Minerals are infrastructure of economy and industry in

the community.  Man, in terms of his needs and

knowledge has used minerals since commencement of

creation and throughout history.  At present, human

being also uses and exploits all types of minerals in

different states and various methods.  On the other

hand, minerals are the base and fundamental of human

being civilization.

Effective factors on economic threshold level ofminerals

The most significant factor on economic threshold of

minerals is their value, which is in relation to

supply and demand and also political issues.  Minerals

production rate has been significantly increased

within the last decades.  The factors of this

increment are; development on exploration due to

determination of environment origin and different

reserve formation.  For instance, plate tectonics

theory has had a considerable role in discovery of

porphyry copper reserve.  New geophysical and

geochemical methods assist significantly on discovery

of new reserves, particularly those located deep in

the ground.  New exploitation instruments will

increase daily rate of production and help to exploit

reserves located deep in the ground.

Improvement in condensation and treatment industry

facilitates of exploitation in remote reserves.

Simultaneous to increment of minerals production rate,

consumption rate also increases.  The most important

factors for increment of consumption rate are;

population increase and new industries development,etc.

In addition to supply and demand, prices of some

minerals depend on political issues.  For instance,

80% of gold price depends on political matters and 20%

on the subject of supply and demand.

Carat reserve is one of the most important factors for

economic value of a mine.  In comparison to massif and

porphyry reserves, vein-form ones have higher carats.

Exploration costs for vein reserves is more than

porphyry and massive.  For instance, porphyry copper

reserves holding a carat of 1 to 75% and vein-form

copper reserves bearing a carat of more than 5.1% have

economic value.  Although both carat and reserve

amount are important but the second one is more

significant.  Vein-form gold reserves bearing a carat

of 10gr/ton, and disseminated gold reserves of vast

dimensions.  In this case, a carat of 2gr/ton has

economic value.  Exploitable carat of mineral reserves

decreases as time goes by, and significant factors for

this decrement are; price increase, improvement of

exploitation industry plus condensation and treatment

processes.

9.1 Technology

The application of new machines in exploration,

exploitation, condensation and treatment processes

reduced exploitation costs.  Former unexploitable

reserves are now exploitable.  Industrial countries

are now more developed than the third world countries

through employment of new technology and efficient

personnel.

Condensation and treatment

Each mineral comprises two parts; 1.Ore and 2.Gangue. 

Separation of these two parts is compulsory, which are

called mineral processing.  Factors, such as shape,

size, relationship between ore and gangue plus their

types have significant role in condensation and

treatment processes.  When size of a mineral is

smaller than a particular threshold, mineral will be

condensable.  Ores can be free or in interlocking form

with other minerals.  In accordance with situation,

condensation costs is different that must be studied

and verified.

Reserve shape                                                                       

Reserve shape is a straightforward function with

exploration method.  Vein-form and porphyry reserves

are explored via underground and open pit methods,

respectively.  Porphyry reserves are located close to

the surface.  Tectonic phenomena, such as faults and

fractures produce changes along with veins.  These

changes increase carat and amount of reserve, but this

irregularity will increase exploration costs. 

Therefore, carat, reserve amount and being exploitable

will not indicate that exploitation of this reserve is

economic.  

Reserve depth                                                                     

A lot of reserves are available with relatively high

carat, but they are located in deep regions, and they

do not have suitable shape.  They are not valuable for

exploitation.  Reserve depth has a direct relationship

with exploration costs.

Specialists and personnel costs

Availability of specialists has a direct relationship

with production rate and price of mineral.  The salary

of mine engineers, technicians and miners in the third

world is less than industrial countries, which

decreases mineral price.

Transportation                                                                  

Mines are usually out of urban areas or industrial

centers.  These minerals must be exploited, condensed

and treated in the same region.  Then, they will be

presented to the market.  The distance between

refinery and sale market has a direct relationship

with mineral price.  Whenever, mineral region has a

long distance from main road, a new road must be built

from the mineral region and the main road.  This

construction activity costs a lot.  Meanwhile, the

distance between refinery and market has a direct

effect on transportation price and economic value of

minerals.  

Climate                                                                               

Climate has a considerable impact on the following

issues;

-Exploitation period within a year.

-Daily production rate.

-Condensation and treatment efficiency.

Decrement of annual production rate due to rain, snow

and sandy storms will increase costs and in particular

cases are not economic.  

Government policies                                                      

Certain minerals due to lack of profitability are

produced inside Iran.  It is because of their

strategic importance and consideration to economic and

industrial independence.  In this case, Iran will

achieve independence in some minerals’ production,

like steel and uranium, etc.

Minerals and ore deposits classification

Minerals are consumed in different states that the

most important of them are as follows;                   

A) Elements

B) Minerals

C) Crystals

D) Rocks

A) Elements: Minerals are mostly exploited because of

their special accessory elements.  These materials are

the bases of industries.  Significant elements are as

follows;

1.Metallic elements: Mn, Fe, Ti, Cr,…

2.Light elements: Mg, Be, Li, Al,…

3.Fundamental elements: Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sb

4.Low-amount elements: W, Mo, Sn, Co, Mg, Bi, Zr, Cs.

5.Valuable elements: Ag, Pt, Ds, Ir, Au.

6.Radioactive elements: U, Ra, Th.

7.Trace elements: Ce, Pr, Nd, Sn, Eu, Gd, La, …

B.Minerals                                                                       

Some minerals because of their special physicochemical

properties can be used in different industries.

1.Late-meltings: graphite, chromite, magnesite,

bauxite,…

2.Thermal-insulators: Asbestos, vermiculite.

3.Co-meltings: flourite, albite, borax, Sodium

carbonate.

4.Chemical fertilizers: apatite, nitrates, Potassium

and sodium salts, glauconite.

5.Fillers: kaolin, talc, micas, feldspars.

6.Ceramics: kaolin, clay minerals, sodium-bearing

feldspars.

7.Treatment: Color-absorbing and abosrbing materials:

montmorillonite, zeolite, kaolin.

8.Chemical applications: salts, sulfur, pyrite,

arsenopyrite, orpiment.

9.Colorful materials: goethite, limonite, hematite,

magnetite, granite.

10.Valuable minerals: turquoise, agate, jadeite, opal.

C) Crystals                                  

Certain minerals have economic value when they produce

big crystals.                                

1.Sub-polish: diamond, corundum, topaz, garnet,

quartz, feldspar.                         

2.Dielectric properties: muscovite, flogopite.

3.Pisocrystals: quartz, tourmaline, zincite,

tellurite.                                     

4.Lens and optical pieces making: transparent

fluorite, transparent quartz, transparent calcite,

transparent gypsum.                

5.Decorative and valuable crystals: diamond, emerald,

spinel, ruby, topaz.

D) Rocks and soils applications 

1. Cement: lime, marl, bauxite, gypsum.

2. Thermal and sonic insulators: pumice, perlite,

shale, slate.

3. Ceramics: pegmatite, nepheline-syenite, granite,

quartzite, clayey soils.

4. Decorative rocks: marbles, granite, diorite,

serpentine.

5. Construction materials: sand and coarse sand,

gypsum, clayey soils.

6. Treatment and color-absorbers: bentonite,

diatomite, perlite.  

7. Late-meltings: bauxite, clayey soil, quartzite,

magnesite, dolomite.

8. Scrubbers: quartzite, granite, sandstone, perdite,

basalt, chert.

9.Co-meltings; limestone, dolomite.

10. Chemical fertilizers: phosphorite, gypsum,

sandstone, glauconite.

11. Fillers: Limestone, pumice, perlite, gypsum,

bentonite, diatomite, nepheline-syenite, slate.