Minerals: A Nonrenewable

Resource

Chapter 16

Introduction to Minerals

Concrete – sand, gravel, crushed

limestone Salt

Copper

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

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

Minerals: An International Perspective

Will We Run Out of Important Minerals?

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

Minerals from the Ocean

Manganese nodules

Increasing the Supply of Minerals

Minerals from the Ocean

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

Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies

Mineral Conservation

Reuse

same product used over and over

Recycling

product is processed into another product

Changing Our Mineral Requirements

fight the “throw away” mentality