Minerals: A Nonrenewable Resource

1. Minerals: A Nonrenewable Resource Chapter 16

2. Introduction to Minerals Concrete – sand, gravel, crushed limestone Salt Copper

3. Introduction to Minerals • Mineral Distribution and Formation • Some minerals very abundant (e.g., Al, Fe) • Some are very scarce (e.g., Cu, Mo) • Some may be found about anywhere, but in such low abundance mining is unprofitable

4. Introduction to Minerals • Mineral Distribution and Formation • Formation of Mineral Deposits Magmatic concentration Hydrothermal processes Sedimentation Evaporation

5. Introduction to Minerals • How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed • Discovering Mineral Deposits • aerial photos / satellite images • examine magnetic field • seismographs

6. Introduction to Minerals • How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed • Discovering Mineral Deposits • Extracting Minerals

7. Introduction to Minerals • How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed • Discovering Mineral Deposits • Extracting Minerals • Processing Minerals

8. Environmental Implications of Minerals • Mining and the Environment • Disturbs large areas of land • Uses huge quantities of water • Affects water quality • Cost-benefit Analysis of Mine Development • Benefits of the mining vs. Preservation of the land

9. Environmental Implications of Minerals • Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals

10. Environmental Implications of Minerals • Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals • The problem of tailings

11. Environmental Implications of Minerals • Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals • Case-in-Point: Copper Basin, TN

12. Environmental Implications of Minerals • Restoration of Mining Lands • Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

13. Environmental Implications of Minerals • Restoration of Mining Lands • Creative Approaches to Cleaning Up Mining Areas Conversion to wetlands Phytoremediation

14. Minerals: An International Perspective • Many developed nations have observed significant environmental damage due to mining • Many developed nations exacerbate problem by having mining interests in developing countries

15. Minerals: An International Perspective • U.S. and World Use • North American consumption of selected metals

16. Minerals: An International Perspective • Distribution Versus Consumption • Some minerals needed for many industrial processes • but only found in abundance in few places • Results in dependence • Stockpiling common

17. Minerals: An International Perspective • Will We Run Out of Important Minerals?

18. Increasing the Supply of Minerals • Locating and Mining New Deposits • Many known deposits haven’t been exploited because: • accessibility problems • technology issues • too deep

19. Increasing the Supply of Minerals • Minerals in Antarctica • Antartic Treaty (1961) limits activities in Antarctica • If significant mineral deposits were found, should they be exploited?

20. Increasing the Supply of Minerals • Minerals from the Ocean Manganese nodules

21. Increasing the Supply of Minerals • Minerals from the Ocean

22. Increasing the Supply of Minerals • Advanced Mining and Processing Technologies • Ability to exploit low-grade ores • Biomining

23. Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies • Finding Mineral Substitutes • Substituting inexpensive / abundant resources for expensive / scarce resources • E.g., Glass, plastics, and aluminum have substituted for tin

24. Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies • Mineral Conservation • Reuse • same product used over and over • Recycling • product is processed into another product • Changing Our Mineral Requirements • fight the “throw away” mentality