Mining and Mineral Resources Chapter 16

Minerals and Mineral Resources Mineral- a naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid that has a specific chemical composition and structure Compounds- two or more atoms chemically bonded together Native elements- minerals of only one type of element (i.e. gold, silver, copper)

Minerals and Mineral resources

Mineral and Mineral Resources Ore Minerals- minerals with economic value Metallic minerals- conduct electricity, have shiny surfaces, opaque Nonmetallic minerals- good insulators, dull surfaces, allow light to pass through them Gangue minerals- minerals with no economic value

Minerals and Mineral Resources How do ore minerals form? Hydrothermal solutions- produce veins of minerals in cracks in rock from dissolved minerals moving with water in the earth’s crust. Evaporites- surface water evaporates and leaves behind dissolved minerals.

Minerals and Mineral Resources Many minerals have high economic and commercial value Metallic Minerals Alloys- combination or 2 or more minerals Nonmetallic minerals Gypsum used in construction Gemstones- highly valued for beauty.

Mineral exploration and Mining Mineral deposits- usually have 100-1000 times the normal concentration of a mineral Aerial images, radioactivity data, magnetic data, satellite data are used to help locate possible mining sites Drill core samples are used to “see” what is actually below ground

Mineral Exploration and Mining Subsurface mining- used to reach minerals 50 m of more below the earth’s surface Room and pillar mining- rooms are dug into the horizontal vein but some of the mineral is left in the form of a pillar to hold up the roof of the mine. Longwall mining- used to shear the mineral from one wall. The roof behind the machinery is allowed to collapse after everyone is clear. Solution mining- hot water is injected into the earth to dissolve minerals that will go into solution and then pumped back out fo the ground.

Mineral Exploration and Mining Surface Mining- Open pit mining