Minerals Molly Viner Ursula Miller Period D

What is a Mineral Resource? Occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the Earth’s crust Metallic minerals: –Occur in rare, naturally formed concentrations known as mineral deposits. –Minerals with a metallic luster are opaque and reflective, like metal. Metal elements, most sulfides, and some oxides belong in this category. These deposits can consist of a variety of metallic minerals containing valuable metals such as nickel, copper, zinc, lead, and gold that are used in all aspects of our daily lives. The first metal to be mined was galena, which was used by early pioneers as a source of lead for bullets.

What are Metallic Minerals Used For? Copper: copper pipe, electrical wires, Canadian penny Nickel: stainless steel, cars and trucks frames, batteries Titanium: artificial joints and surgical instruments, airplane structures Iron: bridges, car and truck frames, axes, tools, steel girders Platinum: petrochemical industry to make gas and purify oil, converters on cars and trucks to reduce emissions Zinc: galvanized nails and cars Lead: wet cell batteries Gold: jewelry, electrical wiring

Where are Metallic Minerals Found? Most minerals worthy to collectors are found in deposits, or areas of rock where large amounts of certain minerals occur. Mines: –Deposits worked for the extraction of certain minerals or ores –The most practical place to find mineral specimens

How are Metallic Minerals Obtained? Mining techniques can be divided into two common excavation types: –Surface mining is done by removing (stripping) surface vegetation, dirt, and if necessary, layers of bedrock in order to reach buried ore deposits. –Sub-surface mining consists of digging tunnels or shafts into the earth to reach buried ore deposits.

What is Metallic Minerals Availability? Afghanistan is one of the places where metallic minerals are available. Afghanistan

More Places They’re Available! Canada- Ontario is a leading producer of metals such as platinum, nickel, cobalt, gold, –During 2007, $502 million dollars were spent exploring for mineral deposits in Ontario. United States- In 1989, additional mining regulations were enacted as the Missouri Legislature what is known as the Metallic Minerals Waste Management Act. –Regulates the waste produced from metals mining.

What Costs are Associated with Metallic Minerals? Economically –For each company, an average of $46.9 million a year to mine for metallic minerals. Environmentally –Mining metallic minerals is at great cost to the environment. –Environmental costs can include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of groundwater and surface water by chemicals from the mining processes.

Environmental Impacts? 1) Energy Consumption –Large consumer of electricity Consumed 5% of the total US energy consumption 2) Air –Dust from blasting operations, release methane and radiation. 3) Water –Uses large quantities of water, chemical deposits left behind by explosives are toxic. 4) Land –Surface mining removed large quantities of rock and these areas are marked by small holes. 5) Health & Safety –Miners are working in areas of poor ventilation, poor visibilty, and rock falls.

What is the Outlook for the Future of Metallic Minerals? The outlook is good  –Global production of metallic minerals has gradually increased over recent decades. Recycling has also been increasing, reducing the growth rate of primary consumption of metallic minerals. Advances in mining technologies has lead to generally declining, though fluctuating, metal prices.

Works Cited ossaryhttp:// ossary inerals_e.asphttp:// inerals_e.asp