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