ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals Spring 2007Commodities, Part 1Mineral Identification, Aggregates, Asbestos, Barite, Beryllium, Borates, Bromine

Mineral Identification

Properties of mineralsHabit (Crystal forms and shapes)Hardness Cleavage Streak Color Luster Transparency Twinning Fracture Specific Gravity Associated Minerals

Fluorescence Magnetism Odor Feel Taste Solubility Reaction to acids Radioactive minerals Meteoritic minerals

Hardnessease or difficulty with which the mineral can be scratchedcontrolled by the strength of bonds between atoms

CleavageWay the mineral breaks or fracturesone direction of weakness, or in other minerals, 2, 3, 4, or as many as 6 may be presentdetermine the angular relation between the resulting cleavage surfacesperpendicularacuteobtuse

Streakcolor of a mineral when it is powderedcrushing and powdering a mineral eliminates some of the effects of impurities and structural flawsBlack - Graphite Black - Pyrite Black - Magnetite Black - Chalcopyrite Gray - Galena Limonite - Yellow-brown Hematite - Red-brown

Lusterway a minerals surface reflects lightmetallicearthywaxygreasyvitreous (glassy)adamantine (or brilliant, as in a faceted diamond)From:geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm

ColorFrom:geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm

Commodities outlineIntroduction (definition)Uses (properties)ProductionGeologic descriptions and distributionProcessing, marketing

Sources of informationSME Industrial Minerals HandbookSME abstracts, preprints, publicationsUSGS Mineral Commodities SummariesUSGS Fact SheetsUSGS publicationsCompany reportsIndustrial Minerals ForumWEB

Aggregates

AGGREGATESANDGRAVELHard materialsMixing with cementingForm concrete,mortar, asphalt

Railroad ballast,Road base, Landscaping rockGranular materialdue toRock disintegration

Diameter range:2 mm 1/16 mm

Unconsolidated, rounded rock fragments

Boulders Cobbles Pebbles GranulesIntroduction

What are aggregates?

Aggregates includeCrushed stoneAggregates Sand and gravel

Most important indicator of construction activities and health of society

Crushed Stoneintroduction70% limestone and dolomite16%, granite7%, traprock

7% othersandstone and quartzitemiscellaneous stonemarblecalcareous marlslateshellvolcanic cinder and scoria

2. USES ROAD BUILDING

Concrete

Bridges

Tunnels

Asphalt Pavement

Mortar

Plaster

Treated and untreated road base materials

Structural and nonstructural fillBUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Concrete

Cast-in-place

Precast Structure

Cladding Elements

Others

Fill

Septic Fields

Construction related uses All commercial activities including agriculture

Waste treatment facilities (waste water filtration) Hydroelectric power systems

Coal-fired electric power plants

DredgeTailingsStream DepositsAlluvialFansBeachDepositsOlder GeologicFormationsOriginGeology

4. MINING & PROCESSING ShovelsDraglinesLoadersTrucksDry-pit OperationWet-pit OperationDraglineFloatingDredge

4. MINING & PROCESSING Conventional earth-moving equipment

b) Groundwater is removed from wet gravel pits

c) Wet mining techniques (dredging)

4. MINING & PROCESSING

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/load%20haul%20trucks.htm

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/miningbench.htm

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/drilling.htm

Urbanization on top of excellent sand and gravel resources limiting our flow of the resource

Houses made of adobe bricks are still popular in urban areas.

Crushed StoneLightweight Aggregate manufactured by sinteringPumiceExpanded PerliteExpanded VermiculateIron blast Furnace SlagSubstitutes

Environmental IssuesDiesel fumes Fugitive dust Increased trafficIncreased air pollutionIncreased use of ground waterSubsidence AestheticsHigh walls/quarries

Asbestos

AsbestosIntroductionsix fibrous minerals

USGS Facts Sheet on Asbestos

Asbestiform The physical form or appearance of minerals that consists of long, thin and sometimes flexible fibers or needle-like structures.

Chain Silicate A class of silicate minerals that form in structural chains. In some of these minerals the chains can separate easily along parallel crystallographic planes and can form fibrous or needle-like structures. Amphiboles and pyroxenes are members of the chain silicate family.

Sheet Silicate A class of silicate minerals that form in structural sheets and often break easily along one crystallographic plane so as to form extremely thin flat plates. Members of this mineral group include micas, clays, and serpentines.

AsbestosPropertiesColorolive green, yellow or golden, brown, or blackfibrousHardness 3 - 4.5Specific Gravity 2.2 - 2.6silky feelgreasy, waxy or silky luster

AsbestosPropertiesFibrous (aspect ratio 50:1)high tensile strengthchemical and thermal stabilityhigh flexibilitylow electrical conductivitylarge surface areacan be woven

Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)

AsbestosUsesFirst used in Finland in 2500 BC where anthophyllite was used to reinforce clay utensils and pottery lamp wicks and crematory clothing roofing and flooring productsgasketsfriction products (brake linings, clutch facings)asbestos cement (pipe and sheet)

AsbestosUses55% for roofing products26% for coatings and compounds19% for other applications

AsbestosProductionNo asbestos mining in the U.S. since 200289% imported from Canadian mines240,000 metric tons in 2006Russia 925,000 metric tons in 2006China 400 metric tons in 2006Kazakhstan, Brazil, Zimbabwe

World resources200 million tons of identified resources

Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)

Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)

USGS Facts Sheet on Asbestos

AsbestosSubstitutescalcium silicatecarbon fibercellulose fiberceramic fiberglass fibersteel fiberwollastoniteseveral organic fibers

AsbestosGeologyUltramafic rocksskarn depositsserpentinized dolomitic limestonesserpentine veinsage Precambrian (Zimbabwe) to Jurassic (California)

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/baieverte_mine_operation_500.html

Thetford Mines, Qubec Asbestos Mining Districthttp://www2.brevard.edu/reynoljh/thetfordmines/ophiolite.htm

AsbestosProcessingStore, ship, receive, and use in dust free environmentcrushingconcentrate--magnetic, screening

AsbestosMarkets1960s-1970s consumption increased1980s-health risks were realized and production droppedtoday markets in Western Europe and AsiaIn U.S. asbestos is banned in some products and must be clearly labeled if used

AsbestosHealth Risks??

AsbestosHealth RisksCauses cancer, especially mesotheliomaLung diseasesmining, construction, mining or shipbuilding industries

Barite

BariteIntroductionGreek word "barus" (heavy)BaSO4barytes

BariteProperties???

BaritePropertiesColorvariable, commonly colorless or white, also blue, green, yellow and red shadesLuster is vitreousbladed crystalsSpecific Gravity 4.5 (heavy)Hardness 3 - 3.5

Barite in Britian

http://webmineral.com/specimens/picshow.php?id=93

http://webmineral.com/specimens/picshow.php?id=93

BariteUsesheavy cementweighting agent in petroleum well drilling mud filler or extenderadditive to cement, rubber, and urethane foamautomobile paint primerfriction products (brake and clutch pads)cement vessels that contain radioactive materialswhite pigmentgastrointestinal x-ray milkshakesfaceplate and funnelglass of cathode-ray tubes used for television sets and computer monitors to protect against radiation

BariteProductionNevadaGeorgia TennesseeGreat BritianIndiaCanadaMexicoChina

USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2006

BariteSubstitutesCelestiteilmeniteiron oresynthetic hematite

BariteGeologySedimentary exhalative (Sedex) depositsRio Grande Rift (RGR) depositsMississippi Valley type (MVT) depositsSedimentary stratiform depositsvolcanic massive sulfide depositsgangue in epithermal and mesothermal veins

BariteProcessingwashingjiggingheavy media separationtablingflotationmagnetic separation

Beryllium

BerylliumIntroductionBebertranditeberyl

http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photoberyl.html

http://webmineral.com/specimens/picshow.php?id=119

BerylliumPropertiesability to withstand extreme heatremain stable over a wide range of temperaturesfunction as an excellent thermal conductor

BerylliumUseselectronic and electrical components aerospace and defense applicationsused as pure metal mixed with other metals to form alloys processed to form salts that dissolve in waterprocessed to form oxides and ceramic materials

BerylliumUsesAir bag sensorsignitionpower steering and electronic auto systemsfire extinguisherssprinkler headspacemakerslasersMilitary electronic targeting and infrared countermeasure systems

BerylliumSubstitutionsused in applications in which its properties are crucialGraphitesteeltitaniumaluminum nitridephosphor bronze

BerylliumProductionUtahAlaskaTexas

BerylliumProductionProven bertrandite reserves in Utah total approximately 16,000 tons of contained beryllium.World resources amount to 80,000 tons, mostly from Spur Mountain, Utah and Alaska.

BerylliumGeologyPegmatitesepithermalrhyolitesMo-W-Be skarns

Beryllium belt of western Utah," also the "Deep Creek-Tintic belt. Be, F, U, Li, Cu, Au, base metals (USGS OF 98-524)

USGS OF 98-524

Be at Spor Mountain has been mined by Brush Wellman since about 1970, Roadslide pit in 1970 (USGS OF 98-524)

Monitor pit as it appeared in 1979, also Brush-Wellman (USGS OF 98-524)

Controls of mineralizationmagma chemistryfavorable host rocksstructureextension (F, U, Be, Li, alkaline rocks)

beryllium tuff (USGS OF 98-524)

BerylliumProcessingmaintain careful control over the quantity of beryllium dust and fumes in the workplace

BerylliumHealth risksToxic metalChronic beryllium disease, or CBD, is an inflammation in the lungsradioactive

Borates

BoratesIntroductionBoron found in more than 80 different mineralsTincal - Na2OB4O710H2O (Egyptians used it to mummify their dead) Kernite - Na2OB4O74H2OUlexite - NaCaB5O98H2OColemanite - Ca2B6O115H2O

Kernite http://www.borax.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Borax_crystals.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Borax_ball.jpg

BoratesUsesglass products, 75%soaps and detergents, 7%agriculture, 4%fire retardants, 4%hydrogen fuel systems

BoratesSubstitutionssodium and potassium salts of fatty acidschlorine bleach or enzymesphosphatescellulose, foams, and mineral wools

BoratesProduction600 million metric tons of borates in viable deposits worldwidein U.S.--U.S. Borax, now Rio Tinto Borax owned by Rio Tinto

Bromine

Bromine (bromides)IntroductionDiscovered 1826liquid at normal temperatures and pressuresheavy, mobile, reddish-brown liquid that volatilizesbromine salts common in natureseawater, salt lakes, inland seas, and brine wells Seawater contains about 65 ppm bromide salts, Dead Sea 5000 ppm

BrominePropertiesunique chemical interaction with the combustion process allows for flame retardation

BromineUsesRomans used a chemical produced naturally by marine mussels was extracted to produce purple dye (royal purple)fire retardants (40%)drilling fluids (24%)brominated pesticides (12%)water-treatment chemicals (7%)photographic chemicals and rubber additives (17%)

BromineUsesEthylene dibromine, gives anti-knock gasoline compoundsdisinfectant

BromineProductionThree bromine companies accounted for 64% of world production.Two are in the U.S. (Arkansas and Michigan) 38%Israel 2nd largest producer

BromineProduction (USGS)

BromineSubstitutionsChlorineiodinerecycling of plastics to recover bromine

BromineGeologySubmarine brines (Arkansas, Michigan)extracted from seawaterby-product of potash

BromineProcessingboiling the treated brine solutionHerbert Dow developed the electrolysis process in 1894 and the Dow Chemical Company in 1897

By passing the bromine-laden air through a body of iron turnings," Dow said in his patent, "the bromine and iron will chemically unite, forming a bromide of iron known as ferric bromide.http://www.rockbridgegroup.com...

BromineHealth risksRed vapor is irritating to eyesBlisters on skinodor from Geek bromos meaning stench

HomeworkI will get them gradedMidterm pass outMeet with individuals or groups to go over term projectsSchedule commodity reportsField tripSocorro perlite trip (Fri)Carlsbad Mon-Tues March 12-13Zeolites Wed March 14?