GEOLOGYCMU

Bill PalmerEconomic Geology

GEOLOGY

If it can’t be grown it must

be mined!

GEOLOGY

“If it can’t be grown it must be mined!”

This is a favorite saying of miners and others who make their living from a knowledge of geology.

GEOLOGY

Let’s look at some of the mineral and geologic resources that are important to society with a special emphasis on those found in Missouri.

Missouri is one of the top TEN states in the production of geologic resources.

GEOLOGY Geologic Resources are generally divided into TWO types:Locally Important-resources that are mined locally and

used locally. Can not be shipped to other markets economically.

Globally Important-resources that are mined locally and can be shipped anywhere in the world and for a profit.

GEOLOGY Missouri ranks:

1st in fireclay production 1st in lime production 1st in lead production 2nd in iron pigments production 3rd in barite production 3rd in iron ore production 4th in zinc production 5th in Portland cement production 5th in Fuller’s earth production 6th in Copper production

GEOLOGY

Total value of these resources to the state of Missouri is about $1-1.5 billion/year.

This generates about $4-5 billion/year to Missouri’s economy.

GEOLOGY Barite-locally called “tiff” in MO Gray to white, soft mineral, heavy (4.5 X water) Mined by individuals since 1850 by pick and shovel. Sold

for $2.00/ton Inert Mixed with water to make oil well drilling mud. This is

put in drill hole to cool the bit, keep the hole from collapsing, float rock to the top, and contain any oil

GEOLOGY

Barite

GEOLOGY Barite-is also used in:

Paint “Slick” magazine covers Rubber Glass Textiles Concrete Nuclear reactors X-rays

GEOLOGY Cement-made from limestone, clay, shale Heated to 2,500-3,000 degrees Add gypsum Then pulverized Cement + sand + rock + water = concrete Most along the Mississippi River Must have the resources and ability to ship by barge THE most important economically geological resource in

the state= $200,000,000/yr

GEOLOGY

Missouri Cement Plant

GEOLOGY Chert/Flint-very common Locally abundant Used for road surface-blacktop Wears well Sometimes mistaken as dinosaur eggs, bones, fossil

melons, or petrified eggs Indian points Red, pink, and gray chert is MOZARKITE-the Missouri

State Rock

GEOLOGY

Chert

GEOLOGY

Chert/Flint-very common Don’t throw a chert rock into a campfire…it could

explode-it has water in it and as it dries it could crack and explode!

Try skipping chert rocks in the dark and watch for the sparks!

GEOLOGY

Clay and Shale-used for native American pots Used to make bricks, tile, terra-cotta, flowerpots,

china, paper Early Missourians used clay and shale to make

bricks Fireclay is used to make heat-resistant bricks-the

launching pads of the space shuttle

GEOLOGY

Bricks and other materials made from clay and shale.

GEOLOGY Coal-Pretty common in MO-found in 63/114

counties, 40 identified coal beds Needs to be about 12’ thick to mine Most is in N and NW MO MO coal has high sulfur so cannot be used straight

economically Sometimes mixed with low-sulfur coal from

Wyoming

GEOLOGY

Coal mining in Missouri

GEOLOGY

Cobalt and Nickel-Present in some lead ores-not profitable at this time

Copper-By product from lead and Zinc mining Gemstones-some quartz-jasper (red quartz), agate

(banded quartz), smoky quartz (black or grayish quartz) Some nice mineral specimens come from the lead mines

GEOLOGY

Some Missouri Gemstones

GEOLOGY Iron-Historically common Mined by hand since 1700s Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob were two early

sources Ironton had first iron refinery west of Mississippi

River in 1815 No active refineries in MO now, Missouri ore is

used in other states

GEOLOGY

Pilot Knob and Iron mining in Missouri

GEOLOGY

Lead-French discovered lead in Missouri in 1701 (yes 1701!) needed to mold bullets

Trappers and traders would find lead ore on surface, build a small refinery of rocks and use wood to smelt the lead. Lead would then be molded into bullets..not very efficient but didn’t need much for bullets

GEOLOGY

Early French trappers and traders used Missouri as a source for lead musket balls.

GEOLOGY Lead-Today lead is mined in large underground

mines complete with heavy equipment The equipment is disassembled and sent down a

shaft and then reassembled Lead mines are “hard rock mines” not like “soft

rock mines” (coal) and are considered quite safe Most lead us used for storage batteries (cars) Electronics, glass, bearings, plumbing, solder

GEOLOGY

Lead

GEOLOGY

Lime-made from crushed limestone Much is used in chemical industry Also used n glass, paper, sugar refining, water

softener, metal, agriculture, and construction

GEOLOGY

Oil and Gas-Limited in MO Wells were drilled in 1800s Not much oil but did find natural gas Some producing gas wells in W and NW MO Big Question? If MO has so much coal why isn’t

there oil? No one knows!

GEOLOGY

Sand and Gravel-Very common locally Most sand comes from MO and MS rivers Gravel is from streams Gravel is not used as much as it once was as it

destroys the stream bed to mine

Sand Plant at Jefferson City

GEOLOGY

Silica Sand-This is a special high quality sand used for glass, metal casting, polishing

Mined near St. Louis. PPG glass factory in west county

Silica Sand

Greenhouse

GEOLOGY

Silver-one historic mine in MO Most silver comes as by-product from lead mining Used in coins, jewelry, flatware, chemicals

Silver Mines RA

St. Francois River

Silver Jewelry

GEOLOGY

Stone- Crushed and dimension stone Crushed stone used for roads (Rock Quarry),

cement, lime, agricultural lime, concrete Dimension stone-high quality, no cracks, cut to

size and used in buildings

Ag Lime

Rock Quarry

GEOLOGY Stone- Marble-Really limestone-has been used for fancy

buildings in every state of the nationMO state capitolFederal court bldg, NYNYNotre Dame UniversityNational Art Gallery Wash. D.C.Stanford University

GEOLOGY

Missouri State Capitol

Jefferson City

GEOLOGY

Water-Missouri has more water than most states 32-48 inches of rain annually

Barge trafficDrinking water Industry Power generationSome ground water too saline for use

GEOLOGY

Water use in Missouri

GEOLOGY

Zinc-used in brass, galvanized metal, nails, fence, dry cell batteries, primer for chrome plating (car door handle), paint, textile, floor tiles

Comes from the mineral Sphalerite

Sphalerite

Galvanized Pots and Pans

GEOLOGY-Wrap-ups

No wrap-ups with this lecture (hooray!)