ABSTRACT
Ores in the earth’s crust have been formed by several processes. These ore-forming processes have been classified from time to time by several workers. According to the manner of formation, ore deposits are divided into three great types: igneous; sedimentary; and metamorphic. The identification of minerals by their physical properties is termed as Megascopic Identification. Minerals are also identified by their optical properties under a microscope. Minerals are analyzed by conventional chemical analysis. Two types of chemical analysis are: qualitative Analysis and quantitative Analysis. The combined information on mineral identities, mineral compositions and mineral proportions, will establish how the various chemical elements are partitioned among the various minerals. This information can then be used to estimate both the quantities and the qualities of the various products that may be obtained from an ore.
