IN WHICH MEXICAN ENTITIES IS THE MOST NON-METALLIC MINERALS EXPLOITED? - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The largest exploitation of non-metallic minerals in Mexico occurs in Jalisco, Campeche, Guanajuato, Veracruz and Nuevo León. These entities have the highest production volume and the highest economic performance.

Regarding the variety of exploited minerals, the outstanding Mexican entities are Jalisco, Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosí and Coahuila.

Nuevo León, one of the entities where non-metallic minerals are exploited

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), non-metallic mineral reserves consist of stone quarries, sand and clay pits, mineral deposits of chemicals and fertilizers, deposits of salt and quartz, gypsum, stones natural precious stones, peat, asphalt and bitumen.

It also includes other non-metallic minerals other than coal and oil.

In which Mexican entities is the largest amount of non-metallic minerals exploited?

In recent years, the exploitation of non-metallic minerals in Mexico has been increasing. The economic exploitation of this type of deposits in this country began in the 1940s due to the demand generated by the national and foreign industry.

In this way, graphite and sulfur began to explode. Then fluorite and barite followed. Currently this exploitation has been extended to various areas.

The production of non-metallic minerals in some of its entities is described below.

Jalisco

This federative entity stands out in the production of basalt. This mineral is a fine-grained igneous rock. Its color is dark and it is composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals.

It generally forms like an extrusive rock, like a lava flow. However, it can also form into small intrusive bodies, such as an igneous dam or a thin sill.

In addition, in this Mexican state stone aggregates, limestone, calcite, diatomite, gravel, among others, are exploited.

Campeche

The state of Campeche is not characterized by its variety in terms of the exploitation of non-metallic minerals.

Specifically, its largest production is limestone. This sedimentary rock is composed of more than 50% calcium carbonate and is formed through various processes.

Limestone can be secreted by marine organisms like algae and coral, or it can be formed from the shells of dead sea creatures. Some are formed from the cementation of sand and / or mud by calcite.

On the other hand, the other three non-metallic minerals exploited in this entity are stone aggregates, sand and gravel.

Guanajuato

In the non-metallic mineral exploitation business in Mexico, basalt is a very important element. There are several entities that have this element as the first line, and Guanajuato is one of these.

Second are the stone aggregates. These are granular materials that are commonly used as ingredients in asphalt, ballast, and filler mixes.

In addition, this entity produces sand, tezontle, calcite, rhyolite, clays and other non-metallic minerals.

Veracruz

As in Jalisco and Guanajuato, basalt leads production in the state of Veracruz. In second and third place are the stone aggregates and andesite, respectively.

Andesite is found in most of the volcanic areas of the world. These are generally fine-grained rocks, usually porphyritic, composed of andesine and one or more ferromagnesian minerals.

To a lesser extent, this entity produces silica, tezontle, sand, limestone, salt and others.

New Lion

Limestone ranks first in terms of exploitation of non-metallic minerals in this entity.

They complete the group in order of importance: dolomite, silica, clay, stone aggregates, kaolin, barite, gypsum, salt, sulfur, gravel, calcite sand, magnesite and talc.

References

1. Statistical Yearbook of Mexican Mining 2015 (2016). Mexican Geological Service (SGM). Retrieved on October 14, 2017, from sgm.gob.mx
2. OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms (s / f). Non-metallic mineral reserves. Retrieved on October 14, 2017, from stats.oecd.org
3. Álvaro Sánchez, C. and Sánchez Salazar, MT (s / f). Non-metallic mining in Mexico: contemporary geography-economic vision. Geographical Observatory of Latin America. Retrieved on October 14, 2017, from observatoriogeograficoamericalatina.org
4. Basalt. (s / f). Geology.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from geology.com
5. Limestone. (s / f). Geology, rocks and mineral. The University of Auckland. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz
6. Alexander, M. and Mindess, S. (2010). Aggregates in Concrete. Oxon: Taylor and Francis Group.
7. Andesite. (2015, July 05). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from britannica.com