¿Qué son los YACIMIENTOS MINERALES? [2019] - Nivel 1. Lección 4.2

Mineral Deposits and Their Economic Viability

Understanding Mineral Deposits

• Mineral deposits are natural concentrations of various minerals that can be exploited for industrial benefits.

• For a deposit to be considered economically viable, it must meet specific criteria: composition, location, shape, size, quality of ore, and reserves.

• Minerals within deposits are categorized into economic interest (ore) and non-economic (gangue). Historically sought in mountainous areas, modern techniques allow for discovery in plains as well.

Classification of Mineral Bodies

• The shapes of mineral bodies vary; they can be classified as:

• Veins: Irregular tabular bodies that are vertical or inclined.

• Mantles: Horizontal bodies.

• Bolsas: Enlargements of veins.

• Disseminated: Ore is spread throughout the rock.

Size and Quality Metrics

• A large deposit exceeds 100 million tons; medium deposits range from 10 to 100 million tons; small ones do not exceed 10 million tons.

• Quality metrics differ by mineral type. Precious metals like gold and silver are expressed in grams per ton, while base metals like lead and copper use weight percentage.

Reserve Calculations