Minerals can be found throughout the world in the earth's crust but usually in such small amounts that they not worth extracting. Only with the help of certain geological processes are minerals concentrated into economically viable deposits. Mineral deposits can only be extracted where they are found.
Mineral deposits come in many shapes and sizes depending on where and how the mineral was concentrated. Minerals are concentrated by igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic processes:

The different ways to concentrate minerals can often work together. For example, oil and gas are made by a combination of sedimentary processes which trap and bury plant and animal remains, and then metamorphic processes which heat and change the remains into deposits of oil and gas.
Mineral exploration is undertaken in order to find mineral deposits that are suitable for commercial exploitation. A variety of methods may be used, including remote sensing (aerial photography and satellite images), geochemical surveys (looking for chemicals in soil and water which indicate certain minerals are present).
Once a mineral deposit has been found it has to be extracted from the ground to access the valuable minerals it contains. This can be done by opencast quarrying or underground mining. Certain minerals can also be extracted by pumping. This is the case with some salt extraction, where the salt is dissolved in water and pumped from underground, and almost all oil and gas.
After minerals have been extracted from the ground they are converted to a form that is useful to us. This usually involves removing any unwanted impurities and further processing to increase the concentration of the economic mineral. Metallic minerals may be smelted or refined to produce metal close to the mine, or the concentrate may be transported to another site for further processing. Oil and gas are also further refined before use. Finally, the mineral is transported to the consumer by rail, road, sea and pipelines.
The way minerals are transported depends on their value and bulk. It is not economic to transport heavy low-cost minerals like aggregates over long distances, whereas expensive minerals, like metals or oil, can be transported internationally.

The Formation of Minerals

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic substances that are formed through geological processes over millions of years. They are found in varied forms in nature, ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest talc. The formation of minerals involves several factors, including temperature, pressure, and the presence of certain elements or compounds.

Diverse Geological Processes

1. Crystallization from Magma
- One of the most common ways minerals form is through the cooling and solidification of molten rock called magma. As magma cools, atoms and ions arrange themselves into crystal structures, forming minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica.

2. Precipitation from Solution
- Minerals can also form when solutions containing dissolved minerals become supersaturated, causing the minerals to precipitate out. This process often occurs in bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans. Examples include halite (salt) and gypsum.

3. Metamorphism
- Metamorphism is the process by which existing minerals undergo changes in response to high temperatures and pressures. This can occur deep within the Earth's crust or during tectonic plate collisions. For example, limestone can be transformed into marble through metamorphism.

4. Hydrothermal Activity
- Hydrothermal activity involves the circulation of hot fluids through cracks and fissures in the Earth's crust. These fluids can deposit minerals in the surrounding rocks, creating mineral veins. Valuable ores such as gold, silver, and copper often form through hydrothermal processes.

5. Weathering and Erosion
- Weathering and erosion break down rocks and minerals on the Earth's surface. As a result, new minerals can form from the breakdown products. For instance, clay minerals are formed from the weathering of feldspar.

Minerals and their Properties

The wide range of physical and chemical properties exhibited by minerals is a result of their varying composition and crystal structures. Here are a few examples:

1. Hardness
- Minerals like diamond, which is composed of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice, are extremely hard. On the other hand, talc, composed of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen, is very soft.

2. Color and Streak
- Minerals can exhibit a variety of colors due to the presence of certain elements or impurities. The streak of a mineral, which is the color left behind when it is scratched on a porcelain plate, may be different from its external color.

3. Cleavage and Fracture
- Cleavage refers to the tendency of minerals to break along specific planes, producing flat, smooth surfaces. Fracture, on the other hand, occurs when minerals break irregularly, without specific planes of weakness.

4. Luster
- The luster of a mineral describes its appearance in reflected light. Minerals can have metallic luster, like gold or silver, or non-metallic luster, such as the glassy luster of quartz.

Conclusion

The wide range of minerals found in nature is a testament to the Earth's diverse geological processes. From the formation of crystals in magma to the deposition of minerals by hydrothermal fluids, each process contributes to the creation of unique mineral specimens. Understanding the formation and properties