Question

all ores are mineral but all minerals are not ores. JUSTIFY

Answer 1

☆ A “mineral” is a naturally occurring inorganic material with fixed chemical composition & internal crystal structure; but an “ore” is a mineral from which a metal or minerals can be extracted “profitably”.

☆ So the former is a mineralogical term while the latter is a commercial term signifying its economical viability

✮ . For example galena (PbS) is a mineral with fixed composition, crystallizing in cubic system with fixed physical properties, but it will be an “ore” of lead metal ONLY IF lead can profitably be extracted from the host rock, say dolomite.

× Hence all ores are minerals but not all minerals are ore.

☆ A siderite, a carbonate of iron is a mineral in India of no commercial significance but for Sweden where higher iron containing minerals are absent a siderite is an ore!

☆ So add to your query that a mineral may be an ore in one country but not an ore in another country.

✮ Furthermore, with the advancement of technology a mineral can become an ore, as has happened with the sub 50% Fe iron deposits of Rajasthan-the non-ore of pre-1990s are now ore deposits!