Tonmineralen

Tonmineralen is an informal Dutch term used in geology and mining to describe mineral species that are primarily exploited or evaluated on bulk tonnage bases. They include minerals that commonly occur in large, low-to-moderate grade deposits and are produced as bulk commodities for construction, manufacturing, or agriculture. The category is not a formal mineral classification, but a practical grouping used to plan exploration, mining, and processing.

Common tonmineralen are silicate and carbonate minerals such as quartz (SiO2), feldspar (potassium, plagioclase), calcite (CaCO3), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2), and clay minerals (kaolinite, illite), as well as evaporites and bulk industrial minerals like gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and halite (NaCl). Heavy minerals like magnetite and hematite may also be included when they occur in tonnage-scale deposits.

Occurrence and genesis: tonmineralen form in a wide range of geological environments, including sedimentary basins with weathering products, igneous and metamorphic rocks recycled into sand and aggregate, or evaporitic settings. They are assessed by bulk tonnage grade and tonnage, rather than by high-grade ore assays.

Processing: extraction is followed by crushing, screening, washing, and beneficiation to meet market specifications. Economic value is determined by grade and total tonnage, often using cutoff grades and mineability assessments.

Environmental and social aspects: mining tonmineralen can require significant energy and water, with waste generated as tailings or overburden; sustainable practices emphasize land reclamation and emissions reduction.