1.12k likes | 1.32k Views
ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals Spring 2012. Commodities, Part 1 Mineral Identification, Aggregates, Asbestos, Barite, Borates, Bromine. Commodities outline. Introduction (definition) Uses (properties) Production Geologic descriptions and distribution Processing, marketing.
E N D
ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals Spring 2012 Commodities, Part 1 Mineral Identification, Aggregates, Asbestos, Barite, Borates, Bromine
Commodities outline • Introduction (definition) • Uses (properties) • Production • Geologic descriptions and distribution • Processing, marketing
Sources of information • SME Industrial Minerals Handbook • SME abstracts, preprints, publications • USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries • USGS Fact Sheets • USGS publications • Company reports • Industrial Minerals Forum • WEB
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
ease or difficulty with which the mineral can be scratched • controlled by the strength of bonds between atoms Hardness
Way the mineral breaks or fractures • one direction of weakness, or in other minerals, 2, 3, 4, or as many as 6 may be present • determine the angular relation between the resulting cleavage surfaces • perpendicular • acute • obtuse Cleavage
Streak • color of a mineral when it is powdered • crushing 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
way a mineral’s surface reflects light Luster • metallic • earthy • waxy • greasy • vitreous (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.html • http://www.webmineral.com/
Introduction AGGREGATE SAND GRAVEL Hard materials Mixing with cementing Form concrete, mortar, asphalt Railroad ballast, Road base, Landscaping rock Granular material due to Rock disintegration Diameter range: 2 mm – 1/16 mm Unconsolidated, rounded rock fragments Boulders Cobbles Pebbles Granules
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 stone • Aggregates • Sand and gravel Most important indicator of construction activities and health of society
Crushed Stone—introduction • 70% limestone and dolomite • 16%, granite • 7%, traprock • 7% other • sandstone and quartzite • miscellaneous stone • marble • calcareous marl • slate • shell • volcanic cinder and scoria
2. USES • BUILDING CONSTRUCTION • Concrete Cast-in-place Precast Structure Cladding Elements • Others • Fill • Septic Fields • Construction related uses • ROAD BUILDING • Concrete • Bridges • Tunnels • Asphalt Pavement Mortar Plaster Treated and untreated road base materials Structural and nonstructural fill • All commercial activities including agriculture • Waste treatment facilities (waste water filtration) • Hydroelectric power systems • Coal-fired electric power plants
Sand and gravel for construction Sand and gravel for industrial USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012
Crushed stone Dimension stone
Geology Stream Deposits Alluvial Fans Dredge Tailings Origin Beach Deposits Older Geologic Formations
4. MINING & PROCESSING Dry-pit Operation Shovels Loaders Draglines Trucks Wet-pit Operation Floating Dredge Dragline
4. MINING & PROCESSING • Conventional earth-moving equipment • b) Groundwater is removed from wet gravel pits • c) Wet mining techniques (dredging)
http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/load%20haul%20trucks.htmhttp://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.htmhttp://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.htmhttp://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.
Substitutes • Crushed Stone • Lightweight Aggregate manufactured by sintering • Pumice • Expanded Perlite • Expanded Vermiculate • Iron blast Furnace Slag
Environmental Issues • Diesel fumes • Fugitive dust • Increased traffic • Increased air pollution • Increased use of ground water • Subsidence
Asbestos—Introduction • six fibrous minerals
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 black • fibrous • Hardness 3 - 4.5 • Specific Gravity 2.2 - 2.6 • silky feel • greasy, waxy or silky luster
Asbestos—Properties • Fibrous (aspect ratio 50:1) • high tensile strength • chemical and thermal stability • high flexibility • low electrical conductivity • large surface area • can be woven