A Mineral is a naturally occurring chemical compound, usually of crystalline form and abiogenic in origin (not produced by life processes). A mineral has one specific chemical composition, whereas a rock can be an aggregate of different minerals or mineraloids. The study of minerals is called mineralogy. There are over 5,300 known mineral species as of September 2017, over
5,290 of these had been approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA).
Minerals are basic and essential raw materials in our daily lives and are vital for economic, social and technological development. Minerals can be classified both according to physical and chemical properties. The major minerals include talc, iron, copper, aluminum, gypsum, apatite, topaz, quartz, corundum, diamond, calcite, fluorite, silicon, oxygen, magnesium, manganese, and antimony.
Leading Countries of Mineral Production in the World are as listed below:
Name of Mineral |
Largest Producer |
Second Largest Producer |
Coal |
China |
United States |
Natural Gas |
United States |
Russia |
Petroleum |
United States |
Saudi Arabia |
Uranium |
Kazakhstan |
Canada |
Fluorite |
China |
Mexico |
Diamond |
Russia |
Botswana |
Aluminium |
China |
Russia |
Bauxite |
Australia |
China |
Bismuth |
China |
Mexico |
Copper |
Chile |
China |
Gold |
China |
Australia |
Iron ore |
China |
Australia |
Lithium |
Australia |
Chile |
Manganese |
South Africa |
China |
Nickel |
Philippines |
Russia |
Palladium |
Russia |
South Africa |
Platinum |
South Africa |
Russia |
Silver |
Mexico |
China |
Tin |
China |
Indonesia |
Titanium |
Australia |
South Africa |
Zinc |
China |
Australia |