Mining and Mineral ResourcesMining and Mineral Resources

Chapter 16Chapter 16

Minerals and Mineral ResourcesMinerals and Mineral Resources

Mineral- a naturally occurring, usually Mineral- a naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid that has a specific chemical inorganic solid that has a specific chemical composition and structurecomposition and structure– Compounds- two or more atoms chemically Compounds- two or more atoms chemically

bonded togetherbonded together– Native elements- minerals of only one type of Native elements- minerals of only one type of

element (i.e. gold, silver, copper)element (i.e. gold, silver, copper)

Minerals and Mineral resourcesMinerals and Mineral resources

Mineral and Mineral ResourcesMineral and Mineral Resources

Ore Minerals- minerals with economic valueOre Minerals- minerals with economic value– Metallic minerals- conduct electricity, have shiny Metallic minerals- conduct electricity, have shiny

surfaces, opaquesurfaces, opaque– Nonmetallic minerals- good insulators, dull Nonmetallic minerals- good insulators, dull

surfaces, allow light to pass through themsurfaces, allow light to pass through them

Gangue minerals- minerals with no Gangue minerals- minerals with no economic valueeconomic value

Minerals and Mineral ResourcesMinerals and Mineral Resources

How do ore minerals form?How do ore minerals form?– Hydrothermal solutions- produce veins of minerals in Hydrothermal solutions- produce veins of minerals in

cracks in rock from dissolved minerals moving with water cracks in rock from dissolved minerals moving with water in the earth’s crust.in the earth’s crust.

– Evaporites- surface water evaporates and leaves behind Evaporites- surface water evaporates and leaves behind dissolved minerals.dissolved minerals.

Minerals and Mineral ResourcesMinerals and Mineral Resources

Many minerals have high Many minerals have high economic and commercial valueeconomic and commercial value

Metallic MineralsMetallic Minerals– Alloys- combination or 2 or more Alloys- combination or 2 or more

mineralsminerals

Nonmetallic mineralsNonmetallic minerals– Gypsum used in constructionGypsum used in construction– Gemstones- highly valued for Gemstones- highly valued for

beauty.beauty.

Mineral exploration and MiningMineral exploration and Mining

Mineral deposits- usually have 100-1000 Mineral deposits- usually have 100-1000 times the normal concentration of a mineraltimes the normal concentration of a mineral– Aerial images, radioactivity data, magnetic data, Aerial images, radioactivity data, magnetic data,

satellite data are used to help locate possible satellite data are used to help locate possible mining sitesmining sites

– Drill core samples are used to “see” what is Drill core samples are used to “see” what is actually below groundactually below ground

Mineral Exploration and MiningMineral Exploration and Mining

Subsurface mining- used to reach minerals 50 m Subsurface mining- used to reach minerals 50 m of more below the earth’s surfaceof more below the earth’s surface– Room and pillar mining- rooms are dug into the Room and pillar mining- rooms are dug into the

horizontal vein but some of the mineral is left in the form horizontal vein but some of the mineral is left in the form of a pillar to hold up the roof of the mine.of a pillar to hold up the roof of the mine.

– Longwall mining- used to shear the mineral from one Longwall mining- used to shear the mineral from one wall. The roof behind the machinery is allowed to wall. The roof behind the machinery is allowed to collapse after everyone is clear.collapse after everyone is clear.

– Solution mining- hot water is injected into the earth to Solution mining- hot water is injected into the earth to dissolve minerals that will go into solution and then dissolve minerals that will go into solution and then pumped back out fo the ground.pumped back out fo the ground.

Mineral Exploration and MiningMineral Exploration and Mining

Surface Mining- Surface Mining- Open pit miningOpen pit mining