Questions

1. What are some of the environments that minerals are formed?

2. What are the different types of mining?

Subject Area: The Formation and Mining of Minerals

EQ: How does the way a mineral forms determine how it will be mined?

March 04, 2014

The Formation and Mining of Minerals

The environment in which a mineral forms determines the minerals properties.

The Formation and Mining of Minerals

Minerals form both deep beneath the Earth’s surface and on or near the Earth’s surface.

When a body of salt water dries up, minerals such as gypsum, anhydrite, and halite are left behind.

Surface water and ground water carry dissolved minerals into lakes and seas where they crystallize, forming minerals like calcite and aragonite.

When changes in pressure, temperature, or chemical makeup alter a rock, metamorphism takes place. This creates minerals like talc, garnet, graphite, and mica.

Ground water works its way down toward the magma where it is heated. It then reacts with the minerals in the walls of the cracks to form a hot liquid solution. Minerals will crystallize in this solution forming gold, sulfur, copper, and pyrite.

As magma moves upward it will fill in pockets of pre-existing rock, forming teardrop-shaped formations called pegmatites. This is how topaz, and tourmaline form.

As some magma rises it sometimes stops rising before it reaches the surface forming a large solidified body of minerals called a pluton. This is how feldspar and quartz are formed.

Describe how minerals form underground.Response: Minerals form underground because …

OreGeologists use the term ore to describe a

mineral deposit large enough and pure enough to be mined for profit.

Mining

Many kinds of rock and minerals need to be mined in order to extract the valuable elements they contain.

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Mining

Rocks and minerals are removed from the ground in two methods, surface mining or deep mining.

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Surface MiningSurface mining is the removal of minerals or

other materials at or near the Earth’s surface. Types of surface mines include open pits, strip mines, and quarries.

Deep MiningDeep mining is the removal of minerals or

other materials from deep within the Earth. The retrieval of diamonds and coal commonly require deep mining.

What are two main types of mining?Response: The two main types of mining are …

Common Uses or Minerals

Mineral Metal Uses

Chalcopyrite Copper Coins, electrical wire

Galena Lead Batteries, Paints

Beryl Beryllium Bicycle frames, airplanes

Chromite Chromium Stainless steel, Cast iron,

Leather tanners

The Value of MineralsSome minerals are highly valued for their

beauty rather than their usefulness. These are called gems or gemstones.

Responsible MiningMining can destroy or disturb the habitat of

plants and animals.

Responsible MiningReclamation is the process where the land

is restored to its original state after the mining is done.

How does reclamation protect the environment around a mine?Response: Reclamation protects the environment by …

We can reduce our need for minerals by recycling the products we already use. Examples of this are aluminum and iron. The more we recycle the more we will have in the future.

Responsible Mining

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Summary

1.Answer the essential question “How does the way a mineral forms determine how it will be mined?”

2.Your answer needs to be in complete sentences.3.Place your answer at the bottom of the notes we

did today. 4.Make sure you include how some minerals are

formed. 5.Use your notes to get the answers.

Basics of Geology

1. What did you know?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. What did you learn?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. What do you want to know?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Boom or Bust1. What did you know?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. What did you learn?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. What do you want to know?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

March 12, 2013Agenda

1. Roll

2. PowerPoint titled: The Formation and Mining of Minerals

3. Video “Basics of Geology”