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GEOLOGYCMU
Bill PalmerEconomic Geology
GEOLOGY
If it can’t be grown it must
be mined!
GEOLOGY
“If it can’t be grown it must be mined!”
This is a favorite saying of miners and others who make their living from a knowledge of geology.
GEOLOGY
Let’s look at some of the mineral and geologic resources that are important to society with a special emphasis on those found in Missouri.
Missouri is one of the top TEN states in the production of geologic resources.
GEOLOGY Geologic Resources are generally divided into TWO types:Locally Important-resources that are mined locally and
used locally. Can not be shipped to other markets economically.
Globally Important-resources that are mined locally and can be shipped anywhere in the world and for a profit.
GEOLOGY Missouri ranks:
1st in fireclay production 1st in lime production 1st in lead production 2nd in iron pigments production 3rd in barite production 3rd in iron ore production 4th in zinc production 5th in Portland cement production 5th in Fuller’s earth production 6th in Copper production
GEOLOGY
Total value of these resources to the state of Missouri is about $1-1.5 billion/year.
This generates about $4-5 billion/year to Missouri’s economy.
GEOLOGY Barite-locally called “tiff” in MO Gray to white, soft mineral, heavy (4.5 X water) Mined by individuals since 1850 by pick and shovel. Sold
for $2.00/ton Inert Mixed with water to make oil well drilling mud. This is
put in drill hole to cool the bit, keep the hole from collapsing, float rock to the top, and contain any oil
GEOLOGY
Barite
GEOLOGY Barite-is also used in:
Paint “Slick” magazine covers Rubber Glass Textiles Concrete Nuclear reactors X-rays
GEOLOGY Cement-made from limestone, clay, shale Heated to 2,500-3,000 degrees Add gypsum Then pulverized Cement + sand + rock + water = concrete Most along the Mississippi River Must have the resources and ability to ship by barge THE most important economically geological resource in
the state= $200,000,000/yr
GEOLOGY
Missouri Cement Plant
GEOLOGY Chert/Flint-very common Locally abundant Used for road surface-blacktop Wears well Sometimes mistaken as dinosaur eggs, bones, fossil
melons, or petrified eggs Indian points Red, pink, and gray chert is MOZARKITE-the Missouri
State Rock
GEOLOGY
Chert
GEOLOGY
Chert/Flint-very common Don’t throw a chert rock into a campfire…it could
explode-it has water in it and as it dries it could crack and explode!
Try skipping chert rocks in the dark and watch for the sparks!
GEOLOGY
Clay and Shale-used for native American pots Used to make bricks, tile, terra-cotta, flowerpots,
china, paper Early Missourians used clay and shale to make
bricks Fireclay is used to make heat-resistant bricks-the
launching pads of the space shuttle
GEOLOGY
Bricks and other materials made from clay and shale.
GEOLOGY Coal-Pretty common in MO-found in 63/114
counties, 40 identified coal beds Needs to be about 12’ thick to mine Most is in N and NW MO MO coal has high sulfur so cannot be used straight
economically Sometimes mixed with low-sulfur coal from
Wyoming
GEOLOGY
Coal mining in Missouri
GEOLOGY
Cobalt and Nickel-Present in some lead ores-not profitable at this time
Copper-By product from lead and Zinc mining Gemstones-some quartz-jasper (red quartz), agate
(banded quartz), smoky quartz (black or grayish quartz) Some nice mineral specimens come from the lead mines
GEOLOGY
Some Missouri Gemstones
GEOLOGY Iron-Historically common Mined by hand since 1700s Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob were two early
sources Ironton had first iron refinery west of Mississippi
River in 1815 No active refineries in MO now, Missouri ore is
used in other states
GEOLOGY
Pilot Knob and Iron mining in Missouri
GEOLOGY
Lead-French discovered lead in Missouri in 1701 (yes 1701!) needed to mold bullets
Trappers and traders would find lead ore on surface, build a small refinery of rocks and use wood to smelt the lead. Lead would then be molded into bullets..not very efficient but didn’t need much for bullets
GEOLOGY
Early French trappers and traders used Missouri as a source for lead musket balls.
GEOLOGY Lead-Today lead is mined in large underground
mines complete with heavy equipment The equipment is disassembled and sent down a
shaft and then reassembled Lead mines are “hard rock mines” not like “soft
rock mines” (coal) and are considered quite safe Most lead us used for storage batteries (cars) Electronics, glass, bearings, plumbing, solder
GEOLOGY
Lead
GEOLOGY
Lime-made from crushed limestone Much is used in chemical industry Also used n glass, paper, sugar refining, water
softener, metal, agriculture, and construction
GEOLOGY
Oil and Gas-Limited in MO Wells were drilled in 1800s Not much oil but did find natural gas Some producing gas wells in W and NW MO Big Question? If MO has so much coal why isn’t
there oil? No one knows!
GEOLOGY
Sand and Gravel-Very common locally Most sand comes from MO and MS rivers Gravel is from streams Gravel is not used as much as it once was as it
destroys the stream bed to mine
Sand Plant at Jefferson City
GEOLOGY
Silica Sand-This is a special high quality sand used for glass, metal casting, polishing
Mined near St. Louis. PPG glass factory in west county
Silica Sand
Greenhouse
GEOLOGY
Silver-one historic mine in MO Most silver comes as by-product from lead mining Used in coins, jewelry, flatware, chemicals
Silver Mines RA
St. Francois River
Silver Jewelry
GEOLOGY
Stone- Crushed and dimension stone Crushed stone used for roads (Rock Quarry),
cement, lime, agricultural lime, concrete Dimension stone-high quality, no cracks, cut to
size and used in buildings
Ag Lime
Rock Quarry
GEOLOGY Stone- Marble-Really limestone-has been used for fancy
buildings in every state of the nationMO state capitolFederal court bldg, NYNYNotre Dame UniversityNational Art Gallery Wash. D.C.Stanford University
GEOLOGY
Missouri State Capitol
Jefferson City
GEOLOGY
Water-Missouri has more water than most states 32-48 inches of rain annually
Barge trafficDrinking water Industry Power generationSome ground water too saline for use
GEOLOGY
Water use in Missouri
GEOLOGY
Zinc-used in brass, galvanized metal, nails, fence, dry cell batteries, primer for chrome plating (car door handle), paint, textile, floor tiles
Comes from the mineral Sphalerite
Sphalerite
Galvanized Pots and Pans
GEOLOGY-Wrap-ups
No wrap-ups with this lecture (hooray!)