Chapter 15 Mineral Resources. Introduction to Minerals Minerals Elements or compounds of elements that occur naturally in Earth’s crust Rocks

Chapter 15Chapter 15Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

Introduction to MineralsIntroduction to Minerals

MineralsMinerals Elements or compounds of elements Elements or compounds of elements

that occur naturally in Earth’s crustthat occur naturally in Earth’s crust RocksRocks

Naturally formed aggregates of mineralsNaturally formed aggregates of minerals Examples of MineralsExamples of Minerals

AluminumAluminum coppercopper

Important Minerals and Important Minerals and Their UsesTheir Uses

Mineral Distribution and Mineral Distribution and FormationFormation AbundantAbundant minerals in crust minerals in crust

Aluminum and ironAluminum and iron ScarceScarce minerals in crust minerals in crust

Copper, chromium, and molybdenumCopper, chromium, and molybdenum Distributed unevenly across globeDistributed unevenly across globe

Formation of Mineral Formation of Mineral DepositsDeposits Result of natural processesResult of natural processes

Magmatic concentrationMagmatic concentration As magma cools heavier elements (Fe and Mg) As magma cools heavier elements (Fe and Mg)

settlesettle Responsible for deposits of Fe, Cu, Ni, CrResponsible for deposits of Fe, Cu, Ni, Cr

Hydrothermal processesHydrothermal processes Minerals are carried and deposited by water Minerals are carried and deposited by water

heated deep in earth’s crustheated deep in earth’s crust SedimentationSedimentation

Weathered particles are transported by water Weathered particles are transported by water and deposited as sediment on sea floor or and deposited as sediment on sea floor or shoreshore

EvaporationEvaporation Salts are left behind after water body dries upSalts are left behind after water body dries up

Discovering Mineral Discovering Mineral DepositsDeposits Scientists (geologists) use a variety Scientists (geologists) use a variety

of instruments and measurementsof instruments and measurements Aerial or satellite photographyAerial or satellite photography SeismographsSeismographs

Combine this with knowledge of how Combine this with knowledge of how minerals are formedminerals are formed

Extracting MineralsExtracting Minerals1. Surface Mining1. Surface Mining

Minerals and energy resources are extracted by Minerals and energy resources are extracted by removing soil, subsoil and over-lying rock strataremoving soil, subsoil and over-lying rock strata

More common because less expensiveMore common because less expensive

2 kinds: 2 kinds:

a)a) open pit open pit

b)b) strip miningstrip mining

2. Subsurface Mining2. Subsurface Mining Mineral and energy resources are extracted from deep Mineral and energy resources are extracted from deep

underground depositsunderground deposits

2 kinds:2 kinds:

a)a) shaft mine shaft mine

b)b) slope mineslope mine

Extracting Minerals -Extracting Minerals -

Extracting Minerals - Strip Extracting Minerals - Strip MiningMining

Processing MineralsProcessing Minerals

Smelting -Smelting - process in process in which ore is which ore is melted at melted at high temps to high temps to separate separate impurities impurities from the from the molten metalmolten metal

Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of MiningMining Disturbs large areaDisturbs large area

Prone to erosionProne to erosion Uses large quantities of waterUses large quantities of water

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Pollution caused when sulfuric acid and Pollution caused when sulfuric acid and

dissolved lead, arsenic or cadmium dissolved lead, arsenic or cadmium wash out of mines into nearby wash out of mines into nearby waterwayswaterways

Acid Mine DrainageAcid Mine Drainage

Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of Refining MineralsRefining Minerals

Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of Refining MineralsRefining Minerals

80% or more of 80% or more of mined ore consists of mined ore consists of impurities - called impurities - called tailingstailings Contain toxic materialsContain toxic materials

Smelting plants emit Smelting plants emit large amounts of air large amounts of air pollutantspollutants

Requires a lot of Requires a lot of energy (fossil fuels energy (fossil fuels combustion)combustion)

Case-In-Point Copper Basin, Case-In-Point Copper Basin, TNTN

Reclaimed Coal-Mined Land

Restoration of Mining LandsRestoration of Mining Lands

Goals:Goals: prevent further prevent further

degradation degradation and erosionand erosion

eliminate local eliminate local sources of sources of toxins toxins

make land make land productive for productive for another another purposepurpose

Restoration of Mining LandRestoration of Mining Land

Creative ApproachesCreative Approaches WetlandsWetlands

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation Use of specific plants to absorb and Use of specific plants to absorb and

accumulate toxic materials in soilaccumulate toxic materials in soil

Minerals: An International Minerals: An International PerspectivePerspective

Highly developed countriesHighly developed countries Rely on mineral deposits in developing Rely on mineral deposits in developing

countriescountries

Developing countriesDeveloping countries Governments lack financial resources to Governments lack financial resources to

handle pollutionhandle pollution Acid mine drainage, air and water Acid mine drainage, air and water

pollutionpollution

Why?

North American North American Consumption of Selected Consumption of Selected MetalsMetals

Will We Run Out of Will We Run Out of Important Metals?Important Metals?

Mineral ReservesMineral Reserves Mineral deposits that have been Mineral deposits that have been

identified and are currently profitable to identified and are currently profitable to extractextract

Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources Any undiscovered mineral deposits or Any undiscovered mineral deposits or

known deposits of low-grade ore that known deposits of low-grade ore that are currently unprofitable to extractare currently unprofitable to extract

Finding Mineral SubstitutesFinding Mineral Substitutes

Examples: Examples: Using plastic, glass or aluminum in place Using plastic, glass or aluminum in place

of tinof tin Using glass fibers instead of copper Using glass fibers instead of copper

wiring in telephone cableswiring in telephone cables

Mineral ConservationMineral Conservation

REDUCE- REDUCE- use less of the itemsuse less of the items REUSE -REUSE - using items over and over using items over and over

againagain Reduces both mineral consumption and pollutionReduces both mineral consumption and pollution

RECYCLINGRECYCLING - converting item into new - converting item into new productproduct

Reduces land destruction from miningReduces land destruction from mining Reduces solid wasteReduces solid waste

Changing Our Mineral Changing Our Mineral RequirementsRequirements

Must change our Must change our “throw away”“throw away” mentalitymentality