Advanced Microscopic Studies Of Ore Minerals

Introduction to Ore Microscopy is a brief introduction to the science of Ore Minerals. It is designed to help undergraduate and postgraduate students of Geology and Earth Science for their practical course. The book gives a comprehensive, handy and scientific description of ores which form a part of Ore Geology and Economic Geology. Illustrated with a wealth of full-colour and black-and-white polished section photographs, the book explains how to observe ores under the microscope in the reflected light. Besides dealing with the texture, structures, and paragenesis of ore minerals, it also deals with the methodology to study physical and optical characters of important ore minerals, such as Sulphides, Arsenides, Antimonides, Molybdenites, Tungstate, and Oxides ores. A brief description mineral paragenesis, paragenetic diagrams, and some important ore-deposits of India and other parts of the world are also given. The book will also prove to be useful for those working in the mineral industry.

Provides an up-to-date introduction to the subject of ore microscopy, emphasizing the basic skills required for the study of opaque minerals in polished sections. Describes the modern ore microscope, the preparation of polished and polished-thin sections of opaque minerals and ores, and the identification of these minerals using both qualitative techniques and the quantitative methods of reflectance and microhardness measurement. Later sections discuss the interpretation of textural intergrowths of ore minerals and the determination of their paragenesis, along with the examination of coexisting minerals for determining their physio-chemical conditions of formation. Appendices contain the data necessary to identify approximately 100 of the more common ore minerals and those frequently encountered by the professional scientist.

Covers basic techniques of sample preparation and examination, qualitative properties used for mineral identification and textures. Provides numerous examples of the major mineral associations. This text is updated to reflect new technical and theoretical developments and new data on the most important ore types. Tables of data for identification of the most common ore minerals are provided in the appendices.

Invaluable reference for geologists, mineralogists lists and describes about 500 ore minerals according to criteria of "hardness" and "reflectance." Indispensable identification aid. Bibliography.

This book offers a guide to the microscopic study of metallic ores with reflected light. It combines a rigorous approach with an attractive and easy-to-follow format, using high-quality calibrated photomicrographs to illustrate the use of color for ore identification. The ore identification methodology is updated with systematic color analysis and the application of new multispectral reflectance datasets, which offer an efficient tool for automated ore characterization. In addition, the first volume of this two-part work discusses the essential gangue minerals. Readers will gain familiarity with the method as they follow its application to over 200 selected minerals, comprising the most important ore (≈150) and gangue (≈50) minerals, which are described in the text. Each entry includes an explanatory text with corresponding color photomicrographs for each of the most common microscope settings, preceded by a table summarizing the ore’s main properties, and followed by spectral information in the visible and near-infrared ranges (specular reflectance values from 370 to 1000 nm). Some uncommon, strategic ores, e.g. columbotantalite (“coltan”) and monazite, receive particular attention or are described for the first time with reflected light. Lastly, the book presents a learning strategy for beginners and students. The approach is essentially practical, focusing on the development of observation skills, including self-checking through proposed practical tasks. In addition, the traditional use of determinative tables is critically reviewed and updated. This book is part of a two-volume work. The second volume focuses on intergrowths/textural analysis and interpretation, as well as computer-vision-based automation and applications to ore processing/geometallurgy. The intended audience includes professionals and engineers dealing with mineral resources, as well as postgraduate students. The book also provides lifelong learning support for freelancers and a valuable reference resource for practical university teaching.