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The Importance of Minerals in New Mexico

Explore the significance of mining, recycling, and conservation in New Mexico for the continued supply of commodities needed for our way of life. Discover the changes in mineral production and exploration, the rarity of mineral deposits, and the metal-bearing provinces in New Mexico.

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The Importance of Minerals in New Mexico

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  1. The New Mexico Minerals Connection Virginia T. McLemore New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources New Mexico Tech

  2. Mining, recycling, and conservation are important to provide the continued flow of commodities required to continue our way of life.

  3. U. S. flow of raw materials by weight 1900-2000. The use of raw materials in the U. S. increased dramatically during the last 100 years (from Wagner, 2002).

  4. Metals prices are increasing in response to the increasing world’s population.

  5. Yet mineral production and exploration in the US has been decreasing, and imports increasing

  6. Production of nonfuel mineral resources in New Mexico, 1979-2003.

  7. What are mineral deposits?

  8. What are mineral deposits? • An occurrence of any valuable commodity or mineral that is of sufficient size and grade (concentration) that might under favorable economic conditions have potential for development

  9. What are ore deposits? • A mineral deposit that has been tested and found to be of sufficient size, grade, and accessibility to be extracted at a profit at a given time • The size and grade of an ore deposit changes with time in response to market conditions

  10. Mineral deposits are not found just anywhere in the world.Instead they are relatively rare and depend upon certain natural conditions to form.

  11. NEW MEXICO MINING: WHERE ARE THE DEPOSITS?

  12. New Mexico is at the edge of one of the world’s greatest metal-bearing provinces

  13. Uranium deposits in the Grants district.

  14. Active mines in New Mexico 2002-2005 (excluding aggregates)

  15. Active aggregate mines in New Mexico.

  16. Stone House zeolite mine, Sierra County (18.3 million tons of reserves).

  17. Metals districts with Significant depositsin New Mexico

  18. Aging work force Fewer universities with mining-related departments, graduating less students

  19. The Importance of Minerals in New Mexico • Match the rocks and minerals to the proper name card • Match the products to the proper name card • Match the rocks and minerals to the proper product • Match the rocks and minerals to the proper county in New Mexico where they are found

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