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An ore deposit is an economically significant accumulation of minerals within a host rock. [9] This is distinct from a mineral resource in that it is a mineral deposit occurring in high enough concentration to be economically viable. [4] An ore deposit is one occurrence of a particular ore type. [10]
Often more waste than ore is mined during the life of a mine, depending on the nature and location of the ore body. Waste removal and placement is a major cost to the mining operator, so a detailed characterization of the waste material forms an essential part of the geological exploration program for a mining operation.
For any particular ore deposit, and at any particular point in time, the concentration of the wanted mineral(s) in the gangue material will determine whether it is commercially viable to mine that deposit. The ease with which the wanted mineral(s) can be separated from gangue minerals also plays an important part.
Depending on the processes used in each instance, it is often referred to as ore dressing or ore milling. Beneficiation is any process that improves (benefits) the economic value of the ore by removing the gangue minerals , which results in a higher grade product ( ore concentrate ) and a waste stream ( tailings ).
Primary ore deposits contain primary ores that may develop a geochemical dispersion halo known as primary dispersion expressions. [6] "These primary expressions are syndepositional in nature, and thus can occur at or close to the time of ore formation". [6] Primary ore expressions may show alteration of the host rocks.
A mineral ore deposit is the volume of rock that can be mined at a profit. [7] Therefore, there are many variants that can define whether a mineral deposit is profitable or not, such as price, tonnage, or location.
The term "polymetallic ore" also includes nodules, principally Manganese nodules, that do not form as terrestrial deposits but as concretions on the ocean floor. [3] [4] Rocks containing polymetallic ores are often altered or formed by hydrothermal processes — chloritization, sericitization and silicification.
Cerussite (also known as lead carbonate or white lead ore) is a mineral consisting of lead carbonate with the chemical formula PbCO 3, and is an important ore of lead. The name is from the Latin cerussa , white lead .