Mining Minerals
A. Minerals and Resources
1. What is a mineral? a. Occurs naturally in Earth’s crust
b. Has a specific makeup. c. It’s a solid d. Can be a single element of compounds
Common Minerals
Limestone
SiliconAmethyst Quartz
Iron OreAluminum Oxide “Ruby”Uranium Ore
2. Native Elements a. Composed of a single element▪ 1. Gold▪ 2. Silver▪ 3. Copper
b. Most minerals are compounds▪ 1. Quartz is a silicate▪ 2. Silicon + Oxygen
Native elements
Gold
Copper
Silver
3. Ore Minerals a. Any mineral of economic value b. Iron ore- hematite, magnetite c. Lead ore = galena d. Mercury = Cinnabar
Some Ores
Iron Ore Mercur
y
Galena
4. Metallic Ores a. Have a shiny luster b. Conduct electricity c. Silver, iron, lead, copper, aluminum
5. Nonmetallic Ores a. Do not conduct electricity b. Make good insulaters c. Asbestos, limestone, corundum,
diamonds quartz, jade, emeralds
6. How minerals form-depends on location
and what other elements are present.
a. Hydrothermal Solutions 1. Minerals dissolved in hot
water 2. Water cools as it moves
upward and into fissures in rocks 3. Minerals turn to solids.
b. Evaporites-running surface water dissolves
minerals and are deposited in seas. Layers are left behind as the water
evaporates 1. Salt 2. Limestone 3. Gypsum
Quartz Vein in Basalt
Gold Vein in Fractured Rocks