9b-MineralResourcesCV (1)

Page 1: Mineral Materials in a Midsize Automobile

• Common Materials

  • Aluminum: 980 lb (445 kg)

  • Copper: 42 lb (19 kg)

  • Tungsten: Trace amounts in lightbulbs

  • Gold: Trace amounts in electrical systems

  • Iron and Steel: 2124 lb (965 kg) in frame

  • Molybdenum: 1 lb (0.5 kg)

  • Quartz: 85 lb (37 kg), used to make glass

  • Vanadium: 1 lb (0.5 kg), alloyed in steel, gears, and axles

Page 2: Schedule Overview

• Monday Lab: Minerals Lab on Wednesday 2/24

• Modules:

  • Module 3 – The Geosphere

  • Rock Forming Minerals: 2/26

  • Mineral Resources: 3/3

  • The Rock Cycle & Plate Tectonics

  • Volcanic Resources & Hazards: 3/5

  • Earthquakes & Plate Tectonics

  • The Rock Cycle Lab: 3/10

  • Spring Break

  • Weathering and Soils: 3/24

  • Sedimentary Rocks & Carbon Cycle: 3/26

  • Bring a ziplock of soil from spring break!

Page 3: Module 3 Content Overview

• Key Topics:

  • Definition and properties of minerals and their formation

  • Relationship between minerals and the biosphere

  • Examples and concerns about mineral resources in modern society

  • Rock cycle, volcanoes, climate impacts, earthquakes, and life

  • Sedimentary rocks and soil importance

Page 4: Silicate Minerals

• Characteristics:

  • Composed of Silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O)

  • Known as rock-forming minerals; make up about 92% of Earth’s crust due to the abundance of silicon and oxygen.

  • Common examples include:

    • Quartz: SiO2

    • Pyroxene: Fe2Si2O6

    • Potassium Feldspar: KAlSi3O8

    • Olivine: Mg2SiO4

Page 5: Important Mineral Groups

• Mineral Distribution:

  • Sulfides: Containing sulfur

    • Pyrite (FeS2): Known as fool's gold, ore for iron

    • Galena (PbS): Ore for lead

  • Sulfates:

    • Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O): Used for drywall and plaster

• Note: Ore refers to minerals mined for economically valuable metals.

Page 6: More Mineral Groups

• Carbonates:

  • Calcite (CaCO3): Used in concrete and antacid tablets; primary mineral in limestone

• Halides:

  • Halite: Table salt

  • Fluorite: Used for fluoride treatments.

Page 7: Mineral Distribution Dynamics

• Concentration Factors:

  • Mineral deposits are not evenly distributed

  • Formation influenced by geologic processes:

    • Rock cycle, igneous processes, metamorphism, sedimentation

    • USGS notes major mineral deposits

  • Driven by Earth's internal heat affecting plate tectonics and weathering.

Page 8: Minerals from Internal Heat

• Formation Processes:

  • Rare Earth elements often concentrated by hot water movements around magma chambers

  • Lithium concentrated through pegmatite-forming processes.

Page 9: Weathering Effects on Minerals

• Concentration via Weathering:

  • Weathering can create economically viable concentrations of minerals (secondary enrichment).

  • Example: Bauxite: Aluminum ore that forms in heavily weathered, rainy tropical climates.

  • Importance of pyrite, as chemical weathering produces sulfuric acid, aiding in metal dissolution.

Page 10: Mining Hazards - Acid Mine Drainage

• Impact of Mining:

  • Most metal ores (gold, copper, etc.) are associated with pyrite deposits.

  • Mining exposes sulfides to water/air, producing sulfuric acid and dissolving surrounding rock, leading to water contamination.

Page 11: Acid Mine Drainage Remediation

• Case Study: Berkeley Pitt, Butte, Montana

  • Recognized as a Superfund site; water is acidic (pH 1-2) and contains dissolved metals.

  • Remediation practices include pumping water to prevent groundwater contamination and using lime to raise pH and precipitate metals.

Page 12: Water Consumption Issues

• Lithium Extraction:

  • Lithium ore not typically a sulfide; thus, less acid mine drainage risk.

  • Involves large evaporation pools for lithium refinement.

Page 13: New Lithium Discovery & Environmental Impact

• Discovery Context:

  • New lithium deposit discovered on Oregon-Nevada border from a volcanic eruption 16.4 million years ago, possibly the largest in the world.

  • Consideration of environmental effects of mining and refinement processes.

Page 14: Disclaimer on Medical Advice

• Medical Disclaimer: Not a medical doctor; minerals should not be considered as health improvement tools. Positive effects may be subjective.

Page 15: Harmful Medical Mineralogy

• Mineral Effects:

  • While many minerals are harmless, certain ones like galena (lead sulfide) can affect human health negatively.

  • Minerals with high concentrations of mercury, arsenic, and uranium can be harmful.

    • Cinnabar: Mercury sulfide, Realgar: Arsenic sulfide, Uraninite: Uranium oxide.

Page 16: Asbestos Concerns

• Asbestos Hazards:

  • Defined by specific crystal shapes causing carcinogenic effects.

  • History of use in construction materials; inhalation is most dangerous.

Page 17: Beneficial Medical Mineralogy

• Antibacterial Clays:

  • Clay minerals attract cation metals and bacterial surfaces, potentially harming bacteria.

  • Research hints at benefits, especially in non-organic systems.

Page 18: Review Points

• Minerals and Resources:

  • Minerals are non-renewable resources; consider examples of renewable vs. non-renewable resources.

  • Importance of understanding mineral distribution and concentration processes.

  • Address concerns regarding acid mine drainage and mining sustainability, particularly for lithium mining.

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

• Non-Renewable Resources: These are resources that do not replenish naturally at a sufficient rate compared to their consumption. Other examples include:

  • Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

  • Nuclear Fuels (uranium)

• Renewable Resources: These are resources that can be replenished naturally. Examples include:

  • Solar Energy

  • Wind Energy

  • Hydropower

  • Biomass

Implications for Sustainability

• Non-renewable resources like minerals need to be managed properly to avoid depletion, making sustainability critical in resource management.

• On the other hand, renewable resources offer a sustainable alternative that can help minimize environmental impact.

Concentration of Minerals

• Minerals can become concentrated as ores through various geologic processes, such as weathering or hydrothermal processes.

• For example, Bauxite becomes concentrated in heavily weathered tropical climates, typically forming in areas with high rainfall.

Acid Mine Drainage

• Acid mine drainage occurs when mineral ores are exposed to air and water during mining. This exposure allows for the oxidation of sulfide minerals, especially pyrite (FeS2), producing sulfuric acid and leading to pollution.

• Pyrite is most commonly associated with acid mine drainage because it reacts to form acids.

Concerns about Lithium Mining

• Concerns related to lithium mining include:

  • Land use changes due to large evaporation pools for lithium extraction, affecting local ecosystems.

  • Water use, as lithium extraction often requires significant amounts of water, impacting water availability in the area.

• To make lithium mining more sustainable, practices such as reducing water usage, improving waste management, and adopting more efficient extraction techniques can be implemented.