are used as a good electrical insulator, for the manufacture of windows in metallurgical furnaces, in the electrical and radio industries. In Russia, micas are mined in Eastern Siberia, c. Industrial development of mica deposits is carried out in Ukraine, in the USA, .

Marble- a crystalline rock formed as a result of limestone metamorphism. He happens various colors. Marble is used as a building material for wall cladding, in architecture and sculpture. In Russia, there are many of its deposits in the Urals and the Caucasus. Abroad, marble quarried in is the most famous.

Asbestos(Greek inextinguishable) - a group of fibrous fireproof rocks that split into soft fibers of a greenish-yellow or almost white color. It lies in the form of veins (vein is a mineral body that fills a crack in earth's crust, usually has a plate-like shape, going vertically to great depths. The length of the veins reaches two or more kilometers), among igneous and sedimentary rocks. It is used for the manufacture of special fabrics (fire insulation), tarpaulins, fire-resistant roofing materials, as well as thermal insulation materials. In Russia, asbestos is mined in the Urals, in, abroad - in other countries.

Asphalt(resin) - a fragile resinous rock of brown or black color, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons. Asphalt melts easily, burns with a smoky flame, is a product of the transformation of certain types of oil, from which some of the substances have evaporated. Asphalt often penetrates sandstones, limestones, marl. It is used as a building material for road surfacing, in the electrical engineering and rubber industry, for the preparation of varnishes and mixtures for waterproofing. The main asphalt deposits in Russia are the Ukhta region, abroad - in, in France,.

Apatity- minerals rich in phosphoric salts, green, gray and other colors; found among various igneous rocks, sometimes forming large accumulations. Apatites are mainly used for the production of phosphate fertilizers, they are also used in the ceramics industry. In Russia, the largest deposits of apatite are located in, on. Abroad they are mined in the Republic of South Africa.

Phosphorites- sedimentary rocks rich in phosphorus compounds, which form grains in the rock or hold together various minerals into a dense rock. Phosphorites are dark grey. They are used, like apatites, to obtain phosphate fertilizers. In Russia, phosphorite deposits are common in Moscow and Kirov regions. Abroad, they are mined in the USA (Peninsula Florida) and.

aluminum ores- minerals and rocks used to produce aluminium. The main aluminum ores are bauxites, nephelines and alunites.

bauxites(the name comes from the Bo area in the south of France) - sedimentary rocks of red or Brown color. 1/3 of their world reserves lie in the north, and the country is one of the leading states in their production. In Russia, bauxites are mined in. The main component of bauxite is aluminum oxide.

Alunites(the name comes from the word alun - alum (fr.) - minerals, which include aluminum, potassium and other inclusions. Alunite ore can be a raw material for obtaining not only aluminum, but also potash fertilizers and sulfuric acid. There are deposits of alunites in the USA , China, Ukraine, and other countries.

Nephelines(the name comes from the Greek "nephele", which means cloud) - minerals of complex composition, gray or green, containing a significant amount of aluminum. They are part of the igneous rocks. In Russia, nephelines are mined in and in Eastern Siberia. The aluminum obtained from these ores is a soft metal, gives strong alloys, is widely used, as well as in the manufacture of household goods.

Iron ores- natural mineral accumulations containing iron. They are diverse in terms of mineralogical composition, the amount of iron in them, and various impurities. Impurities can be valuable ( manganese chromium, cobalt, nickel) and harmful (sulfur, phosphorus, arsenic). The main ones are brown iron ore, red iron ore, magnetic iron ore.

brown iron ore, or limonite, is a mixture of several minerals containing iron with an admixture of clay substances. It has a brown, yellow-brown or black color. It occurs most often in sedimentary rocks. If the ores of brown iron ore - one of the most common iron ores - have an iron content of at least 30%, then they are considered industrial. The main deposits are in Russia (Ural, Lipetsk), in Ukraine (), France (Lorraine), on.

Hematite, or hematite, is a red-brown to black mineral containing up to 65% iron.

It occurs in various rocks in the form of crystals and thin plates. Sometimes it forms clusters in the form of hard or earthy masses of bright red color. The main deposits of red iron ore are in Russia (KMA), Ukraine (Krivoy Rog), USA, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Canada, Sweden.

Magnetic iron ore, or magnetite, is a black mineral containing 50-60% iron. It is high quality iron ore. Composed of iron and oxygen, highly magnetic. It occurs in the form of crystals, inclusions and solid masses. The main deposits are in Russia (Urals, KMA, Siberia), Ukraine (Krivoy Rog), Sweden and the USA.

copper ores- mineral accumulations containing copper in an amount suitable for industrial use. Ores containing copper from 1% and above are usually processed. Most copper ores require beneficiation - the separation of waste rock from a valuable component. About 90% of the world's copper reserves are concentrated in deposits, the ores of which, in addition to copper, include some other metal. Most often it is nickel. Copper is widely used in industry, especially in the electrical industry and in. Copper is used for the production of alloys having wide application both in everyday life and in industry: copper alloy with tin (bronze), copper alloy with nickel (cupronickel), copper alloy with zinc (brass), copper alloy with aluminum (duralumin). In Russia, copper ores occur in the Urals, in Eastern Siberia, on the Kola Peninsula. Rich deposits of ores are available in Kazakhstan - numerous minerals containing tin. Tin ores with a tin content of 1-2% or more are being developed. These ores require enrichment - an increase in the valuable component and the separation of waste rock, therefore, ores with a tin content increased to 55% are used for smelting. Tin does not oxidize, which has led to its widespread use in the canning industry. In Russia, tin ores occur in Eastern Siberia and on, and abroad they are mined in Indonesia, on the peninsula.

Nickel ores- mineral compounds containing nickel. It does not oxidize in air. The addition of nickel to steels greatly increases their elasticity. Pure nickel is used in mechanical engineering. In Russia, it is mined on the Kola Peninsula, in the Urals, in Eastern Siberia; abroad - in Canada, on

The vast territory of our country is rich in valuable resources, including coal, oil, natural gas, precious stones, and minerals. What minerals are rich in the 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

Ruda is not alone certain kind raw materials, but the 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 ductile in its properties 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

Building rocks: various types of sand, gravel, granite, basalt, volcanic tuffs. The bowels of the earth also store graphite, asbestos, mica different 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 can be found in large quantities 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 are about 12% of general stock oil, 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. As a result, many oil companies are losing 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.

Iron ore is a mineral formation natural character, which has in its composition iron compounds accumulated in such a volume that is sufficient for its economically profitable extraction. Of course, iron is present in all rocks. But iron ores are precisely those ferruginous compounds that are so rich in this substance that they allow the industrial extraction of metallic iron.

Types of iron ores and their main characteristics

All iron ores are very different in their mineral composition, the presence of harmful and beneficial impurities. The conditions of their formation and, finally, the content of iron.

The main materials that are classified as ore can be divided into several groups:

• Iron oxides, which include hematite, martite, magnetite.
• Iron hydroxides - hydrogoethite and goethite;
• Silicates - thuringite and chamosite;
• Carbonates - sideroplesite and siderite.

In industrial iron ores iron is contained in various concentrations - from 16 to 72%. Useful impurities contained in iron ores include: Mn, Ni, Co, Mo, etc. There are also harmful impurities, which include: Zn, S, Pb, Cu, etc.

Iron ore deposits and mining technology

By genesis, existing iron ore deposits are divided into:

• Endogenous. They can be igneous, which are inclusions of titanomagnetite ores. There may also be carbonatite inclusions. In addition, there are lenticular, sheet-like skarn-magnetite deposits, volcano-sedimentary sheet deposits, hydrothermal veins, as well as irregularly shaped ore bodies.
• Exogenous. These mainly include brown-iron and siderite sedimentary reservoir deposits, as well as deposits of thuringite, chamosite and hydrogoethite ores.
• Metamorphogenic - these are deposits of ferruginous quartzites.

The maximum volumes of ore mining are provoked by significant reserves and fall on Precambrian ferruginous quartzites. Sedimentary brown iron ores are less common.

When mining, rich and requiring enrichment of ores are distinguished. The iron ore mining industry also carries out its pre-processing: sorting, crushing and the aforementioned enrichment, as well as agglomeration. The ore mining industry is called the iron ore industry and is the raw material base for ferrous metallurgy.

Application industries

Iron ore is the main raw material for iron production. It enters the open-hearth or converter production, as well as for the reduction of iron. From iron, as you know, they produce a wide variety of products, as well as from cast iron. The following industries need these materials:

• Mechanical engineering and metalworking;
• Automotive industry;
• Rocket industry;
• military industry;
• Food and light industry;
• Building sector;
• Extraction of oil and gas and their transportation.

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 faults in the earth's crust and froze. It happened while moving. tectonic plates, so in mountainous areas deposits of various ores are often found.

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.

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. AT chemical composition 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. AT 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. Cast iron is produced in blast furnaces, where high temperatures ore is isolated from iron oxides. 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 at extremely high temperatures.

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). There is a high content of 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 there are no hard rocks, but not near 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 of further work (if the percentage is above 55%, work in this 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 underground is created, which leads to additional costs- the construction of the mine itself and the complex transportation of metal to the surface. The main disadvantage is high risk for the life of workers, the mine may 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 ores, cobalt and apatite are mined here.

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.