Which one of the following statement is correct ?

Options

A. A mineral cannot be an ore
B. An ore cannot be a mineral
C. All minerals are ores
D. All ores are minerals

Answer

To determine which statement is correct regarding minerals and ores, we need to understand the definitions and relationships between these two terms.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Define Minerals**:
- Minerals are naturally occurring substances found in the earth's crust. They can be composed of one or more elements and are the raw materials from which we extract metals.

**Hint**: Remember that minerals are the general category of substances found in nature.

2. **Define Ores**:
- Ores are a specific type of mineral that contains a high percentage of a particular metal that can be economically extracted. In other words, ores are minerals that are rich in valuable metals and have a lower proportion of impurities (gangue).

**Hint**: Ores are valuable minerals with a high metal content.

3. **Understanding Gangue**:
- Gangue refers to the impurities present in a mineral. A mineral with a high amount of gangue is not considered an ore because it does not contain enough of the desired metal for profitable extraction.

**Hint**: Gangue is the waste material or impurities found in minerals.

4. **Relationship Between Minerals and Ores**:
- Not all minerals are ores, but all ores are minerals. This means that while every ore qualifies as a mineral, not every mineral qualifies as an ore due to the varying metal content.

**Hint**: Think of ores as a subset of minerals that are economically viable for extraction.

5. **Evaluating the Statements**:
- Based on the definitions:
- **Statement 1**: Not all minerals are ores (correct).
- **Statement 2**: Every ore is a mineral (correct).
- **Statement 3**: All minerals are ores (incorrect).
- **Statement 4**: All ores are minerals (correct).

6. **Conclusion**:
- The correct statement from the options provided is that **all ores are minerals**. This aligns with our understanding that ores are a specific type of mineral that contains a high percentage of metal.

### Final Answer:
The correct statement is: **All ores are minerals.**