Mineral Resources

Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Earth crust = Minerals + rock Minerals –inorganic compound that occurs

naturally in the earth’s crust Solid Regular internal crystalline structure.

Rock – solid combination of 1 or more minerals.

Minerals are the building blocks of all rocks.

If minerals make up rocks, what makes up minerals?

Minerals are made up of complex structures of elements. There are eight elements that make up most of these minerals; Oxygen, Silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium; they account for about 98% of the earths crust.

Silicates vs. Non-silicatesSilicates:

Most abundant minerals on earths surface

Composed of Silicon and Oxygen

Have a complex structure because of the way silicon and oxygen bond

•Non-silicates:•Make up only about 8% of the earths crust•Not a very complex structure

Quartz= SiO2

Hematite= Fe2O3

Halite= NaCl Tephroite- Mn2SiO4

Mining

What is mining?

What can be mined?Mineral Resource: Any mineral useful to

humansMetallic Minerals: Iron Oxide, GoldNon-metallic mineral: Limestone, sandFossil Fuel; Coal, Petroleum

Ore: a natural material whose concentration of economically valuable minerals is high enough for the material to be mined profitablyHigh Grade Ore; has high concentration of the

mineralLow Grade Ore: smaller concentration

Mining can be done in two different ways…Surface miningSubsurface mining

Surface Mines

Surface mining is used when mineral deposits are located at or near the surface of the earth.

Used to remove mineralsTypes include

open pits—used to remove large, near-surface deposits such as copper and gold

surface coal mine—known as strip mining because the coal is removed in strips

Quarries—open pits that are used to mine building stone, crushed rock, sand and gravel

Extracting Mineral DepositsSurface mining - shallow deposits in US extracts 90% of non-fuel minerals and

rocks and 60% of the coal.

Open-pit Mining Area Strip Mining

Mountaintop Removal

Figure 15-14Figure 15-14

Extracting Mineral Deposits

Subsurface mining - deposits that are too deep for surface miningRequires passages be dug into earth to reach the ore

Underground MinesGenerally less disruptive than surface mines

Tunnels closely follow the ore body

Some waste rock on the surface

Shallow abandoned mines can cause collapse

Problem!!!Mining can destroy or disturb the habitats of plants and animals.

Waste products from mine get into water sources—pollutes surface water and ground water.

Acid Mine Drainage

SolutionsReclamation: The process of returning land to its original condition after mining is completeRequired by law since the 1970’s

Reduce our need from minerals

Assignment