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ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals Spring 2005. stone, sustainable development, summary, the future of mining. Stone and aggregates—introduction. Crushed and dimension aggregates sand and gravel most important indicator of construction activities and health of society.
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ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals Spring 2005 stone, sustainable development, summary, the future of mining
Stone and aggregates—introduction • Crushed and dimension • aggregates • sand and gravel • most important indicator of construction activities and health of society
70% limestone and dolomite 16%, granite 7%, traprock 7% other sandstone and quartzite miscellaneous stone marble calcareous marl slate shell volcanic cinder and scoria Crushed Stone—introduction
natural rock material quarried as blocks or slabs that meet specifications as to size (width, length, and thickness) and shape Color Durability grain texture pattern surface finish strength, ability to take a polish Dimension Stone—introduction
Granite limestone marble sandstone slate alabaster (massive gypsum) soapstone (massive talc) Igneous metamorphic sedimentary Dimension Stone—introduction
Crushed stone and aggregates production USGS Fact Sheet
Crushed stone and aggregates production USGS Fact Sheet
Crushed stone and aggregates production USGS Fact Sheet
Crushed stone production USGS Fact Sheet
Crushed stone production USGS Mineral Yearbooks
Crushed stone production USGS Mineral Yearbooks
Crushed stone production USGS Mineral Yearbooks
rough block construction (38%) monumental stone (26%) Dressed stone flagging (26%) curbing (21%) ashlars and partially squared pieces (14%) Dimension stone—uses
Proctor, Vermont – Derrick hoisting a 15-ton block of Vermont Verde Antique Marblehttp://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~quarries/states/vt-proctor-photos.html
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
Sawing the Vermont Verde Antique Marblehttp://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~quarries/states/vt-proctor-photos.html
Houses made of adobe bricks are still popular in urban areas.
NIMBY (Not in my backyard!) BANANA (Build absolutely nothing, anywhere, near anybody!) NOPE (Not on planet earth!) If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined. Earth First! We’ll mine the other planets later. YIMBY (Yes in my backyard.)
What is sustainable development? • Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. • Sustainable development is not about sustaining the life of a mine. Instead it is about sustaining the flow of materials.
Continued supply of natural resources to manufacture and produce products that society demands • Recycling • Re-use • Less use • Materials replacement • Alternative product design • Mining of new resources
Brundtland Definition “…meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
Sustainability applied to any industry requires four general considerations (Richards, 2002): • Economic Environmental Social Governmental Sustainabledoes not mean: renewable zero environmental impact “green” Note affects of renewable business on the environment: • agriculture, farming: much greater land area, regionally much greater negative environmental impact • golf courses: occupy surface area greater than state of Delaware - 5270 km2 (herbicides, fertilizers)
Capital Stocks of SD • Economic • Financial • Manufactured goods and infrastructure • Social • Institutions • Culture • Environmental • Natural (renewable; nonrenewable) • Air, water, biota, and earth resources
SD and Aggregate • Urban mining of aggregate • Majority knows mining via aggregate • Aggregate is NOT toxic • Aggregate is needed locally • Sterilization of aggregate resources • Cost vs benefits (transport, pollution) • Triple bottom line (TBL) accounting
Taos, New Mexico • Rural community • Poor access from outside the region • Very quality-of-life oriented (NIMBY) • Bounded by restricted land • Aggregate needs are recognized by local government (city and county) • Needs not recognized by typical citizen
Recent Events at Taos • 2001-2002 Aggregate pit CLOSED! • Amigos Bravos (an NGO ) • near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River • Erroneously placed outside permitted area • 2003-2004 Aggregate pit OPENED! • The Taos County Commission • upheld expansion of existing permit • near airport, sewage plant, other pits • against nearby homeowners
How do we measure our success in sustainable development in exploration?
INDICATORS • The amount of land available for exploration and development • The number of exploration projects • Annual drilling footage or active drill rig count • Annual mineral leases • The amount of dollars spent on exploration
INDICATORS—cont • The number of new mines being developed • Reserves/resources of specific commodities • Area reclaimed after exploration • Number of abandoned mines reclaimed during exploration • The number of mines with production of materials as byproducts that might otherwise be considered waste (especially industrial minerals, such as clay deposits in coal fields or porphyry deposits).
For “sustainability” to be realized, the global playing field must be level: this requiresinternational law(to mandate that which is sustainable) andeconomic credit(for producing a mineral commodity in an acceptable, sustainable fashion). Problem:this is not happening, as yet.
SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION • What commodities have the most material mined? • What commodities have the highest value?
Development of the minerals cycle and the need for minerals(MMSD)
Development of the minerals cycle and the need for minerals(MMSD)
Summary and discussion • How has the mining industry changed with time?
Summary and discussion • What is the future of mining?