1.1.2 Metallic Minerals

Mineral substances that contain metals.

Most metals such as copper, iron, nickel, zinc, tin, niobium, etc. are extracted from minerals such as chalcopyrite (copper), hematite (iron), pentlandite (nickel), sphalerite (zinc), cassiterite (tin) and pyrochlore (niobium).

However, some metals are not always extracted from a mineral, as they are often found in nature in their pure (or native) state. These include gold, silver and sometimes copper, iron and bismuth.

		Gold nugget (3 ounces) found in Dawson City (Klondyke), Yukon. The largest gold nugget ever found in Québec was found on the bed of the Rivière Gilbert, in Beauce in 1866.
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Metallic minerals are Québec’s most important mineral resource. In Canada, they rank second after fossil fuels.