The South American mainland is the fourth largest and includes 12 independent states. What are the minerals of South America? Find out the photo, description and list in our article.
Geography
The main territory is located within the Southern and Western hemispheres, part is located in the Northern. The continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlantic in the east, and the Panama Isthmus separates it from North America.
The area of the continent along with the islands is approximately 18 million km. sq. The total number of inhabitants is 275 million people, with a density of 22 people per square kilometer. The continent also includes nearby islands, some of them belong to countries of other continents, for example, the Falkland Islands (Great Britain), Guiana (France).
South America has a great length from north to south, which influenced the formation of contrasting weather and natural conditions. The mainland is located in six climatic zones, from temperate to subequatorial. The latter is found here twice. South America is considered the wettest continent, although in some areas there are deserts.
The mineral resources of South America (the list is further in the article) are very diverse, and the soil and climate are favorable for agriculture. There are many forests, rivers, and lakes on the mainland, including the most deep-flowing river in the world - the Amazon, as well as the largest freshwater lake Titicaca.
Relief
The structure of the mainland is quite simple, despite this, South American minerals are represented by a large number of deposits. Basically, the territory is divided into two large zones - mountain and plain, which includes lowlands and plateaus.
The western part of the mainland is represented by the longest mountain system - the Andes. Their length exceeds 9 thousand kilometers, and the peaks rise above 6 thousand meters above the ground. The highest point is Mount Aconcagua.
Plain landscapes are located in the east. They occupy the bulk of the mainland. A small spot in the north is the Guiana Plateau, along the edges of which there are numerous waterfalls and canyons.
Below is the Brazilian plateau, occupying more than half of the mainland. Due to the huge size and variety of conditions, the plateau is divided into three plateaus. Its highest point is Mount Bandeira (2897 m).
In the troughs between the mountains and plateaus are the Amazonian, La Platskaya, Orinok lowlands. Within their borders are deep river valleys. The lowlands are represented by an almost flat uniform relief.
Geology
The minerals of South America have been formed for many centuries, in parallel with the formation of the mainland. The territory, as in the case of the relief, is divided into western and eastern zones.
The eastern part is the South American platform. She repeatedly went under water, as a result of which sedimentary (in lowering places) and crystalline (in places of raising) rocks were formed. In areas of the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus, metamorphic and igneous rocks come to the surface.
The western part is a folded mountain belt in the Pacific ring of fire. The Andes are the result of a collision of lithospheric plates. Their formation is happening now, which is manifested in volcanic activity. Here are two of the highest volcanoes on Earth, one of which (Ljulyayljako) active.
South America Minerals (Briefly)
The mineral resources of the continent are represented by metal ores, especially iron and manganese, which are located within the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus. There are also deposits of diamonds, gold and bauxite.
As a result of the formation of Andean folding, South American minerals of various nature formed in these areas. Ore and non-metallic minerals are located in different parts of the mountain system. The former are located directly in the Andes and are represented by radioactive ores and non-ferrous metals, the latter are formed in foothill territories. In the Andes are also deposits of precious stones.
On the lowlands of the continent, in the intermontane depressions and depressions, sedimentary rocks were formed. There are deposits of coal, natural gas and oil. These combustible resources are possessed, for example, by the Orinoc Lowland, the Patagonian Plateau, as well as the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, located in the Atlantic Ocean.
Minerals of South America (table)
Tectonic structure | Landform | Minerals |
South American platform | Highlands | Guiana | Manganese, iron ore, gold, diamonds, bauxite, nickel, uranium, aluminum |
Brazilian |
Lowlands | Amazonian | Natural gas, coal, oil |
Orinok |
La Plata |
The area of new folding | The mountains | Andes | Sodium nitrate, iodine, phosphorites, sulfur, copper, aluminum, iron, tin, tungsten, molybdenum, uranium, polymetallic, silver ores, gold, antimony, precious stones |
Mining industry
The economic level of the countries of the continent varies significantly. The most developed are Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. They belong to new industrial countries. The lowest level of development is observed in French Guiana, Bolivia, Ecuador, Suriname, Paraguay, Guyana. The remaining countries are at an intermediate stage.
Minerals of South America and their extraction play an important role in the economy of most countries of the continent. In Venezuela, mining accounts for 16% of the country's income. Here, as in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, oil, coal and natural gas are mined. Colombia is rich in deposits of precious stones, it is even called the "country of emeralds."
Metal ores are mined in Chile, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil. Copper ore in Chile, oil in Venezuela, and tin in Bolivia are processed at the mining site, although many resources are exported raw.
For domestic consumption, a very small amount of raw materials remains. The bulk is for sale. Exports oil, bauxite, tin, tungsten, antimony, molybdenum and other minerals of South America.
Conclusion
On the continent there are mineral resources of various origins, due to the features in the geological structure of South America. In the folded western regions of the continent, igneous and metamorphic rocks formed. As a result, the largest number of minerals was formed on the mainland, which are represented by ore and non-metallic resources, sulfur, iodine, precious stones.
The rest of the mainland is covered by plateaus with crystalline and partially sedimentary rocks. Deposits of bauxite, metal ores, and gold are located in them. Significant territories cover lowlands and foothill basins. It mainly contains fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) formed by sedimentary rocks.