GEO Lecture #12

Seafloor mining

The process of extracting valuable minerals and other substances from the ocean floor.

Hydrothermal vent fields

Areas on the seafloor where heated water rich in minerals is expelled, potentially containing seafloor massive sulfides.

Lead (Pb)

A toxic heavy metal used historically in various industries, known for its density, softness, and corrosion resistance.

Lead health impacts

Inhalation or ingestion of lead can lead to red blood cell interference, nerve damage, and brain disorders, especially in children.

Zinc (Zn)

A base metal commonly precipitated in sulfide minerals alongside lead and copper.

Tin (Sn)

A base metal alloyed with copper to make bronze, now often replaced by aluminum in many applications.

Mercury (Hg)

A toxic liquid metal utilized in batteries and thermometers, harmful through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption.

Cadmium (Cd)

A highly toxic metal used in batteries and pigments.

Precious metals

Extremely scarce metals with high economic value, such as gold and silver.

Gold (Au)

A soft, malleable metal mainly used for jewelry, accounting for 80% of gold demand.

Placer deposits

Deposits of gold nuggets that collect in slow-moving water.

CA Gold Rush

The 1848 discovery of placer gold in California led to a massive influx of settlers and statehood in 1850.

Witwatersrand Gold

An area in South Africa that produced 40% of all gold ever mined.

Fair-mined gold

Gold that is certified for responsible mining practices.

Platinum group metals (PGMs)

A group of metals including platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, and osmium, known for their special properties.

Asteroid mining

The concept of extracting valuable materials from asteroids.

Rare earth elements

Metals that were first extracted from rare oxide-type minerals, although not actually rare, dominated in production by China.