me551/geo551 introduction to geology of industrial ......me551/geo551 geology of industrial minerals...

ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals

Spring 2012

Commodities, Part 1Mineral Identification, Aggregates, Asbestos, Barite, Borates, Bromine

Commodities outline

Introduction (definition)Uses (properties)ProductionGeologic descriptions and distributionProcessing, marketing

Sources of information

SME Industrial Minerals HandbookSME abstracts, preprints, publicationsUSGS Mineral Commodities SummariesUSGS Fact SheetsUSGS publicationsCompany reportsIndustrial Minerals ForumWEB

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2012/mcs2012.pdf

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2012/mcs2012.pdf

Mineral Identification

Properties of minerals• Habit (Crystal forms and

shapes)• Hardness • Cleavage • Streak • Color • Luster • Transparency • Twinning • Fracture • Specific Gravity • Associated Minerals

• Fluorescence • Magnetism • Odor • Feel • Taste • Solubility • Reaction to acids • Radioactive

minerals • Meteoritic

minerals

Hardnessease or difficulty with which the mineral can be scratchedcontrolled by the strength of bonds between atoms

Cleavage

Way the mineral breaks or fracturesone direction of weakness, or in other minerals, 2, 3, 4, or as many as 6 may be presentdetermine the angular relation between the resulting cleavage surfaces– perpendicular– acute– obtuse

Streak

color of a mineral when it is powderedcrushing and powdering a mineral eliminates some of the effects of impurities and structural flaws

Black - Graphite Black - Pyrite Black - Magnetite Black - Chalcopyrite Gray - Galena Limonite - Yellow-brown Hematite - Red-brown

Lusterway a mineral’s surface reflects light

metallicearthywaxygreasyvitreous (glassy)adamantine (or brilliant, as in a faceted diamond)

From:geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm

Color

From:geology.csupomona.edu/alert/mineral/minerals.htm

SOURCES FOR MINERAL IDENTIFICATION

http://un2sg4.unige.ch/athena/mineral/search.htmlhttp://www.webmineral.com/

Aggregates

AGGREGATE SAND GRAVEL

Hard materialsMixing with cementingForm concrete,mortar, asphalt

Railroad ballast,Road base, Landscaping rock

Granular materialdue to

Rock disintegration

Diameter range:2 mm – 1/16 mm

Unconsolidated, rounded rock fragments

Boulders Cobbles Pebbles Granules

Introduction

Aggregates are an integral part of our roads, sidewalks, sewers, subway tunnels and airports, as well as our homes, offices, hospitals, schools and shopping centers.

Aggregates are critical ingredients in a number of manufactured products such as glass, coated paper, paint and pharmaceuticals.

Aggregates are also used in several manufacturing processes, including the making of steel, aluminium and plastic.

Found in fertilizer, floor coverings, toothpaste

Aggregates include

Crushed stoneAggregates Sand and gravel

Most important indicator of construction activities and health of society

Crushed Stone—introduction

70% limestone and dolomite16%, granite7%, traprock

7% other– sandstone and

quartzite– miscellaneous stone– marble– calcareous marl– slate– shell– volcanic cinder and

scoria

2. USES

2. USES

ROAD BUILDING

Concrete

Bridges

Tunnels

Asphalt Pavement

Mortar

Plaster

Treated and untreated road base materials

Structural and nonstructural fill

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Concrete

Cast-in-place

Precast Structure

Cladding Elements

Others

Fill

Septic Fields

Construction related uses

All commercial activities including agriculture

Waste treatment facilities (waste water filtration)

Hydroelectric power systems

Coal-fired electric power plants

USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012

Sand and gravel for construction

Sand and gravel for industrial

Crushed stone

Dimension stone

DredgeTailings

Stream Deposits Alluvial

Fans

BeachDeposits

Older Geologic

Formations

Origin

Geology

4. MINING & PROCESSING

Shovels DraglinesLoaders Trucks

Dry-pit Operation

Wet-pit Operation

Dragline FloatingDredge

4. MINING & PROCESSING

a) Conventional earth-moving equipment

b) Groundwater is removed from wet gravel pits

c) Wet mining techniques (dredging)

4. MINING & PROCESSING

http://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.htm

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/drilling.htm

Houses made of adobe bricks are still popular in urban areas.

Crushed StoneLightweight Aggregate manufactured by sinteringPumiceExpanded PerliteExpanded VermiculateIron blast Furnace Slag

Substitutes

Environmental Issues

Diesel fumes Fugitive dust Increased trafficIncreased air pollutionIncreased use of ground waterSubsidence

Where is the nearest sand and gravel pit to NM Tech?

Asbestos

Asbestos—Introductionsix fibrous minerals

USGS Facts Sheet on Asbestos

Asbestiform

The physical form or appearance of minerals that consists of long, thin and sometimes flexible fibers or needle-like structures.

Chain Silicate

A class of silicate minerals that form in structural chains. In some of these minerals the chains can separate easily along parallel crystallographic planes and can form fibrous or needle-like structures. Amphiboles and pyroxenes are members of the chain silicate family.

Sheet Silicate

A class of silicate minerals that form in structural sheets and often break easily along one crystallographic plane so as to form extremely thin flat plates. Members of this mineral group include micas, clays, and serpentines.

Asbestos—Properties

Color—olive green, yellow or golden, brown, or blackfibrousHardness 3 - 4.5Specific Gravity 2.2 - 2.6silky feelgreasy, waxy or silky luster

Asbestos—Properties

Fibrous (aspect ratio 50:1)high tensile strengthchemical and thermal stabilityhigh flexibilitylow electrical conductivitylarge surface areacan be woven

Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)

Asbestos—UsesFirst used in Finland in 2500 BC where anthophyllite was used to reinforce clay utensils and pottery lamp wicks and crematory clothing roofing and flooring productsgasketsfriction products (brake linings, clutch facings)asbestos cement (pipe and sheet)

Asbestos—Uses55% for roofing products26% for coatings and compounds19% for other applications

Asbestos—ProductionNo asbestos mining in U.S. since 2002– 715 metric tons consumed in US in 2009

(1,460 metric tons in 2008)– $613/metric ton in 2009

Canada 180,000 metric tons in 2009Russia 1,020,000 metric tons in 2009China 280,000 metric tons (400 metric tons in 2006)Kazakhstan, Brazil, Zimbabwe

World resources

200 million tons of identified resources

Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)

Virta, 2002 (USGS OF-02-149)

USGS Facts Sheet on Asbestos

Asbestos—Substitutescalcium silicatecarbon fibercellulose fiberceramic fiberglass fibersteel fiberwollastoniteseveral organic fibers

USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012

USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012

Why was there so little asbestos produced in 2011?

Asbestos—Geology

Ultramafic rocksskarn depositsserpentinized dolomitic limestonesserpentine veinsage Precambrian (Zimbabwe) to Jurassic (California)

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/baieverte_mine_operation_500.html

Thetford Mines, Québec Asbestos Mining Districthttp://www2.brevard.edu/reynoljh/thetfordmines/ophiolite.htm

Asbestos—Processing

Store, ship, receive, and use in dust free environmentcrushingconcentrate--magnetic, screening

Asbestos—Markets

1960s-1970s consumption increased1980s-health risks were realized and production droppedtoday markets in Western Europe and Asia

Asbestos—Health Risks

Causes cancer, especially mesotheliomaLung diseasesmining, construction, mining or shipbuilding industries

Barite

Barite—Introduction

Greek word "barus" (heavy)BaSO4barytes

Barite—Properties

Color—variable, commonly colorless or white, also blue, green, yellow and red shadesLuster is vitreousbladed crystalsSpecific Gravity 4.5 (heavy)Hardness 3 - 3.5

Barite in Britian

Palm Park, NM

Barite—Usesheavy cementweighting agent in petroleum well drilling mud filler or extenderadditive to cement, rubber, and urethane foamautomobile paint primerfriction products (brake and clutch pads)cement vessels that contain radioactive materialswhite pigmentgastrointestinal x-ray “milkshakes”faceplate and funnelglass of cathode-ray tubes used for television sets and computer monitors to protect against radiation

Barite—Production

NevadaGeorgia TennesseeGreat BritianIndiaCanadaMexicoChina

USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012

USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries 2012

Barite—Substitutes

Celestiteilmeniteiron oresynthetic hematite

Barite—Geology

Sedimentary exhalative (Sedex) depositsRio Grande Rift (RGR) depositsMississippi Valley type (MVT) depositsSedimentary stratiform depositsvolcanic massive sulfide depositsgangue in epithermal and mesothermal veins

Barite—Processing

washingjiggingheavy media separationtablingflotationmagnetic separation

Borates

Borates—Introduction

Boron found in more than 80 different mineralsTincal - Na2O·B4O7·10H2O (Egyptians used it to mummify their dead) Kernite - Na2O·B4O7·4H2OUlexite - NaCaB5O9·8H2OColemanite - Ca2B6O11·5H2O

Kernite http://www.borax.com

Borax fuses at a low temperature and easily dissolves in different important elements like copper, chromium, cobalt, iron, nickel, and uranium giving different characteristic colors.flux in the manufacture of artificial gems. Cubic boron nitride, commercially called 'Borazon' equals the diamond in hardness and has a greater resistance to oxidation under heat. Borazon can stand the temperature which is more than twice the temperature limit of a diamond i.e. about 900°C.

Borax mining in US started from Borax lake in Tehama County, CA in 1864 cotton ball ulexite in the playa of Teel's Marsh by Frances Marion (Borax) Smith in 1872 production then moved to Death Valley in 1880 by William Tell Coleman, 20 mule team wagons.

Borates—Uses

glass products, 75%soaps and detergents, 7%agriculture, 4%fire retardants, 4%hydrogen fuel systems

Borates—Substitutions

sodium and potassium salts of fatty acidschlorine bleach or enzymesphosphatescellulose, foams, and mineral wools

Borates—Production

600 million metric tons of borates in viable deposits worldwidein U.S.--U.S. Borax, now Rio Tinto Borax owned by Rio Tinto

Bromine

Bromine (bromides)—Introduction

Discovered 1826liquid at normal temperatures and pressuresheavy, mobile, reddish-brown liquid that volatilizesbromine salts common in natureseawater, salt lakes, inland seas, and brine wells Seawater contains about 65 ppm bromide salts, Dead Sea 5000 ppm

Bromine—Propertiesunique chemical interaction with the combustion process allows for flame retardationmanufacture flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, paper, dyes, insect repellents, drilling fluids, perfumes, photographic chemicals, water-treatment chemicals, and sanitizersCrude salt is basic material in the chemical industry

Bromine—UsesRomans used a chemical produced naturally by marine mussels was extracted to produce purple dye (royal purple)fire retardants (40%)drilling fluids (24%)brominated pesticides (12%)water-treatment chemicals (7%)photographic chemicals and rubber additives (17%)

Bromine—Uses

Ethylene dibromine, gives anti-knock gasoline compounds

Bromine—Production

Three bromine companies accounted for 64% of world production.Two are in the U.S. (Arkansas and Michigan) 38%Israel 2nd largest producer

Bromine—Production (USGS)

Bromine—Production (USGS)

Bromine—Substitutions

Chlorineiodinerecycling of plastics to recover bromine

Bromine—Geology

Submarine brines (Arkansas, Michigan)extracted from seawaterby-product of potash

Bromine—Processing

boiling the treated brine solutionHerbert Dow developed the electrolysis process in 1894 and the Dow Chemical Company in 1897

By passing the bromine-laden air through a body of iron turnings," Dow said in his patent, "the bromine and iron will chemically unite, forming a bromide of iron known as ferric bromide.”http://www.rockbridgegroup.com...

Bromine—Health risks

Red vapor is irritating to eyesBlisters on skinodor from Greek bromos meaning stench

Next week

Bauxite, Clays, Diatomite, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Graphite