World mineral deposits in the table of periodic chemical elements

Abstract

The distribution of mineral deposits and the distribution of chemical elements on the globe are characterized by heterogeneity. A wide range of publications of domestic and foreign specialists - geologists, geographers, geochemists, economists - were dedicated to mineral resources of the world, mineral deposits. During processing the material the comparative-geographical, cartographic (analysis of minerals maps, mineral resources in the context of continents and regions of the world, cartographic interpretation of Mendeleev periodical table), monographic (analysis of fundamental works of leading domestic and foreign geologists and resource scientists, geologists and geologists, and geologists and geologists) directories, multi-volume editions devoted to geology and mineral resources of individual countries and regions of the world) methods, systematic approach, and GIS technologies - all these were used for received data processing and systematization. Explored mineral deposits (current and potential) form on the planet both individual local deposits and geochemical zones – areas where economically valuable chemical elements and their compounds are concentrated, which are diverse in genesis, stocks, and possibilities of exploitation. The largest of the latter is the Appalachians in the US - the Western Hemisphere, the Highveld in South Africa, Khibiny and the Ural Mountains inRussia - the Eastern Hemisphere. The leading countries in which most geochemical resources are extracted from the subsoil are the United States (65% of the total elements of Mendeleev periodical table), Russia (48%), China (38%), Canada (38%), South Africa (30%), Australia, (27%), Kazakhstan (19%), India (14%), Mexico (13%). The ideas about the level of provision of mineral resources and minerals in individual countries and territories of the world were systematized. The Mendeleev periodical table and its mineral and raw content were presented as an objective factor in the international geographical distribution of labor. The illuminated issues are confirmed high density of interdisciplinary links (geology, geography, chemistry, geochemistry, ecology, economics, regional studies, zoning).