Minerals: A Nonrenewable Resource Chapter 16. Introduction to Minerals Concrete – sand, gravel,...
-
Upload
irma-watson -
Category
Documents
-
view
225 -
download
1
Transcript of Minerals: A Nonrenewable Resource Chapter 16. Introduction to Minerals Concrete – sand, gravel,...
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
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 Minerals
The problem of tailings
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals
Case-in-Point: Copper Basin, TN
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Restoration of Mining Lands
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Environmental Implications of Minerals
Restoration of Mining Lands
Creative Approaches to Cleaning Up Mining AreasConversion to wetlands
Phytoremediation
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
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
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Locating and Mining New Deposits
Many known deposits haven’t been exploited because:
• accessibility problems
• technology issues
• too deep
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Minerals in Antarctica
Antartic Treaty (1961) limits activities in Antarctica
If significant mineral deposits were found, should they be exploited?
Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Advanced Mining and Processing Technologies
Ability to exploit low-grade ores
Biomining
Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies
Finding Mineral Substitutes
Substituting inexpensive / abundant resources for expensive / scarce resources
E.g., Glass, plastics, and aluminum have substituted for tin