Minerals are defined as the homogeneous substances that occur naturally under varying conditions, in different types of geological environment. It is broadly classified into two categories, i.e. metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals. Metallic Minerals is composed of metals in their original form, whereas no metals are found in non-metallic minerals.
Minerals possess a definite chemical structure, and their identification is based on their physical properties. The place where minerals are found is called an ore. Ores are the concentration of any mineral with other elements, found in a particular area, in the form of rocks. The extraction of minerals can be done by mining, drilling and quarrying.
This article will help you understand the substantial differences between metallic and non-metallic minerals.
Content: Metallic Minerals Vs Non-metallic Minerals
|Basis for Comparison
|Metallic minerals refers to the minerals that comprise of metals in raw form.
|Non-metallic minerals implies the minerals, that do not have minerals in them.
|Igneous and metamorphic rocks
|New product can be obtained from it, on melting.
|No new product is obtained from it, on melting.
|Heat and electricity
|Good conductors of heat and electricity
|Good insulators of heat and electricity
|Malleability and ductility
|These are malleable and ductile.
|These lack in malleability and ductility.
|They have luster
|They do not have luster
Definition of Metallic Minerals
As it is evident from the name itself, metallic minerals are the type of minerals that are composed of metals. These are hard substances, which are the good conductor of heat and electricity. They have their own lustre. Some examples of metallic minerals are Iron, copper, gold, bauxite, manganese, etc.
Hard metallic minerals can be used as gems in jewellery. These are also used in various industries for fulfilling various purposes, such as silicon (obtained from quartz), is highly used in computer industry, aluminium (obtained from bauxite) is used in automobile and bottling industry,
Metallic Minerals can be classified into two categories:
- Ferrous Mineral: The minerals that contain iron content are called ferrous minerals. Three-fourth of the total production of metallic minerals are constituted by ferrous metallic minerals. It includes iron ore, manganese, nickel and chromite.
- Non-ferrous Mineral: Those minerals which comprise of some other metal rather than iron is known as a non-ferrous metallic mineral. They are commonly used in our day to day life. It includes gold, copper, silver, lead, tin, etc.
Definition of Non-metallic Minerals
Non-metallic minerals can be described as the minerals that do not comprise of metals. Some examples of non-metallic minerals are limestone, manganese, mica, gypsum, coal, dolomite, phosphate, salt, granite, etc.
Non-metallic minerals are used in various industries to manufacture different products; mica is used in electrical and electronics industry, limestone is highly used in cement industry. These are also used in the production of fertilizers and manufacturing refractories.
Key Differences Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals
The difference between metallic and non-metallic minerals can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:
- Metallic Minerals can be understood as the minerals in which metals are present in their original form. Conversely, non-metallic minerals, are those minerals which do not have metal content in them.
- Igneous and metamorphic rocks formations contain metallic minerals. On the contrary, non-metallic minerals can be found in sedimentary rocks and young fold mountains.
- On the melting of metallic minerals, a new product is obtained, whereas no new product is obtained from non-metallic minerals when they are melted.
- Metallic minerals are a good at conducting heat and electricity, such as copper. Unlike, non-metallic minerals, which insulates heat and electricity, such as mica.
- Metallic minerals do not break down into pieces when constantly hammered, as well as they have the ability to be drawn into thin wires. As against this, non-metallic minerals, usually break down into pieces, on hammering, and they cannot be drawn into wires or sheets.
- Metallic minerals are lustrous, i.e. they have their own shine, while non-metallic minerals are non-lustrous.
Minerals are the natural resources of the country, which have multiple uses. As the formation and concentration of minerals take hundred centuries, it is a finite and non-renewable source. So, it’s conservation is important, which is possible by way of recycling the metals.