burden say where ore is found
Ore is found in specific types of rocks and geological settings where metals have been naturally concentrated enough to be mined profitably.
What ore is
- Ore is a natural rock or sediment that contains enough valuable minerals (often metals) that it can be mined and processed at a profit.
- Originally the word “ore” referred mostly to metallic minerals, but today it can include some nonmetallic materials as well.
Where ore is generally found
- Metallic ores are commonly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, where processes like magma cooling and high-pressure alteration help concentrate metals.
- Many ores also occur in certain sedimentary rocks and soils, where metals have been moved and deposited by water, wind, or chemical reactions.
Common geological settings
- Igneous settings: Cooling magma deep underground or lava at the surface can form ores of copper, tin, diamonds, silver, and mercury.
- Hydrothermal veins: Hot, metal-rich fluids move through cracks in rocks and precipitate ores like gold, silver, and copper in veins.
Other important deposit types
- Placer deposits: Heavy minerals such as gold, tin, and platinum accumulate in river beds, beaches, or other places where flowing water slows down.
- Massive sulfide and sediment-hosted deposits: Large bodies of copper, lead, zinc, and other metals can form on ancient seafloors or within sedimentary basins.
Where in the world ore is found
- Major iron ore reserves occur in countries such as Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia, and Ukraine.
- Large copper ore deposits are found in Chile, Peru, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the United States, which together produce a big share of the world’s copper.