Different types of ores

Noble metals like gold and silver are found in a free state in nature but other metals are found in the form of compounds called ores.

Most metals are found in the following types of ores

i.               Oxide ores

ii.            Sulphide ores

iii.         Carbonate ores

iv.          Halildes

i.     Oxide ores: The ores containing metals in the form of oxides are called oxide ores. 

Oxide ores examples

Ore	Chemical formula
Hematite	`Fe_2O_3`
Bauxite	`Al_2O_3. 2H_2O`
Cuprite	`Cu_2O`
Magnetite	`Fe_3O_4`
Cassiterite	`SnO_2`

ii.    Sulphide ores: The ores containing the metals in the form of sulphide are called sulphide ores.

Sulphide   ores examples

 

Ore	Chemical formula
Galena	`PbS`
Pyrite	`FeS_2`
Sphalerite	`(Zn,Fe)S`
Chalcopyrite	`CuFeS_2`
Cinnabar	`HgS`

 

iii.    Carbonate ores; The ores containing metals in the form of carbonates are called carbonate ores.

Carbonate  ores examples

 

Ore	Chemical formula
Calcite	`CaCO_3`
Dolomite	`CaMg(CO_3)_2`
Malachite	`Cu_2CO_3(OH)_2`
Siderite	`FeCO_3`
Rhodochrosite	`MnCO_3`

 

iv.   Halides: The ores containing metals in the form of halides are called halide ores. 

Halide  ores examples

Ore	Chemical formula
Fluorite	`CaF_2`
Halite	`NaCl`
Sylvite	`KCl`
Camallite	`KMgCl_3. 6H_2O`
Fluorapatite	`Ca_5(PO_4)3F`

 

Related Topics 

1. List of Ores