
The branch of science and technology that studies the properties of metals and their production and purification is known as metallurgy.
Naturally occurring solid inorganic substance is known as a mineral.
Naturally occurring solid material from which valuable mineral or metal can be extracted is known as ore.
The following table illustrates the major elements and their ores −
| Element | Ores | Chemical Composition |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Bauxite | Al2O32H2O | Corundum | Al2O3 |
| Kryolite | Na3AlF6 | |
| Dyspore | Al2O3.H2O | |
| Copper | Copper Pyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Malachite | 2CuCO3Cu(OH)2 | |
| Iron | Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Magnetite | Fe3O4 | |
| Siderite | FeCO3 | |
| Sodium | Sodium Carbonate | Na2CO3 |
| Sodium Chloride | NaCl | |
| Sodium Nitrate | NaNO3 | |
| Sodium Sulphate | Na2SO4 | |
| Potassium | Potassium Chloride | KCl |
| Potassium Carbonate | K2CO3 | |
| Potassium Nitrate | KNO3 | |
| Magnesium | Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 | |
| Epsom Salt | MgSO4 | |
| Calcium | Calcium Carbonate | CaCO3 |
| Tin | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| Lead | Galena | PbS |
| Cerussite | PbCO3 | |
| Anglesite | PbSO4 | |
| Silver | Argentite | Ag2S |
| Tetrahedrite | Sb4S3 | |
| Zinc | Zinc Carbonate (known as calamine) | ZnCO3 |
| Zinc Sulphide | ZnS | |
| Mercury | Cinnabar | HgS |
| Manganese | Pyrolusite | MnO2 |
| Phosphorous | Phosphorite | Ca3(PO4)2 |
| Fluorapatite | Ca5 (PO4)3F | |
| Chlorapatite | 3Ca3(PO4)2.CaCI2 | |
| Gold | Calaverite | AuTe2 |
| Sylvanite | (Ag,Au)Te2 | |
| Nagyágite | (Pb5Au(Te, Sb)4S5-8) | |
| Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 | |
| Antimony | Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| Stibiconite | (Sb3+ Sb25+ O6(OH)) | |
| Cobalt | Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| Nickel | Pentlandite | ((Ni, Fe)S) |
| Chromium | Chromite | (FeCr2O4) |