Classification of mineral resources mainly includes:
According to the genesis and formation conditions of minerals, they are divided into endogenetic minerals, exogenetic minerals, and metamorphic minerals.
According to the material composition and structural characteristics of minerals, they are divided into inorganic minerals and organic minerals.
According to the occurrence state of minerals, they are divided into solid minerals, liquid minerals, and gaseous minerals.
According to the characteristics and main uses of minerals, they are divided into energy minerals, metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals, and water-gas minerals.
Native gold
Mostly in the form of dispersed granules or irregular dendritic aggregates. Golden yellow, gradually becoming light yellow as the silver content increases. Streak is the same as the color. Strong metallic luster. Hardness 2.5～3. Strong ductility, can be hammered into gold foil. The specific gravity of pure gold is 19.3. Good electrical conductivity and chemical properties, insoluble in any acids except aqua regia. Melting point 1062℃. Used for currency, manufacturing precision instruments and decorations. Mainly produced in quartz veins, native gold often enriches into placer gold deposits.
Diamond
Crystal form is octahedral, rhombic dodecahedral, less often cubic, and most occur as rounded or fragmented grains. Colorless and transparent or with blue, yellow, brown, and black hues. Standard adamantine luster. Strong dispersion. Hardness 10. Brittle. Specific gravity 3.50～3.52. Exhibits yellow, green, and purple fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Used for precision and special cutting tools, manufacturing metal wire drawing dies, drill bits, and precious gemstones.
Often found in kimberlite (i.e., brecciated mica peridotite) of ultrabasic rocks. When diamond-bearing rocks are weathered, diamond placer deposits can form.
Kaolinite
Often occurs in earthy, powdery, or scaly forms. Pure kaolinite is white, but if it contains impurities, it can be light yellow, light gray, light red, light green, or light brown. Waxy luster. Very low hardness, 1～3. Specific gravity 2.6. Strong water absorption, sticky when licked.
An important chemical raw material for ceramics, papermaking, rubber, etc.
Kaolinite originates from clay deposits and from the weathering of feldspar, nepheline, etc.
Apatite
Single crystals are hexagonal columnar or thick tabular, aggregates are massive, granular, or nodular.
Its color varies depending on its origin; pure apatite is colorless or white, but this is rare. Generally yellowish-green, also gray, green, brown, blue, purple, etc. Greasy luster.
Mainly used for manufacturing phosphate fertilizers and various phosphate salts and phosphoric acid in the chemical industry.
Marine sedimentary genesis forms phosphorite, which has great economic value. Sometimes related to igneous rocks, it may also have economic value.
Magnetite
Often occurs in granular or dense massive form, crystal shape is small octahedron and rhombic dodecahedron. Iron-black color, submetallic luster. Hardness 5.5～6.5. Brittle, strongly magnetic. An important iron ore. Formed in endogenetic and metamorphic processes.
Psilomelane
Usually occurs as botryoidal, stalactitic, dendritic, and earthy aggregates. Gray-black to black, streak brownish-black to black. Submetallic luster, if earthy, then no luster. Hardness 4～6. Brittle. Specific gravity 4.4～4.7. An important mineral raw material for refining manganese. Commonly found in sedimentary manganese deposits and oxidation zones of manganese ores.
Chalcopyrite
Often occurs as dense massive or dispersed granular. Brass-yellow color. Streak dark green, metallic luster. Hardness 3～4. Brittle. Specific gravity 4.1～4.3, conductive. An important mineral raw material for refining copper. Chalcopyrite can be formed under various geological conditions.
Galena
Crystals often occur as cubes, usually in granular, dense massive aggregates. Lead-gray color. Streak gray-black. Metallic luster. Hardness 2～3. Specific gravity is large, 7.4～7.6. Weakly conductive and has good detection properties.
The most important mineral raw material for refining lead, and often contains silver and zinc as by-products.
Widely distributed in nature, hydrothermal processes are the most important, often forming sulfide deposits together with sphalerite.
Sphalerite
Crystal form is mostly tetrahedral, rhombic dodecahedral, but commonly seen as granular masses. The color varies depending on the iron content, gray, light yellow, brownish-brown to black. Streak white to brown. Luster ranges from resinous to submetallic. Transparent to translucent. Hardness 3.5～4. Specific gravity 3.9～4.1, decreases with increasing iron content.
Sphalerite is an important mineral raw material for refining zinc, and cadmium, indium, gallium and other elements can be obtained from it. Commonly found in hydrothermal deposits.