Understanding Minerals: Formation, Mining Techniques, and Environmental Impact

1. The Earth’s crust contains more than 3,000 useful minerals that are finite—they are nonrenewable—they cannot be replaced once they have been used.

2. Unlike trees, which are considered renewable, because more can be planted to replace those which have been cut down, and air and water which are recycled, minerals are formed through processes which take millions of years.

3. Formation of Oresores- natural mineral deposits in high concentration from which metals and non-mentals can be profitably extractedEx: Hematite – iron ore

4. Some mineral deposits that are classified as ores today weren’t considered ores before and vice versa. This is because the world politics, economics, and the technologies of recovery have changed.

5. Drilling is very expensive, but it is the only way to determine the presence and quality of the ore and the size of the deposit. <>

6. Mining techniques: underground mining

7. open pit/ surface mining

8. (Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah)

9. Undersea Mining The ocean floor contains significant mineral resources. Problems with this method: 1. cost of drilling underwater 2. great water depths to get deposits

10. Smelting Process of melting crushed ore at high temperatures to separate impurities from molten metal.

11. Mineral Amethyst Naturally occurring Inorganic Solid Chemical composition Internal structure

12. Although mining and mineral processing technologies have become cheaper and more efficient in allowing extraction from low grade ores, there is a limit below which a particular mineral cannot be profitably recovered.

13. We should be using minerals in proportion to their availability, but seem to be doing just the opposite!

14. Economic and Political Issues of Mineral ResourcesSince tectonic forces have not evenly distributed mineral resources across the globe, some must be imported, while those that occur in greater abundance can be exported.

15. Although the U.S. is still rich in mineral resources, many are imported for reasons of governmental policy and economics.

16. A strategic mineral is one that has been determined to be essential to the functioning of our economy and military capabilities, but which is not mined/produced in the United States to meet such needs.

17. It is “stockpiled”— enough of the mineral is kept available for the duration of a three-year conventional war.

18. Many Third World countries have mineral resources which have only begun to be recovered for much-needed revenue.

19. Unfortunately, environmental damage, pollution, and the disruption of the lives of native peoples have resulted.

20. Environmental Impacts Habitat loss Water pollution Tunnels in the ground- subsidence Destruction of natural lands Air and noise pollution Erosion Soil degradation – loss of nutrients Underground mine fires

21. When mining is done… The mining companies have to return the land to its original or a better condition after mining. This is called reclamation.

22. Regulations Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 makes standards to minimize the surface effects of coal mining.

23. Non Renewable/ Renewable Nonrenewable Energy can run out. Examples: coal, oil, natural gas Renewable Energy can be used over and over again and never runs out. Examples: solar power, water power, wind power

24. FOSSIL FUELS- the remains of ancient plants and/or animals, which when burnedrelease heat and light energiescoal, crude oil (petroleum), and natural gas

25. hydrocarbons- that group of chemical compounds which consist primarily of hydrogen and carbon

26. Coal- a combustible, sedimentary and metamorphic rock composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and various trace elements

27. Complex chemical and physical changes over millions of years converted the trees, ferns, and other plants which flourished in prehistoric swamps, into coal.

29. Near anaerobic conditions of these waters prevented the dead plants from being completely decomposed, and the coal deposits used today are a result of their carbonization.

30. Coal is found in 32 eastern counties, is Ohio’s most valuable energy resource, and is the nation’s most abundant fuel.

31. Coal is found on all continents, but almost 2/3 of the known deposits are found in the US, Russia, and China.  Scientists estimate that the world’s coal reserves will last about 200 years.

32. There are four stages for the formation of coal, each of which can be used as a fuel, and with increasing heat energy output from peat through anthracite.

33. PetroleumOil & NaturalgasOil and gas are our most important fossil fuels, obtained from wells, tar sands, and oil shale. Made from marine life called diatoms, which are like tiny plants and animals

34. They are also of prehistoric origin, formed from the bodies of marine invertebrates and plants which were buried in marine sediments, then changed by pressure and heat over time.

35. Formation of oil and gas

36. As the biotic materials changed from solids to liquids and gases, they began to migrate upwards through cracks or permeable strata until they were stopped by impermeable layers of rock (usually shale)--the “cap rock”--in geological formations called “traps”.

37. Anticline Oil Trap

38. Once located and pumped out of the ground, the gas and water would be separated, then the crude oil would go to the refinery

39. Different products of oil

40. Products made from Petroleum Ink Crayons Bubble gum Dishwashing liquids Deodorant Eyeglasses CDs and DVDs Tires Ammonia Heart valves

41. Natural gas supplies about 25% of US energy needs, and is a preferred source of fuel because it is:- Cleaner burning- Easier to transport in pipelines- Has a significantly lower cost when compared to fuels delivering equal Btu values (heat output)

42. (Btu = British thermal unit = amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit)

43. Scientists estimate that about 75% of the petroleum and natural gas in the US has already been discovered, but that there are undiscovered supplies along the continental shelf.

44. Mechanical to electrical energy

45. What can we do? • There are many ways to help protect our natural resources. • Can you think of an action that you do already to protect our minerals or fossil fuels from running out?

46. ConservationBecause mineral resources are finite (nonrenewable), they must be conserved by this and future generations.

47. They may become lost from an economic aspect, but we can use technology to recover and reuse them, by buying products made from recycled materials.

48. What do you think? • Most of our mineral resources are located in the public lands of Western US and Alaska—3/4 of these public lands are now off limits. Should we ruin these landscapes to keep our luxury lifestyle? When will it be ok to ruin them?

49. So until then----the way to help conserve the mineral resources we have is:recycling to reuse mineral products;redesigning products to reduce mineral requirements;

50. substituting more common minerals when possible andreclaiming the mined land