ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals
Spring 2012
Commodities, Part 1Mineral Identification, Aggregates, Asbestos, Barite, Borates, Bromine
Commodities outline
Introduction (definition)Uses (properties)ProductionGeologic descriptions and distributionProcessing, marketing
Sources of information
SME Industrial Minerals HandbookSME abstracts, preprints, publicationsUSGS Mineral Commodities SummariesUSGS Fact SheetsUSGS publicationsCompany reportsIndustrial Minerals ForumWEB
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2012/mcs2012.pdf
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2012/mcs2012.pdf
Mineral Identification
Properties of minerals• Habit (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
Cleavage
Way 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 surfaces– perpendicular– acute– obtuse
Streak
color of a mineral when it is powderedcrushing and powdering a mineral eliminates some of the effects of impurities and structural flaws
Black - Graphite Black - Pyrite Black - Magnetite Black - Chalcopyrite Gray - Galena Limonite - Yellow-brown Hematite - Red-brown
Lusterway a mineral’s surface reflects light
metallicearthywaxygreasyvitreous (glassy)adamantine (or brilliant, as in a faceted diamond)
From:geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm
Color
From:geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm
SOURCES FOR MINERAL IDENTIFICATION
http://un2sg4.unige.ch/athena/mineral/search.htmlhttp://www.webmineral.com/
Aggregates
AGGREGATE SAND GRAVEL
Hard materialsMixing with cementingForm concrete,mortar, asphalt
Railroad ballast,Road base, Landscaping rock
Granular materialdue to
Rock disintegration
Diameter range:2 mm – 1/16 mm
Unconsolidated, rounded rock fragments
Boulders Cobbles Pebbles Granules
Introduction
Aggregates are an integral part of our roads, sidewalks, sewers, subway tunnels and airports, as well as our homes, offices, hospitals, schools and shopping centers.
Aggregates are critical ingredients in a number of manufactured products such as glass, coated paper, paint and pharmaceuticals.
Aggregates are also used in several manufacturing processes, including the making of steel, aluminium and plastic.
Found in fertilizer, floor coverings, toothpaste
Aggregates include
Crushed stoneAggregates Sand and gravel
Most important indicator of construction activities and health of society
Crushed Stone—introduction
70% limestone and dolomite16%, granite7%, traprock
7% other– sandstone and
quartzite– miscellaneous stone– marble– calcareous marl– slate– shell– volcanic cinder and
scoria
2. USES
2. USES
ROAD BUILDING
Concrete
Bridges
Tunnels
Asphalt Pavement
Mortar
Plaster
Treated and untreated road base materials
Structural and nonstructural fill
BUILDING 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
USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012
Sand and gravel for construction
Sand and gravel for industrial
Crushed stone
Dimension stone
DredgeTailings
Stream Deposits Alluvial
Fans
BeachDeposits
Older Geologic
Formations
Origin
Geology
4. MINING & PROCESSING
Shovels DraglinesLoaders Trucks
Dry-pit Operation
Wet-pit Operation
Dragline FloatingDredge
4. MINING & PROCESSING
a) 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
Houses made of adobe bricks are still popular in urban areas.
Crushed StoneLightweight Aggregate manufactured by sinteringPumiceExpanded PerliteExpanded VermiculateIron blast Furnace Slag
Substitutes
Environmental Issues
Diesel fumes Fugitive dust Increased trafficIncreased air pollutionIncreased use of ground waterSubsidence
Where is the nearest sand and gravel pit to NM Tech?
Asbestos
Asbestos—Introductionsix 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.
Asbestos—Properties
Color—olive green, yellow or golden, brown, or blackfibrousHardness 3 - 4.5Specific Gravity 2.2 - 2.6silky feelgreasy, waxy or silky luster
Asbestos—Properties
Fibrous (aspect ratio 50:1)high tensile strengthchemical and thermal stabilityhigh flexibilitylow electrical conductivitylarge surface areacan be woven
Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)
Asbestos—UsesFirst 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)
Asbestos—Uses55% for roofing products26% for coatings and compounds19% for other applications
Asbestos—ProductionNo asbestos mining in U.S. since 2002– 715 metric tons consumed in US in 2009
(1,460 metric tons in 2008)– $613/metric ton in 2009
Canada 180,000 metric tons in 2009Russia 1,020,000 metric tons in 2009China 280,000 metric tons (400 metric tons in 2006)Kazakhstan, Brazil, Zimbabwe
World resources
200 million tons of identified resources
Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)
Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)
USGS Facts Sheet on Asbestos
Asbestos—Substitutescalcium silicatecarbon fibercellulose fiberceramic fiberglass fibersteel fiberwollastoniteseveral organic fibers
USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012
USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012
Why was there so little asbestos produced in 2011?
Asbestos—Geology
Ultramafic rocksskarn depositsserpentinized dolomitic limestonesserpentine veinsage Precambrian (Zimbabwe) to Jurassic (California)
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/baieverte_mine_operation_500.html
Thetford Mines, Québec Asbestos Mining Districthttp://www2.brevard.edu/reynoljh/thetfordmines/ophiolite.htm
Asbestos—Processing
Store, ship, receive, and use in dust free environmentcrushingconcentrate--magnetic, screening
Asbestos—Markets
1960s-1970s consumption increased1980s-health risks were realized and production droppedtoday markets in Western Europe and Asia
Asbestos—Health Risks
Causes cancer, especially mesotheliomaLung diseasesmining, construction, mining or shipbuilding industries
Barite
Barite—Introduction
Greek word "barus" (heavy)BaSO4barytes
Barite—Properties
Color—variable, 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
Palm Park, NM
Barite—Usesheavy 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 “milkshakes”faceplate and funnelglass of cathode-ray tubes used for television sets and computer monitors to protect against radiation
Barite—Production
NevadaGeorgia TennesseeGreat BritianIndiaCanadaMexicoChina
USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012
USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012
Barite—Substitutes
Celestiteilmeniteiron oresynthetic hematite
Barite—Geology
Sedimentary exhalative (Sedex) depositsRio Grande Rift (RGR) depositsMississippi Valley type (MVT) depositsSedimentary stratiform depositsvolcanic massive sulfide depositsgangue in epithermal and mesothermal veins
Barite—Processing
washingjiggingheavy media separationtablingflotationmagnetic separation
Borates
Borates—Introduction
Boron found in more than 80 different mineralsTincal - Na2O·B4O7·10H2O (Egyptians used it to mummify their dead) Kernite - Na2O·B4O7·4H2OUlexite - NaCaB5O9·8H2OColemanite - Ca2B6O11·5H2O
Kernite http://www.borax.com
Borax fuses at a low temperature and easily dissolves in different important elements like copper, chromium, cobalt, iron, nickel, and uranium giving different characteristic colors.flux in the manufacture of artificial gems. Cubic boron nitride, commercially called 'Borazon' equals the diamond in hardness and has a greater resistance to oxidation under heat. Borazon can stand the temperature which is more than twice the temperature limit of a diamond i.e. about 900°C.
Borax mining in US started from Borax lake in Tehama County, CA in 1864 cotton ball ulexite in the playa of Teel's Marsh by Frances Marion (Borax) Smith in 1872 production then moved to Death Valley in 1880 by William Tell Coleman, 20 mule team wagons.
Borates—Uses
glass products, 75%soaps and detergents, 7%agriculture, 4%fire retardants, 4%hydrogen fuel systems
Borates—Substitutions
sodium and potassium salts of fatty acidschlorine bleach or enzymesphosphatescellulose, foams, and mineral wools
Borates—Production
600 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)—Introduction
Discovered 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
Bromine—Propertiesunique chemical interaction with the combustion process allows for flame retardationmanufacture flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, paper, dyes, insect repellents, drilling fluids, perfumes, photographic chemicals, water-treatment chemicals, and sanitizersCrude salt is basic material in the chemical industry
Bromine—UsesRomans 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%)
Bromine—Uses
Ethylene dibromine, gives anti-knock gasoline compounds
Bromine—Production
Three bromine companies accounted for 64% of world production.Two are in the U.S. (Arkansas and Michigan) 38%Israel 2nd largest producer
Bromine—Production (USGS)
Bromine—Production (USGS)
Bromine—Substitutions
Chlorineiodinerecycling of plastics to recover bromine
Bromine—Geology
Submarine brines (Arkansas, Michigan)extracted from seawaterby-product of potash
Bromine—Processing
boiling 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...
Bromine—Health risks
Red vapor is irritating to eyesBlisters on skinodor from Greek bromos meaning stench
Next week
Bauxite, Clays, Diatomite, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Graphite