“THE ELECTRICAL CLEVAGE OF

MINERAL ORE”
A PHYSICS PROJECT REPORT

SUBMITTED BY

DEEP PRAJAPATI

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

SSCE - 2023-24

IN

CHEMISTRY(043)

AT

J.B. DIAMONDS & KARP IMPEX VIDYA SANKUL

SCHOOL
LASKANA, KAMREJ ROAD, SURAT
  INDEX
SRNO. CONTENT

1. Certificate of Excellence

2. Acknowledgement

3. Introduction

4. Aim

5. Theory

6. Procedure

7. Result

8. Conclusion

9. Precaution

10. Bibliography
 J.B. Diamonds & KARP Impex Vidya Sankul
Opp. Diamond Nagar, B/H Thakor Dwar Farm, Surat - Kamrej Road, Laskana
Phone No: 9228025712, Email id: jbkarpschool.cbse@gmail.com
Web: www.jbkarpschool.ac.in
CBSE-English Medium

This is certify that Mr.\Miss. DEEP PRAJAPATI is a student of J. B.

Diamonds & KARP Impex Vidya Sankul, who has successfully completed
the project work on title “THE ELECTRICAL CLEVAGE OF MINERAL ORE”
in CHEMISTRY (043) assigned to him\her as a part of SSCE curriculum
during the academic year 2022-23.
We found him\her very sincere, hardworking and disciplined girl\boy.
We wish all the success for his\her future endeavors.

…………………………………………… ……………………………………………….
(Signature of the Internal Examiner) (Signature of the External Examiner)

…………………………………
(Signature of Principal)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my chemistry teacher, Mr

Mitesh rawal sir for guiding me throughout this
project work. I should also thank our lab assistant
who helped me to line up the project and helped me
with practical work.

A special acknowledgement goes to our principal Mr

Gaurang Patel sir who gave me the golden
opportunity of this wonderful project, which also
helped me in doing a lot of research and I came to
know about so many new things.

I wish to thank my parents as well for their support

and encouragement without which I could not have
completed this project in the limited time frame.

In the end, I want to thank my friends who displayed

appreciation for my work and motivated me to
continue my work.
  AIM
“THE ELECTRICAL CLEVAGE OF MINERAL ORE”
 INTRODUCTION
1.ELECTROLYSIS: It is a way to extract metals from mineral when
the metal is more reactive than carbon.

ELECTROLYSIS OF MOLTEN MINERAL:

1.Used when the mineral is insoluble in water or the metal strongly
with water.
2.The electrolysis of molten ionic compounds those ionic
compounds in a liquid state.

ELECTROLYSIS OF AQUEOUS MINERAL:

1.Used when the mineral is soluble in water and the metal does
not react with water.
2.Non-metal ionic elements or compound will be collected at
the anode where they lose their extra electrons.

CLEVEAGE:
The splitting of chemical bonds is known as bond cleavage or bond
fission.

DIFFERENT CLEAVGES:

1.CLEAVGE

2.PARTING

3.FRACTION
  THEORY

 ORES
Ores are those minerals from which metal are extracted conveniently
and profitably.

 Types of Ores
There are mainly four types of ores such as Oxides; Carbonate Ores;
Sulphide; Halides Ores.

Types of Ores Element Name of Ores

Oxides Aluminium Bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O)

Copper Cuprite’s (Cu2O)

Iron Hematite (Fe2O3)

Tin Cassiterite (SnO2)

Carbonate Calcium Limestone (CaCO3)

Ores
Zinc Calamine (ZnCO3)

Iron Siderite (FeCO3)

Sulphide Zinc Zinc blende (ZnS)

Copper Copper glance (Cu2S)

Lead Galena (PbS)

Mercury Cinnabar (HgS)

Halide Ores Sodium Rock Salt (NaCl)

Fluoride Fluorspar (CaF2)
Silver Horn silver (AgCl)
  Ores and Methods of Extraction of some
Common Metals

Metals Occurrence Extraction method

1. Lithium Spodumene Electrolysis of fused LiCl/

LiAl(SiO3)2Lipidolite KCl
2. Sodium Rock salt (NaCl) Electrolysis of fused NaCl
/ CaCl2

3. Magnesium Carnallite (KCl.MgCl2.6H2O) Electrolysis of fused MgO

Magnesium (MgCO3) or MgCl2 / KCl carbon
reduction of MgO

4. Calcium Limestone (CACO3) Electrolysis of fused

Dolomite (MgCO3.CaCO3) CaCl2/ CaF2

Gypsum (CaSO4)

5. Copper Cuprite’s (Cu2O) Roasting of sulphide

Copper glance (Cu2S) partially and reduction
1Cu2O + Cu2S+ 6Cu+SO2

6. Aluminium Bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O) Electrolysis of

Cryolite (Na2AlF6) Al2O3 dissolved in molten
Cryolite or inNa2AlF6

7. Zinc Zinc blende (ZnS) Roasting and then

Zincite (ZnO) reduction with C

Calamine (ZnCO3)

8. Lead Galena (PbS) Roasting of sulphide ore

then reduction of the
oxide
 9. Iron Hematite (Fe2O3) Reduction with the help
Magnetite (Fe2O4) of CO and Coke in blast
furnace, chemical
Siderite (FeCO3) reduction with CO,
Iron pyrite (FeS2) Calcination followed by
reduction with CO.
Limonite (Fe2O3.3H2O) Roasting followed by
reduction of co.

 Mineral Ore Properties: Cleavage

(including fraction and parting)
Cleavage, fracture, and parting all have to do with the
positioning of atoms in a mineral and how it breaks when put under
stress. (These three properties are listed on the same page due to their
comparability, but are each individually discussed).
 Cleavage
 Parting
 Fracture

Cleavage:
In mineral terms, cleavage describes how a crystal breaks when
subject to stress on a particular plane. If part of a crystal breaks due
to stress and the broken piece retains a smooth plane or crystal
shape, the mineral has cleavage. A mineral that never produces
any crystallized fragments when broken off has no cleavage.

Cleavage is often measured by three factors:

1) Quality of Cleavage
2) Number of Sides Exhibiting Cleavage
3) Cleavage Habit

 Quality of Cleavage:
Quality of cleavage can be categorized into five qualities:
 Perfect
  Good
 Poor
 Indiscernible (Indistinct)
 None

Minerals with perfect cleavage will cleave without

leaving any rough surfaces; a full, smooth plane is formed where the
crystal broke. Minerals with good cleavage also leave smooth surfaces,
but often leave over minor residual rough surfaces. On minerals with
poor cleavage, the smooth crystal edge is not very visible, since the
rough surface is dominant. If a mineral exhibits cleavage, but it so poor
that it is hardly noticeable, it has "indiscernible" cleavage. Minerals
with no cleavage never exhibit any cleavage, thus broken surfaces are
fractured and rough. cleavage in three or Categorization of cleavage
qualities is not scientifically affirmed. The above categorization is used
by most mineral references, but some guides categorize four groups,
and may give them different names, such as "excellent" and "distinct".

 Number of Sides Exhibiting Cleavage:

Many minerals exhibit cleavage only on one side, and some may
exhibit different quality cleavage on different crystal sides. The
following criteria may be expected when analysing the cleavage of
any particular mineral:
 One Direction

 Two Directions

 Three Directions

 All Directions

These identify how many "directions", or planes, the

crystal is exhibiting the cleavage on. Each direction signifies the two
opposite sides of a three-dimensional figure, (since opposite sides
will always exhibit the same cleavage properties). If a mineral has
cleavage in three directions, then every side of the mineral has
cleavage (i.e. length, width, and height). If a mineral occurs in
modified crystals with more than six sides (i.e. an octahedron) and
exhibits cleavage on all the sides, than it has cleavage in "all
directions".
Combining the cleavage level together with the number of sides will
measure the cleavage of a mineral. For example, if a mineral
has Good Cleavage, Two Directions, this means that it has good
cleavage on four out of six sides (while the other two sides exhibit no
cleavage). If a mineral has Perfect Cleavage, One Direction; Poor
Cleavage, Two Directions, this means that the mineral has perfect
cleavage on two sides, and poor cleavage on the other four.

Cleavage Habit:
Different habits of cleavage exist on different minerals, depending on
their mode of crystallization. These forms of cleavage are:

Basal cleavage:
Cleavage exhibited on a horizontal plane of the mineral by way of
its base. Minerals with basal cleavage can sometimes be "peeled".
An example of basal cleavage are the mica minerals.

Cubic cleavage:
Cleavage exhibited on minerals of the isometric crystal system that
are crystallized as cubes. In this method of cleavage, small cubes
evenly break off of an existing cube.
An example is Galena.

Octahedral cleavage:
Cleavage exhibited on minerals of the isometric crystal system that
are crystallized as octahedrons. In this method of cleavage, flat,
triangular "wedges" peel off of an existing octahedron.
An example is Fluorite.

Prismatic cleavage:
Cleavage exhibited on some prismatic minerals in which a crystal
cleaves as thin, vertical, prismatic crystals off of the original prism.
An example is Aegirine.
 Pinacoidal cleavage:
Cleavage exhibited on some prismatic and tabular minerals in which
a crystal cleaves on the pinacoidal plane, which is the third
dimension aside from the basal and prismatic sides.
An example is Barite.

Rhombohedral cleavage:
Cleavage exhibited on minerals crystallizing in the hexagonal crystal
system as rhombohedrons, in which small rhombohedrons break off
of the existing rhombohedron.
An example is Calcite.

Parting:
Parting is characteristically similar to cleavage. It is easily confused
with cleavage, and it may be present on minerals that do not exhibit
any cleavage. There are two causes of parting:

1. Two separate pressures pushed toward the center of a crystal after

its formation, causing the crystal interior to evenly dislodge on a flat,
smooth plane.

2. Twinned crystals that separated from one another, leaving a flat,

smooth plane.
With enough perception, a distinction can be made between parting
and cleavage. If fracture marks are present on a crystal in addition to
a cleaved plane, the "cleaved" surface is usually the result of parting,
not cleavage. An outline of a crystal etched in a mineral is also the
result of parting, in the form of twinned crystals that separated.
In general, one need not worry about confusing parting with
cleavage. Parting is uncommon, and it can usually be determined by
the distinguishing characteristics mentioned above.

Fracture:
Fracture is the characteristic mark left when a mineral chips or
breaks. Cleavage and fracture differ in that cleavage is the break of
a crystal face where a new face (resulting in a smooth plane) is
formed, whereas fracture is the "chipping" shape of a mineral. All
minerals exhibit a fracture, even those that exhibit cleavage. If a
mineral with cleavage is chipped a certain way, it will fracture rather
than cleave.

There are several terms to describe the various mineral

fractures:

Conchoidal - Fracture resembling a semicircular shell, with a

smooth, curved surface. An example of conchoidal fracture can be
seen in broken glass. (This fracture is also known as "shelly" in some
reference guides.)

Uneven - Fracture that leaves a rough or irregular surface.

Hackly - Fracture that resembles broken metal, with rough, jagged,

points. True metals exhibit this fracture. (This fracture is also known
as "jagged".)

Splintery - Fracture that forms elongated splinters.

All fibrous minerals fall into this category.

Earthy or crumbly - Fracture of minerals that crumble when

broken.

Even or smooth - Fracture that forms a smooth surface.

Subconchoidal- Fracture that falls somewhere

between conchoidal and even; smooth with irregular rounded
corners.
Some references may describe additional fractures not mentioned
above, but those terms are either synonymous or simply used as a
verbal depiction of the author inference.
Almost all minerals have a characteristic fracture. Some minerals of
the same species may exhibit a different fracture, but this is rare.
How to use cleavage, parting, and fracture as an
identification mark?

A specimen need not be broken to check its fracture habit or

cleavage. Rather, it should be checked for areas of stress where it
could have broken or chipped. Fracture marks are rarely present on
minerals with good or excellent cleavage. Minerals with poor
cleavage will fracture more often than those with good or perfect
cleavage.

How to testing using cleavage, parting and fracture?

Observe the mineral to see if it has any cleaved surfaces

or fractured edges. If it has cleaved surfaces, the quality of the
smoothness on the surface should be noted. If there are no visible
cleaved surfaces, it does not mean the mineral does not exhibit
cleavage. It is possible that particular specimen did not cleave. On such
a specimen, it is only possible to check cleavage by chipping off a piece.
This should be done gently and carefully in an area which will not
degrade its value. If there is a noticeable fracture on the mineral, it is
a likely indication that the mineral probably has poor cleavage or none
at all.
Careful observation and experience should also be able to distinguish
between a cleaved crystal and a crystal that parted.
Abstract: -The Objective: If an electrical current passes through
an ore that contains certain metals, while in a saline solution, then
metals will be emitted off the ore in small molecular amounts.

Methods/Materials
Roughly 50 pounds of Barium ore were extracted from an abandoned
open pit mine in the High Sierras. The ore was cut into small cubes
using a rock table saw.
The actual size of the barium ore cubes varied slightly. A circuit with
a switch was built using a 6-volt battery. The wire coming off the
switch had an alligator clip soldered on, that held a conducting rod. A
4-oz container filled with 4 tbs of saltwater was placed in the circuit.

The rod was placed in a stable position in the saltwater through a

hole drilled in the lid. The ore samples were dipped into the salt
solution and placed in a large alligator clip and dangled from the lid
through a second hole in the container lid. The ore sample was
suspended in the salt water near the rod.
The lid was placed on top of the container holding the salt solution.
The clip with the rod was placed into the salt water through the hole
drilled for it.
A timer was set for the specific test time limit (1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 12
hour tests). Both timer and switch were turned on simultaneously.
After testing, the circuit was turned off, and the rock dried Test
products were taken to a radiology unit where they were x-rayed for
metal extraction evidence. Samples were then taken to the Edwards
AFBs Hazmat Lab, where they were processed by an ICP-MS, which
analysed the amount of Barium in the ore.

 Results

After all of the ore samples were tested they were re-weighed; all of
the samples weighed the same as they did before tests were
conducted.
The x-rays revealed no additional information due to the high
amounts of salinity in the solutions. Fortunately, that was not a
problem for the ICP-MS.
ICP-MS Results (concentrations are in ug/L)
Container- 1...... 2...... .3......... 4.... 5.... 6....... 7...... 8...... 9...... 10....11.... 12
Barium- 12400 1609 13141 2698 8696 3217 4301 5360 2829 3480
9424 33058
Though the amount of Barium varied in the tests. There was still
plenty of evidence that there was barium emitted from the ore
samples. In fact, roughly 33,000 ug/L of Barium was found in test 12.

 Conclusions/Discussion
Overall, the data did support the hypothesis, barium was extracted
from the ore samples through electrolysis.

WHICH METAL ORE CAN BE EXTRACT BY

ELECTROLYSIS?

Aluminium

Zinc

Iron
Tin

Lead

Copper

Potassium

Calcium

Lithium

Sodium

Extracting metals from ores

Most metals that we use are found combined with other elements, as
compounds in ores. These metals must be extracted from their
ores before they can be made useful
The method of extraction which is most appropriate depends on the
reactivity of the metal being extracted. This can be discovered using
the reactivity series.

potassium
increasing reactivity

sodium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
(carbon)
zinc
iron
lead
(hydrogen)
copper
silver
gold
platinum
What is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a process that uses electricity to separate the elements
in a compound. Electrolysis is expensive and so it is only used to extract
reactive metals that cannot be extracted in other ways.

Aluminium is a reactive metal that is found in the

ore bauxite combined with oxygen as aluminium
oxide (Al2O3). Electrolysis breaks down the Al2O3
into aluminium and oxygen. As the aluminium loses
oxygen, reduction takes place.

 Ionic substances

Electrolysis involves breaking down ionic substances into simpler

substances using electricity.
An ionic substance contains charged particles called ions. An ion is
an atom that has gained or lost electrons and so carries a positive or
negative charge, which is shown after its formula.
Ions with a positive charge have lost electrons, and ions with a
negative charge have gained electrons.
In electrolysis, the ionic substance must be dissolved in water or
melted so that the ions are free to move.
 Aluminium
Al atom

loses 3
electrons

3+ Aluminium
Al ion

Oxidation and reduction

In electrolysis, the substance that the current passes through and
splits up is called the electrolyte.

The electrolyte contains positive and negative ions.

What happens to these ions during electrolysis?

Negative ions
move to the Positive ions
positive move to the
electrode and negative
lose electrons. electrode and
heat
This is gain electrons.
Oxidation. This is
reduction.
 OILRIG
Equations written to show what happens to electrons during
oxidation and reduction are called half-equations, i.e.:

Oxidation Reduction Is
Is Loss of Gain of
electrons electrons

magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide

2Mg(s) + O2 (g) 2MgO(s)

HOW TO EXTRACT BAUXITE FROM ITS ORE
The Method

The bauxite (red -brown solid) - aluminium oxide mixed with

impurities - is extracted from the earth.

The extracted aluminium oxide is then treated with alkali, to/

remove the impurities. This results in a white solid called aluminium
oxide or alumina.
The alumina is then transported to huge tanks. The tanks are lined
with graphite, this acts as the cathode. Also blocks of graphite hang
in the middle of the tank, and acts as anodes.

The alumina is then dissolved in molten cryolite - this lowers the

melting point - saves money!

Electricity is
passed and electrolysis begins. Electrolysis is the decomposition of a
compound using electricity.

When dissolved, the aluminium ions and oxide ions in the alumina
can move.
At the cathode:

Here the aluminium ions receive electrons to become atoms

again:

Al3+ + 3e– → Al

At the anode:

The oxide ions lose electrons to become oxygen molecules,

O2 :
2O2– → O2 + 4e–

Uses of aluminium:
1. Shiny metal - used as jewellery.

2. Low density - used to make aero planes and trains.

3. Non-toxic - used in drink cans.

Common Minerals and] Their Uses: -

Barium A heavy metal contained in barite. Used as a heavy additive

in oil well drilling; in the paper and rubber industries; as a filler or
extender in cloth, ink and plastics products; in radiography (“barium
milkshake”); as a deoxidizer for copper; a sparkplug in alloys; and in
making expensive white pigments. Bauxite Rock composed of
hydrated aluminium oxides. In the U.S., it is primarily converted to
alumina. See “aluminium.” The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant in
2012.

Aluminium The most abundant metal element in Earth’s crust.

Aluminium originates as an oxide called alumina. Bauxite ore is the
main source of aluminium and must be imported from Jamaica,
Guinea, Brazil, Guyana, etc. Used in transportation (automobiles),
packaging, building/construction, electrical, machinery and other
uses. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant for its aluminium in
2012.

 PRECAUTION

1.Do not use an AC power supply. AC will produce oxygen gas and
hydrogen gas equally at both electrodes, which can be an explosive
mixture. Wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves,
and a chemical-resistant apron. Wash hands thoroughly with soap
and water before leaving the laboratory.

2.Chemical hazards: The electrolysis process can produce harmful

chemicals, such as chlorine gas, if the water used is contaminated
with impurities. Exposure to these chemicals can cause respiratory
problems, skin irritation, and other health issues.

3.Avoid short circuiting and avoid toxic gasses danger.

4.Prevent accumulation of explosive hydrogen and oxygen gasses.

BIBLOGRAPHY

1.www.digintomining.com

2.www.seminarsonly.com