Abstract
Introduction, definitions, and classification Volcanic rocks host significant base and precious metal ore deposits. But what is an ore deposit? The term ore deposit is an economic, not a geological term, and refers to a naturally occurring material which can be extracted, processed, and delivered to the marketplace or technology at a reasonable profit. The term mineral deposit bears no profitability implications. Ore not only refers to metals, or metal-bearing minerals (metallic ores), but also to many non-metallic minerals valued for their own specific physical or chemical properties, such as fluorite and asbestos that are classified as industrial minerals. In this definition water can also be classified as an ore. Considering water as an ore may not be as outlandish as it first appears. With the world's supply of clean, fresh water ever decreasing, countries with an abundance of fresh water are in a position to “mine” this commodity and offer it to countries that require this resource for either agriculture or consumption. The question, in this case, is not whether it can be done but, because of environmental concerns and the potential for natural habitat destruction, should it be done? The size of an ore deposit is measured or defined by its reserves. In the case of water, reserves are measured in liters and, when dealing with geothermal energy, temperature is also an important unit of measure.
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