MINING WEBQUEST ON EARTH SCIENCEPropose by:

Economist: Louise Lourfe P. MalazarteGeologist: John Levi MeccaIndustrialist: Bianca T. Enerio

I- AmethystProposed

to:Mr.

Businessman

A businessman would like to increase his earnings through mining. Learning about his interest in the field, three companies immediately came up with projects proposals for three different mineral reserves. Company A propose for manganese, Company B recommended phosphates ; Company envisioned coal mining industry. However, the businessman, seeing the project to involve him a huge amount of money, thought of hiring your expertise a team MINERAL EXPERTS to help him decide where to invest.

Proposal

On

Phosphates

Phosphate A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry. At elevated temperatures in the solid state, phosphates can condense to form pyrophosphates.

Atomic number 15

Atomic mass 30,9738 g.mol -

1

Oxidation states ± 3, 4, 5

Electronegativity according to Pauling 2,1

Density 1,82 g/ml at 20°C

Melting point 44,2 °C

Boiling point 280 °C

Vanderwaals radius 1,04 Å

Ionic radius 0,34 Å

Atomic radius 1,28 Å

Electronic shell [Ne]3s23p3

Energy of first ionisation 10,118 eV

Energy of second ionisation 19,725 eV

Energy of third ionisation 29,141 eV

Discovered by Hennig Brandt in 1669

Atomic number 15Atomic mass 30,9738 g.mol -1

Oxidation states ± 3, 4, 5Electronegativity according to Pauling 2,1Density 1,82 g/ml at 20°CMelting point 44,2 °CBoiling point 280 °CVanderwaals radius 1,04 ÅIonic radius 0,34 ÅAtomic radius 1,28 ÅElectronic shell [Ne]3s23p3Energy of first ionisation 10,118 eVEnergy of second ionisation 19,725 eVEnergy of third ionisation 29,141 eVDiscovered by Hennig Brandt in 1669

A. Market Value Of The

Mineral

The demand for phosphate is increasing. In Netherlands and in the majority countries of Europe, they use phosphate in the pharmaceuticals sectors and industrial and household cleaning. There are some quarry in Thailand selling Phosphates around US$ 0.75 per kilo (2.2 pound) .

Phosphate Fertilizer report are considered the most authoritative in the industry, trusted by the largest fertilizer producers, traders and consumers in the global market.

B. Cost Of Mini ng

In 2003, nine U.S. firms in four states mined phosphate rock ore, compared to 20 firms in 1997. In 2003 mines produced an estimated 33.3 million metric tons of phosphate rock, with a value of $895 million from the mine. The United States is the world's leading producer and consumer of phosphate rock. The largest phosphorite or rock phosphate deposits in North America lie in the Bone Valley region of central Florida, United States, the Soda Springs region of Idaho, and the coast of North Carolina. Smaller deposits are located in Montana, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina near Charleston along Ashley Phosphate road. The small island nation of Nauru and its neighbor Banaba Island, which used to have massive phosphate deposits of the best quality,

been mined excessively. Rock phosphate can also be found in Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Navassa Island, Tunisia, Togo and Jordan, countries that have large phosphate mining industries.Phosphorite mines are primarily found in:North America: United States of America, especially North Carolina, with lesser deposits in Florida, Idaho and Tennessee.Africa: Morocco, mainly near Khouribga and

have massive phosphate deposits of the best quality,

Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, at the town of Akashat, near to the Jordanian borders.Oceania: Australia, Makatea, Nauru, Ocean Island. Youssoufia; Senegal, Togo, Tunisia and Western Sahara. Phosphates can also be used in fertilizers.

Youssoufia; Senegal, Togo, Tunisia and Western Sahara.

. Phosphoric acid-based chemical polishes are used primarily to chemically polish (brighten) aluminum and aluminum alloys.

• Many phosphorus-containing materials are used as flame-retardants for textiles, plastics, coatings, paper, sealants and mastics.

• "Phosphates and phosphoric acid have many uses in the treatment of potable (drinking) water.

• Cleaning solutions with phosphates help clean mildew and stubborn stains on vinyl siding.

• Researchers show that fertilizing crops with a blend of high-nitrogen fertilizer and chicken litter increases crop yields and reduces the potential for phosphorus runoff.

C. M ine LifeEnvironmental and Social

Impact

In ecological terms, because of its important role in biological systems, phosphate is a highly sought after resource.

Phosphorus can be found in the environment most commonly as phosphates. Phosphates are important substances in the human body, because they are a part of DNA materials and they take part in energy distribution. Phosphates can also be found commonly in plants.

Phosphate is a dietary requirement, the recommended intake is 800 mg/day, a normal diet provides between 1000 and 2000 mg/day, depending on the extent to which phosphate rich foods are consumed.Humans have changed the natural phosphate supply radically by addition of phosphate-rich manures to the soil and by the use of phosphate-containing detergents. Phosphates were also added to a number of foodstuffs, such as cheese, sausages and hams.

Phosphates

.