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Minerals: A Nonrenewable
Resource
Chapter 16
A spectacular slide show presentation by Mr. Berkheimer and some very, very special guest speakers!
Introduction to Minerals
Concrete – sand, gravel, crushed
limestone Salt
Copper
Introduction to Minerals
Mineral Distribution and Formation
• Some minerals very abundant (e.g., Al, Fe)
• Some are very scarce (e.g., Cu, Mo)
• Some may be found about anywhere, but in such low abundance mining is unprofitable
Introduction to Minerals
Mineral Distribution and Formation
Formation of Mineral Deposits
Magmatic concentration
Hydrothermal processes
Sedimentation
Evaporation
Introduction to Minerals
How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed
• Discovering Mineral Deposits
–aerial photos / satellite images–examine magnetic field–seismographs
Introduction to Minerals
How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed
• Discovering Mineral Deposits
• Extracting Minerals
Copper Ore being loaded into a 300 ton truck for transport to the crusher.
Conveyors and trucks deposit coarse ore on a heap leach pad, which has a series of pipes and hoses dispensing a diluted sulfuric acid solution to the ore. Copper is dissolved and flows to a pond at the bottom of the pad. This process can take several months.
Is this our soil pit???
No Silly, This is one of the largest earth movers in the world working in a copper strip mine!!!
Large man-made piles of mining waste that stretch for several miles. Piles are on the edge of the town of Globe, Arizona.
Four grinding lines composed of four semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills and eight ball mills and corresponding flotation cells.
Hey Jillian, these machines look identical!
Wow Jordan! How could anyone tell them apart???
The technically advanced and cleanest smelter in the world is part of an $880 million modernization program.
You might see environmental destruction, but I see growing economies and financial wealth!
Death to the Lorax, Long live the Wilton!!!
Introduction to Minerals
How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed
• Discovering Mineral Deposits
• Extracting Minerals
• Processing Minerals
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Mining and the Environment
• Disturbs large areas of land
• Uses huge quantities of water
• Affects water quality
Cost-benefit Analysis of Mine Development
Benefits of the mining vs. Preservation of the land
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining MineralsWe need to make use of the waste!
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals
The problem of tailings
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals
Case-in-Point: Copper Basin, TN
In southeast Tennessee, decades of extensive copper and sulfur mining degraded the once lush area known as the Copper Basin Mining District Site in Polk County. By the late 1800s, vegetation refused to grow, acidic conditions and leaching metals impaired the water quality and deforestation resulted in severe erosion. Abandoned and collapsing mine works and other deteriorating facilities and waste piles posed significant physical hazards.
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Restoration of Mining Lands
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The “Wilds” in Southern Ohio is an example of the success of the surface mining control and reclamation act!
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Restoration of Mining Lands
Creative Approaches to Cleaning Up Mining AreasConversion to wetlands
PhytoremediationPhytoremediaton is using plants to clean soil from contaminants!
Minerals: An International Perspective
• Many developed nations have observed significant environmental damage due to mining
• Many developed nations exacerbate problem by having mining interests in developing countries
Minerals: An International Perspective
U.S. and World Use
North American consumption of selected metals
Another example of the U.S. using up more than it’s fair share of resources!
Minerals: An International Perspective
Distribution Versus Consumption
Some minerals needed for many industrial processes
but only found in abundance in few places
Results in dependence
Stockpiling common
Minerals: An International Perspective
Will We Run Out of Important Minerals?
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Locating and Mining New Deposits
Many known deposits haven’t been exploited because:
• accessibility problems
• technology issues
• too deep
Don’t let Wilton know about this problem! He will exploit all of the earth’s resources even further!
Increasing the Supply of MineralsMinerals in Antarctica
Antartic Treaty (1961) limits activities in Antarctica
If significant mineral deposits were found, should they be exploited?
Leave Antarctica alone! There are plenty of minerals on Vulcan!
Leave my Planet alone!
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Minerals from the Ocean
Manganese nodules
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Minerals from the Ocean
If I could own the ocean, I could control the world’s manganese supply!
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Advanced Mining and Processing Technologies
Ability to exploit low-grade ores
BiominingBiomining is the use of microorganisms to extract metals and minerals from ores in the mining process. Ores of high quality are rapidly being depleted and biomining allows environmentally friendly ways of extracting metals from low-grade ores (ores that have small amounts of valuable metals scattered throughout).
Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies
Finding Mineral Substitutes
Substituting inexpensive / abundant resources for expensive / scarce resources
Glass, plastics, and aluminum have substituted for tin!
Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies
Mineral Conservation
Reuse
same product used over and over
Recycling
product is processed into another product
Changing Our Mineral Requirements
fight the “throw away” mentality
Wow, that was almost an interesting powerpoint, I stayed awake for most of it!