Chapter 3 section 3

 Evaporation  Salt H 2 O  Metamorphic rocks  Volcanic activity  Limestones  groundwater  Hot H2O solutions  groundwater  Pegmatites  Volcanic activity  Plutons  Volcanic activity

 A natural material whose concentration of economically valuable minerals is high enough for the material to be mind profitably Platinum Gold

Surface MiningSubsurface Mining  Open pits- often use explosives to remove large deposits near the surface  Quarries- open pits that are used to mine building stone, crushed rock, sand, and gravel  Surface coal mining- also called “strip mining” coal is removed in large strips  Often requires passageways to be dug into the Earth to reach the ore.  If deposits are really deep, a vertical shaft is sunk which may connect interesting passageways.

ReclamationRecycling  The process of returning land to its original condition after mining it complete  Reusing and reducing our need for minerals by recycling many of the products we use such as aluminum

 Some nonmetallic minerals are highly valued for beauty and/or rarity over usefulness  Examples- diamonds, topez, ruby  Uses- jewelry Metallic Minerals Gemstones Nonmetallic Minerals  Shiny surfaces-do not let light pass through- good conductors of heat and electricity. Can be pounded pressed and stretched without breaking.  Examples- gold, silver, copper  Uses- aircrafts and automobiles  Shiny or dull surface- may let light pass through good- insulators of electricity  Examples- silica, gypsum  Uses- concrete, building materials, computer chips