Mineral resources of the Altai Territory are very diverse. This is explained by the favorable geographical position. Since ancient times, all kinds of ores, stones, construction and ornamental have been mined here. The region is also rich in deposits of limestone and sand. The mineral medicinal waters flowing in the bowels of the Altai land are also famous. Consider what minerals are mined in the Altai Territory, we will give examples of their use.
Altai Krai: location features
On the border with Kazakhstan in South-Western Siberia is located this unusually beautiful region - Altai. This region has a surprisingly diverse terrain: the world's largest plain is replaced by the Altai Mountains. Because of such relief features, the area is rich in minerals.
After all, most of the Altai Territory is a plain, gradually rising. It is bordered on one side by the Altai Mountains, and on the other by the Salair Ridge. It is easy to confuse it with ordinary hills, but this is not so: the ridge is a low mountain with a length of three hundred kilometers.
The Altai Territory is unique in that many naturalzones: taiga and mountains, forest-steppe and steppe.
As for water resources, there are several large rivers. Moreover, the largest of them, the Ob, occupies 70 percent of the entire territory. The territory is also rich in lakes: there are 11 thousand only of those whose area is more than 1 kilometer.
Methods of mining
Minerals are mined in the Altai Territory (we will present a photo of them in the article) in three main ways.
First, the so-called open. In this case, a quarry with a depth of no more than 500 meters is built directly in the deposit zone and the extracted minerals are loaded onto specialized equipment.
Secondly, mines are being built. This method is good when deposits are deep enough. In this case, first, a so-called mine shaft is dug into the depths of the rock, resembling a giant well, and then the infrastructure is built on.
Another innovative method using a high pressure jet. It is fed into the well, which is made in the fossil rock, crushes it. Next, pieces of rock are lifted up. By the way, this is the most inefficient method, but it is under development.
Iron ore
The most famous minerals of the Altai Territory, of course, are ores. There are 16 largest deposits in total. It should be noted that they are located in the southwestern part, have a very developed infrastructure. According to estimates, there are 70 and 490 tons of polymineral and iron ores in the depths of Altai, respectively.
Iron ore is mined inKulunda steppe.
It is mainly used in ferrous metallurgy. Moreover, three types of it are industrially produced: separated (that is, crumbly), sinter ore (in the form of pieces) and pellets (liquid mass containing iron).
There is such a thing as rich iron ore - this is one in which more than 57% iron content. It is from it that iron is smelted, and then steel. If the iron content in the ore is low, it is enriched by industrial methods. But ore is used and not only for these purposes, it is also included in ocher - a special dye of natural origin.
Copper Ore
The mineral map of the Altai Territory is also rich in copper ores.
Their deposits are located mainly in the west of the Silair Ridge. These ores have been mined here since the 16th century, when in 1719 the discovered deposits began to be developed under the supervision of A. N. Demidov. At the same time, the first factories appeared in these places. However, even 2.5 thousand years ago, ancient people mined copper here.
What is copper ore? This is such a special composition of minerals, in which the content of the copper component makes it possible to process it during the industrial process. This requires a minimum of 0.5% copper concentration in the rock. Most often, this ore is a combination of copper and nickel.
Depending on the enrichment of the ore with copper, there are: chalcocite, bornite and copper pyrites. Ores are listed in descending orderuseful metal content.
Copper is widely used in various fields. For a long time, people have noticed its ability to conduct heat well, resistance to corrosion, as well as excellent electrical conductivity. Another obvious plus is that copper melts at relatively low temperatures. All this made it possible to use this metal in many areas, ranging from the metallurgical industry to domestic needs (for example, copper pipes are highly valued).
Bauxites
Bauxites (aluminum ores) are also widespread. These minerals of the Altai Territory are also mined in the Salair area. Moreover, the extraction process does not cause any particular difficulties, because these ores are very close to the surface.
Only those bauxites with an aluminum content of over 40 percent are used for industrial processing. The smelting of this valuable metal is the main reason for the extraction of bauxite, but they are also used to make paints, and the iron and steel industry uses bauxite to create special liquids, fluxes that remove oxidation on metals.
Sand and limestone
Listing the minerals of the Altai Territory, it is impossible not to mention such rocks as sand and limestone. These reserves in the area are truly inexhaustible.
The territories where the Biya and Katun flow are rich in sand. Silicate bricks are made from this material (if the sand contains quartz). If the rock is completely quartz, then glass.
As for limestone, it is widely used in construction, many sculptors also create their works fromthis breed.
A special viscosifier, quicklime, is also made from this fossil. Limestone is also used in the production of concrete, in road construction.
Stones
Minerals of the Altai Territory are also stones. Moreover, both construction, such as gypsum (Lake Dzhira), and Altai marble. It is obtained in several colors: here you can find many shades from white to golden. The striped jasper mined here is known all over the world. The scale of the granite deposits is also impressive.
This stone is especially valued for its strength, so it is used for the production of cladding, as well as any structures where high strength is needed.
Quartzites from the Altai Territory have also always been in price: they have a special pinkish tint, for which they have earned popularity.
The name of the minerals of the Altai Territory can be listed for a very long time. Of course, the entire periodic table is not represented there, but the deposits are very, very impressive.
