Question

Define ores.

Hint:

The two most important keywords in the definition of an ore are "mineral" and "profitably" (or "economically"). An ore is a mineral from which a metal can be extracted profitably. This distinction is often tested.

Answer 1

Ores are naturally occurring rocks or minerals from which one or more valuable metals can be extracted economically and conveniently.
The key points in this definition are: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Natural Occurrence: Ores are found in the Earth's crust as minerals.} \\ \bullet & \text{High Concentration: For a mineral to be considered an ore, it must contain a sufficiently high percentage of the desired metal.} \\ \bullet & \text{Economic Viability: The extraction of the metal from the ore must be profitable. If the cost of extraction is higher than the value of the metal obtained, the mineral is not considered an ore.} \\ \end{array}\] In essence, all ores are minerals, but not all minerals are ores.
Examples: Bauxite (\(Al_2O_3 \cdot 2H_2O\)) is the primary ore of aluminum. Hematite (\(Fe_2O_3\)) is an important ore of iron.