Mineral Resources and MiningC

HA

PT

ER

13

Mining for . . . Cell Phones?

• Large reserves of the metal tantalum are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Africa.

• Tantalum jumped in value in the 1990s as high-tech devices that need tantalum, such as cell phones, became common.

• There is international concern regarding the role tantalum mining has played in the extended conflict in the Congo.

Talk About It Is it important to think about the sources of the minerals we use?

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Over 4000 minerals have been identified, but only 1% of these are common in Earth’s crust.Amethyst

What Are Minerals?

Minerals are:

• _______

• ________ (no C-H bonds)

• __________

• ______

•With a ___________________________*

*Can vary over a limited range that does not affect the crystal structure

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Pyrite (Fool’s Gold)

Natural

Inorganic

Crystalline

Solid

Definite Chemical Composition

•__________ substances are not made of _____________ or the ________ of living things. *No Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds

NOR

What Are Minerals?

Inorganic

Living Things Remains

•A mineral may be an _________ (Native element, Ex.: ________).

•A mineral may be a ___________ (Ex.: _______---SiO2)

•The two most abundant elements found in minerals are ________ and _______.

What Are Minerals?

Element

Compound

Silicon Oxygen

Copper

Quartz

Mineral or NOT

SteelNot a mineral.

Man-made

Lumber Not a mineral

Organic

Coal Not a mineralOrganic

Mineral or NOT

“Hope Diamond”Mineral

OilNot a mineral

Liquid and Organic

Properties of Minerals

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Property Description

• Color A few minerals can be identified by their color. But color varies in most minerals depending on how they form.

• Streak The streak of a mineral is the color of its powder. Although mineral color may vary, streak color does not.

• Luster How light is reflected off a mineral’s surface is called luster. It may be described as glassy, earthy, silky, metallic, etc.

• Crystal A mineral can be identified by the particular arrangement of its atoms.

• HardnessMohs scale ranks mineral hardness 1–10. 1 = talc, which can be scratched by a fingernail. 10 = diamond, which can scratch all known common minerals.

• Cleavage A mineral that splits easily along a flat surface and forms a new “face” is said to have cleavage.

• Fracture Minerals that break irregularly, rather than leaving a flat surface, have fracture, not cleavage.

• Density Each mineral has a characteristic density—mass per unit volume.

Color•____________________ in mineral identification

•Small amounts of different __________ or formation conditions can give the ________________________. Ex. Quartz

Least Useful Property

ElementsSame Mineral Different Colors

•Some ________________________________.

All of these minerals have a green color however, they are all very different.

Calcite Fluorite Smithsonite

Color

different minerals are the same color

• The color of a mineral in its ____________ form.

• The ________ of a mineral can vary from sample to sample, but the _________ doesn’t. Ex. Hematite

StreakPowdered

ColorStreak

•Used to describe how _____ is reflected from the surface of a mineral.

•Luster can be _______ or __________.

Luster

Light

Metallic Non-Metallic

•Quartz – _______ Luster

•Mica – _______ Luster

•Kaolin – _______ Luster

•Gypsum (satin spar) – _____ Luster

•Talc – _____ Luster

LusterGlassy

Pearly

Earthy

Silky

Waxy

•The visible expression of a mineral’s _________ _______________________.•Every mineral has a distinct ________ form.•Usually only happens when there is enough _______ to grow.•Ex. Cubic: Calcite

Crystal Structureinternal

arrangement of atomsCrystal

Room

•A measure of the ____________ of a mineral to being ____________.

•Standard scale of hardness called the ______ Hardness Scale (scale of 1-10; 10 is hardest).

•______ is softest and ___________ is the hardest.

Hardness

ResistanceScratched

Mohs

Talc Diamond

Hardness

1. ___________ - the tendency of a mineral to cleave or break along __________ surfaces.

–Ex. Mica—cleaves along one flat plane (breaks the silicon-oxygen bond)

 

BreakageCleavage

Flat, Even

2. _________-the _________________ of a mineral.

–Minerals that break into smooth, __________ surfaces (Ex. Quartz) show conchoidal fracture

–Some minerals _____________________ (Ex. Asbestos)

–Some minerals have an ___________ fracture

BreakageFracture Uneven breakage

Curved

Splinter into fibers

Irregular

Density

•_____________(D = M/V)

•The density of a pure mineral is a __________.

Mass per Volume

Constant value

Mineral Formation•Minerals can form in four ways:

1) ______________________________

• _________ (inside the Earth) cools slowly and forms large crystals

• _______ (on Earth’s surface) cools quickly and forms small crystals

2) ________________ – a liquid in a solution evaporates & the remaining solids crystalize

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Salt basins of the Sierra Nevada The Miwok people filled these basins with water from a salt spring and let it evaporate, to form salt for trading.

Crystallization from magma or lava

Magma

Lava

Precipitation

Mineral Formation•Minerals can form in four ways:

3) ____________________________

•Great changes in temperature or pressure may cause one mineral to change into another

• _____________ – minerals which consist of the same ____________ but have difference __________ structures due to different formation conditions

• Ex. ____________ (formed in the mantle) & _____________ (formed in the crust)

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Temperature & Pressure

PolymorphElementsCrystal

DiamondGraphite

Mineral Formation•Minerals can form in four ways:

4) __________________________

•Organisms form inorganic minerals to produce hard structures that provide protection or ___________

• Ex. _______________________ in Shells & Coral & Calcium Phosphate in fish bones

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Produced by Organisms

Support

Calcium Carbonate

Mineral Classes• Minerals are classified based on their ____________ or

compounds.

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Elements

Rocks•Rocks are naturally occurring solids

________________________ and mineral-like materials

•Rocks can be made up of ___________ of mineral or many ____________ types of minerals (and mineral-like materials)

• A mineral is ______ a rock, rocks are _____________ of minerals

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Made up of Minerals

One TypeDifferent

NOTMADE UP

Rocks•The ____________ slowly changes rocks from one type to another through ________, melting, cooling, _____________, and erosion.

•Three types: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic

Lesson 13.1 Minerals and Rocks

Rock CycleHeating

Weathering

Igneous Rocks

•_______ rocks are formed from the __________________.IgneousCooling of Liquid Rock

Igneous Rocks

2 Main Types of Igneous Rocks:

1) ___________ igneous rocks •Form ________________the surface and have been cooling for millions of years.•These rocks are characterized by _______ crystals.

• Ex. _________

IntrusiveDeep Beneath

Large

Granite

Igneous Rocks

2 Main Types of Igneous Rocks:

2) ____________ igneous rocks – • Form on the __________ of the

earth.•When lava erupts out of a volcano

it ________________ and there is little to no crystal growth.

• Ex. _____________________

ExtrusiveSurface

Cools Rapidly

Obsidian or Pumice

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks•Made from an _______________ of various types of ______________.

What is sediment?

•Fragments that result from the weathering of ______, ___________, and ___________________.

•Ex. Gravel, clay, silt, pebbles, sand, mud, shells, dirt

AccumulationSediment

RocksMinerals Organic Material

Sedimentary Rocks

Most sedimentary rocks form _______________. •Ex. ____________

Under WaterLimestone

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary Rock Forms Through These 4 Processes:1) _____________: sediments are pushed together and as a result, ___________ are squeezed out.

2) ______________: water passes through the sediments and dissolved minerals left behind act as a ________ to hold the ___________ together.

CompactionWater & Air

Cementation

Cement Sediments

Sedimentary Rock Forms Through These 4 Processes:3) _____________: minerals ______________ and fall out of solution

4) _____________: Water evaporates and leaves ____________________ behind.

Sedimentary Rocks

Precipitation Clump Together

EvaporationDissolved Minerals

Sedimentary RockThere are 3 types of sedimentary rock:1) __________: • Formed from fragments of _______________ which

have been ______________ and eroded• Ex. _____________ (sand) & ________ (silt or clay)

ClasticOther Rocks

WeatheredSandstone Shale

Sedimentary RockThere are 3 types of sedimentary rock:2) ______________: • Formed from minerals that were once

_______________ in water.• Either the minerals “________” out of the water

(precipitates) or the water _______________ leaving the minerals behind (evaporites)• Ex. Chemical Limestone (CaCO3)

Gypsum (CaSO4), halite (NaCl)

Chemical

DissolvedSettle

Evaporates

Sedimentary RockThere are 3 types of sedimentary rock:3) ________________• Formed from the remains or traces of _____________

and/or __________• Ex. Coal (plants), chalk (animal skeletons), organic

limestone (shells-CaCO3)

BiochemicalAnimals

Plants

White Chalk Cliff in Dover, England

Sedimentary RocksFeatures:• ________________: (aka. Layering) occurs when

there is a change in the _______ of sediment deposited.

• Ex. Grand Canyon

StratificationKind

Features:• _________________: formed from the action of

__________________ on sand (seen in sandstone)

Sedimentary Rocks

Ripple MarksWind or Water

Features:• __________: remains or traces of plants and/or

animals

Sedimentary Rocks

Fossils

•Rock formed from ________________ (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) as a result of intense ________ (from magma) and _____________ (plate tectonics).

•Most metamorphic rock forms _____________________ of the earth.

Metamorphic RocksOther Rocks

Heat Pressure

Below the Surface

• __________ metamorphism occurs when the heat from hot magma changes the composition of surrounding rocks.• ___________ metamorphism occurs over large areas of tectonic activity.

Contact

Regional

•Metamorphic rocks are classified according to their _______.

•Foliated or Nonfoliated?

Metamorphic Rocks

Structure

Metamorphic Rocks

Foliated• ____________ flattens the mineral crystals and

pushes them into ___________ bands.•Minerals with different _______________ separate

into different bands• EX. Slate, schist, gneiss

PressureParallel

Densities

Metamorphic RocksNonfoliated• ______________________________• EX. Quartzite, marbleNo Visible Parallel Bands

Metamorphic Rocks

Parent RocksShale (sedimentary) → SlateSlate (metamorphic) → SchistSchist (metamorphic) → GneissGranite (igneous) → Gneiss Limestone (sedimentary) → MarbleSandstone (sedimentary) → Quartz

 Shale

Slate

Schist

Gneiss

Lesson 13.2 Mining

More than a ton of waste may remain after extracting just a few hundredths of an ounce of gold.

What Is Mined?

Lesson 13.2 Mining

• Ores: ______________________ that are mined so ________ or metals can be removed

• Nonmetallic minerals: Minerals that as a whole have valuable properties Ex. _____________________

• Fuels: Minerals that can be used to _________________ Ex. Coal & Uranium

Groups of MineralsMetal

Gemstones & SandGenerate Energy

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

From initial exploration to disposal, mining and mineral use involves many steps.

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

1) _______________ – layers of ______________________ are removed from large areas of land to expose a resource

• Used when a resource occurs in _____________________ deposits

• Used for coal, sand & gravel

Strip Mining Surface Soil & Rock

Shallow, Horizontal

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

2) ______________________ – vertical shafts are dug deep into the ground & networks of ______________________ are dug of blasted out to follow deposits of a resource

• Used when resources are concentrated in pockets or seams _______________________

Did You Know? Some subsurface mines in South Africa extend 4 km underground.

Subsurface MiningHorizontal Tunnels

Deep Underground

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

3) ___________________ – digging a ______________ and removing ore and the unwanted rock that surrounds the ore

• Used when a mineral is ____________________ distributed throughout a rock formation or when the ground is unsuitable for tunneling

Open Pit Mining Large Hole

Widely & Evenly

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

4) __________________________ – forests are clear cut, topsoil is removed and rock is ________________ to expose a resource.

• Repeated cycles of blasting can remove ____________ of feet of mountaintop

• Used primarily for ______

Mountaintop RemovalBlasted Away

Hundreds

Coal

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

5) __________________– a chemical solution or water is pumped into a mine to _________ the desired resource out of an ore

• Mostly used to remove _____

Solution MiningLeach

Salt

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

6) ________________ – sifting through material in modern or ancient ____________ deposits

• Running water is used to separate mud from valuable minerals

• Ex. ________________________ of 1849

Placer MiningRiverbed

California Gold Rush

Mining Methods

Lesson 13.2 Mining

7) ____________________ – mining that takes place _____________

• Includes ____________(vacuuming up materials)

• Exploration of _________________ vents

Undersea MiningUndersea

Dredging

Hydrothermal

Processing Ore

Lesson 13.2 Mining

• Ores must be processed to gain access to the metals they contain:

1) _________________ & ground.

2) Crushed ore is separated into _______________________

*Tailing – waste product

• The extraction of a few hundredths of an ounce of gold can produce ____________ of tailings

Ore is crushed

Metals & Tailings

One Ton

Processing Ore

Lesson 13.2 Mining

• Ores must be processed to gain access to the metals they contain:

3) Concentrated metals are further processed, often by ______________.

*Smelting – heating ore beyond its _________ point

Smelting

Melting

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

There are about $314 million worth of metals contained in unused cell phones in the United States alone.

Environmental Impacts of Mining

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Increased __________

• Sediment and debris ____________________.

• ______ drainage – when _______________ in rocks is exposed to oxygen and water it can form ________________ which leaches off metals and washes into waterways

• ___________________ – tailings leak out of impoundments or dams

• _______________

• Disruption of _________ ecosystems (undersea mining)

ErosionClog Waterways

Acid Iron SulfideSulfuric Acid

Water Pollution

Air PollutionOcean

Acid Drainage and the Metals it Leaches Off

Social Impacts of Mining

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Property damage caused by _______________________ or mine collapse

Mountain Removal

Social Impacts of Mining

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Although mining can bring _________________ to poor areas of the world, ____________________ can arise over mineral rights.• Ex. Diamonds in West Africa

Money & JobsViolent Conflicts

Social Impacts of Mining

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Mining can be hazardous to the _________ of the miners.Ex.

____________________________________________________

HealthBlack Lung Disease & Mine Collapse

General Mining Law of 1872

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Created rules to __________ mining activity, but also ___________ mining

• Governs the mining of ___________ minerals (gold), uranium, materials used for building & diamonds

• Public land can be claimed and leased from the government for mining by:

• A ___________________________________

• A person who has declared intent to become a citizen

• A ______________ with permission to do business in the US

RegulatePromoted

Metallic

US Citizen of Legal Age

Company

General Mining Law of 1872

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

•Whoever holds the lease has the sole right to minerals taken from the claimed area

• Lease holder does ______ have to pay the government any part of the ___________________ from the land

• Claim owners can file to patent, or own, the land for __________________

• Amendments are currently being considered

NOTProfits Earned

$5 per acre

Mining Leasing Act of 1920

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Developed due to the discovered worth of ______________

• Governs the leasing of public lands for fossil fuel, phosphate, sodium, and sulfur mining.

• Annuals ___________________________ are on the products extracted must be payed by the people who lease land for this purpose

Fossil Fuels

Rental Fees & Royalties

Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act (1977)

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Land must be ____________ after a mining operation is complete

• Mining companies must post bonds to cover reclamation costs _______________________a mining operation

• Companies must:

• Remove ________________ built

• Replace the rocks and soil that were removed

• Fill in _________

• Plant vegetation

• Even when all of the requirements are met, the land is still not _____________________ prior to mining

Restored

Prior to Beginning

Structures

Shaft

Exactly like it was

Reclamation

Mine Safety

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• First law, passed in 1891, established ______________ requirements for coal mines and prohibited miners ___________.

• Today, the Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977 regulates mine safety.

• In 2010, an underground explosion in a West Virginia mine killed _____________.

Ventilation

Under 12

29 Miners

Responsible Mineral Use

Lesson 13.3 Mining Impacts and Regulation

• Minerals are __________________ resources.

• Reducing use, reusing, and recycling minerals can help minimize the negative impacts of mining and address limited supplies.

Did You Know? Extracting aluminum ore takes 20 times more energy than obtaining it from recycled sources.

Nonrenewable