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Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources. Resource Use. U.S. has 5% of World Population U.S. Consumes 1/4 of World Resources But U.S. Produces 1/4 of Global GDP But Much of our GNP is consumed internally. Building Stone, Sand, Gravel, Limestone Non-metallic Minerals

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Mineral Resources

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  1. Mineral Resources

  2. Resource Use • U.S. has 5% of World Population • U.S. Consumes 1/4 of World Resources But • U.S. Produces 1/4 of Global GDP But • Much of our GNP is consumed internally

  3. Building Stone, Sand, Gravel, Limestone Non-metallic Minerals Sulfur, Gypsum, Coal, Barite, Salt, Clay, Feldspar, Gem Minerals, Abrasives, Borax, Lime, Magnesia, Potash, Phosphates, Silica, Fluorite, Asbestos, Mica Metallic Minerals Ferrous: Iron and Steel, Cobalt, Nickel Metallic Minerals Non-ferrous: Copper, Zinc, Tin, Lead, Aluminum, Titanium, Manganese, Magnesium, Mercury, Vanadium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Silver, Gold, Platinum Energy Resources Fossil Fuels: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Uranium Geothermal Energy Mineral Resources

  4. Three Emerging Resource Problems • Lithium (Batteries) • Evaporites (Bolivia) • Pegmatites (Lepidolite, Spodumene) • Rare Earths (Electronics) • Col-Tan and Congo Civil War • Chinese Monopoly • California mine to reopen • Phosphorus (Fertilizer) • Morocco, China, South Africa, Jordan, U.S. = 90%

  5. The Elements

  6. Magmatic Pt, Cr, Fe, Ni, Ti, Diamond Pegmatite Li, Be, U, Rare Earths, Feldspar, Mica, Gems Hydrothermal 600 C: W, Sn 400 C: Au, U, Ag, Co, Mo 200 C: Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb Cool: Hg, As Sedimentary Rocks Fe, Cu, U, Mn, Mg Weathering Secondary Enrichment: Cu, Ni Soils Al, Ni Evaporites Placer Pt, Au, Sn, Ti, W, Th, Rare Earths U (Fossil), Gems Types of Ore Deposits

  7. Concentration Factors and Economics • Natural Abundance • Geologic Processes to Concentrate Element • Most involve water • Intrinsic Value of Material • Cost of Extraction from Earth • Gold versus Gravel

  8. What we’re looking for is subtle. Satellite and Aerial Photography Remote Sensing Geological Mapping Magnetic Mapping Gravity Mapping Radioactivity Mapping Geochemical Sampling Electrical Sounding Ground-Penetrating Radar Seismic Methods Reflection - Detailed but Expensive Refraction - Cheap but Not Detailed Core Sampling and Well Logging Prospecting and Exploration

  9. Drill Core

  10. Geologic Map of Wisconsin

  11. Gravity Map of Wisconsin

  12. Magnetic Map of Wisconsin

  13. SatelliteImage of Wisconsin

  14. Economic Factors in Mining • Richness of Ore • Quantity of Ore • Cost of Initial Development • Equipment, Excavation, Purchase of Rights • Operating Costs: Wages, Taxes, Maintenance, Utilities, Regulation • Price of the Product • Will Price Go up or down?

  15. Life Cycle of a Mine • Exploration • Development • Active Mining • Excavation • Crushing, Milling, Flotation, Chemical Separation • Smelting and Refining • Disposal of Waste (Tailings) • Shut-down

  16. Issues in Mineral Exploitation Who Owns (Or Should Own) Minerals? • Landowner, • Discoverer, • Government Unclaimed Areas: • Sea Floor, • Antarctica Who Controls Access for Exploration? • Remote Sensing vs Privacy

  17. Safety Mine Wastes Pollution Dust Noise Economic Impact "Boom and Bust" Cycles Environmental Problems Exploration Construction and Operation Waste Disposal Sulfur (H2 SO4) Problems of Mining

  18. Sulfur • Present in sulfide ores, pyrite or organic sulfur in coal, organic sulfur in petroleum • Smelting or burning create SO2 • 2SO2 + O2  2SO3 • H2 O + SO3  H2 SO4

  19. Sulfuric Acid • Contributor to Acid Rain • Neutralized by carbonates and mafic igneous rocks • Worst in granitic bedrock • Weakens tailings piles, slopes, dams • Acidifies surface water • Contributes to dissolved metals

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