MINERAL RESOURCES

Can You Dig It?

DEFINITION & TYPES Mineral Resources:

“Inorganic, naturally occurring, solid, crystalline substances” Different types:

Metals (Iron, Lead, Copper, Nickel)

Industrial Minerals (Aluminum, Gypsum, Titanium)

Gem Minerals (Gold, Silver, Diamond, Emerald) Energy minerals (Graphite, Fluorite, Quartz)

LOCATION Mineral resources are found in:

California (gold)

Kentucky (coal)

Washington (aluminum)

Arizona (copper)

Texas (sulfur)

BENEFITS Coal provides about 50% of electricity for U.S.

Aluminum is very light weight, strong, recyclable

Copper has roles to help maintain a healthy body

Sulfur is a key component in gunpowder and matches

Gold is a good conductor of heat and electricity

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

Mining: - “The process or industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine” Subsurface

Room & Pillar Mining Long-wall Mining Solution Mining

Surface Strip Open-Pit Solar Evaporation

Contamination from leakage of chemicals Affects the health of the local population

Causes erosion, formation of sinkholes and loss of biodiversity Mining can cause contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water

USES OF RESOURCES Gold:

Jewelry, coinage, awards, &dentistry Sulfur:

Steel, rubber, cement, explosives, adhesives & sulfuric acid Copper:

Sheathing of ships, heating/air conditioning systems, &wiring Aluminum:

Baseball bats, golf clubs, pop cans & automobiles Coal:

Energy in creating heat or electricity

COSTS Equipment:

Rock Breaker- $29,800 Drill- $1,861 Tunneler- $2,500,000 Excavator- $2,000,000 Underground Diesel Truck-$81,000 Conveyer-$10,500 Grader-$200,000 Loader-$70,000 Long Wall coal mine- $74,400,000

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION Laws:

Federal Land Policy and Management Act - Prevents undue and unnecessary degradation of fertile lands

Toxic Substance Control Act- Requires regulation of chemicals that present risk to a health or environment

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Regulates coal mining operations and reclamations

Clean Air Act Sets air quality standards

Safe Drinking Water Act - Directs standards for quality of drinking water

EXTRA FACTS There are over 4,000 different types of minerals

Only around 30 of these are commonly found

Sometimes made up of one element (Gold) Most the time is made of two or more (Aragonite)

A telephone contains about 40 different mineral materials

A television has about 35 minerals and an automobile has about 15 minerals

VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5s9ugeAoDY

LITERATURE CITED http://minerals.usgs.gov/west/factfaq.htm

http://topcultured.com/top-15-most-expensive-minerals-in-the-world/

http://www.economonitor.com/blog/2010/06/how-much-does-a-mine-cost/

http://www.lkconsult.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=39

http://www.nma.org/index.php/federal-environmental-laws-that-govern-u-s-mining