Mineral Resources Earth and Space Science Ms Pollock

Hoover Dam Built across Colorado River near Las Vegas in 1930 s Built to

Hoover Dam Disruption to normal river flow Flooding from reservoir behind dam Water deprivation

Mineral Resources �Useful resources contained in Earth’s crust �Formation of many resources takes millions

Ores �Metallic minerals also called native elements �Most minerals found in compound form, as

Ores Iron ore from hematite or magnetite Aluminum ore from bauxite Mercury ore from

Ores Formed by Cooling Magma �As magma cools, dense metallic minerals sink and accumulate

Ores Formed by Contact Metamorphism �Magma in contact with existing rock �Can be caused

Ores Formed by Contact Metamorphism Gold vein in Zamibia Silver lode deposit locations in

Ores Formed by Moving Water �Tiny fragments of native elements released from rock as

Uses of Mineral Resources See page 157 in your textbook – Table 1 Some

Mineral Exploration and Mining �Companies often in search of new mining areas �Area only

Subsurface Mining Many mineral deposits located below Earth’s surface Miners working underground to recover

Surface Mining Mineral deposits located close to Earth’s surface Overlying rock stripped away to

Placer Mining Mined by dredging Large buckets attached to floating barge Sediments scooped up

Undersea Mining Nodules – lumps of minerals on deep-ocean floor Difficult to mine due

Assignment �Complete page 158 # 1 – 7. �You do not need to write

Slides: 21

Download presentation

Mineral Resources Earth and Space Science Ms. Pollock 2010 - 2011

Hoover Dam Built across Colorado River near Las Vegas in 1930 s Built to supply water and electricity to arid (dry) lands Also affects environment

Hoover Dam Disruption to normal river flow Flooding from reservoir behind dam Water deprivation downstream from dam

Mineral Resources �Useful resources contained in Earth’s crust �Formation of many resources takes millions of years �Over 3, 000 identified minerals �Can be metals or nonmetals

Mineral Resources

Ores �Metallic minerals also called native elements �Most minerals found in compound form, as they are unstable �Ores are mineral deposits from which metals and nonmetals can be removed profitably.

Ores Iron ore from hematite or magnetite Aluminum ore from bauxite Mercury ore from cannabar

Ores Formed by Cooling Magma �As magma cools, dense metallic minerals sink and accumulate at the bottom of magma chambers to form ore deposits. • Chromium • Nickel • lead

Ores Formed by Cooling Magma

Ores Formed by Contact Metamorphism �Magma in contact with existing rock �Can be caused by hydrothermal solutions (hot water) passing through cracks in rock �Hydrothermal solutions cause formation of veins – narrow zones of ores. �Lode – many thick mineral veins formed in small region

Ores Formed by Contact Metamorphism Gold vein in Zamibia Silver lode deposit locations in British Columbia

Ores Formed by Moving Water �Tiny fragments of native elements released from rock as it is broken down by weathering �Fragments carried downstream by moving water �Placer deposit – concentration of fragments of native element at bottom of stream bed

Ores Formed by Moving Water

Uses of Mineral Resources See page 157 in your textbook – Table 1 Some metals prized for beauty and rarity Some nonmetals considered gemstones Some building materials

Mineral Exploration and Mining �Companies often in search of new mining areas �Area only good for mining if it contains 100 to 1, 000 times the amount of mineral found elsewhere �Local geology a factor • Aerial studies of magnetism, gravity, radioactivity, and rock color • Collection and testing of rock samples

Mineral Exploration and Mining

Subsurface Mining Many mineral deposits located below Earth’s surface Miners working underground to recover the minerals

Surface Mining Mineral deposits located close to Earth’s surface Overlying rock stripped away to reveal mineral deposits

Placer Mining Mined by dredging Large buckets attached to floating barge Sediments scooped up in front of barge Dense placer deposits separated and sediments released into water

Undersea Mining Nodules – lumps of minerals on deep-ocean floor Difficult to mine due to location • Iron • Manganese • nickel

Assignment �Complete page 158 # 1 – 7. �You do not need to write the question.