2.  A businessman would like to increase his earnings through mining. Learning about his interest in the field, three companies immediately came up with project proposals for three different mineral reserves. Company A proposed for manganese, Company B recommended phosphates; Company C envisioned a coal mining industry.

3.  However, the businessman, seeing the project to involve a huge amount of money, thought of hiring your expertise as a team MINERAL EXPERTS to help him decide where to invest.

5.  Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature (often in combination with iron), and in many minerals. As a free element, manganese is a metal with important industrial metal alloy uses, particularly in stainless steels.

7.  Australia is the third largest producer of manganese ore in the world, producing 2.55 Mt in 2003, 12% of global production. In 2003, Australian exports of manganese ore totaled 2.14 Mt valued at A$312 million. Its operations have a production capacity of 2.5 Mt a year account for approximately 15 % of the world's high grade manganese ore production.

8.  China imported 1.145 million tons of manganese ore during the first five months of this year, up 35.2 percent year on year, and the upward trend is likely to continue for the near future, latest Customs figures show. Customs experts said the manganese ore was worth 78.28 million US dollars, an increase of 32.6 percent.

9.  China's manganese imports have been growing fast in the past several years due to rising demand from the iron and steel sector.  China became the world's biggest manganese ore importer last year as overall imports totaled 2.08 million tons, a record high, worth $150 million.

10.  China's steel output jumped to 180 million tons in 2002, and is expected to reach 210 million tons this year, which translates into an additional demand for 450,000 tons of manganese ore.  China has capacity to produce 2.8 million tons of steel with manganese each year, about 38 percent of its total steel, while its output last year stood at 2 million tons.

11.  The processing trade sector in China accounted for two thirds of the country's manganese ore, or 740,000 tons, during the first five months of this year, up 46.7 percent.

12. Impact on Environment  Mining is generally very destructive to the environment. It is one of the main causes of deforestation. In order to mine, trees and vegetation are cleared and burned. With the ground completely bare, large scale mining operations use huge bulldozers and excavators to extract the metals and minerals from the soil.

13.  In order to amalgamate (cluster) the extractions, they use chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, or methyl mercury. These chemicals go through tailings (pipes) and are often discharged into rivers, streams, bays, and oceans. This pollution contaminates all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately the people who depend on the fish for their main source of protein and their economic livelihood.

14.  Small scale mining is equally devastating to the environment, if not more. Groups of 5-6 men migrate from one mining site to another in search of precious metals. There are two types of small scale mining: land dredging and river dredging.

15.  Land dredging involves miners using a generator to dig a large hole in the ground. When the mining pits fill with water from the tailings, they become stagnant water pools. These pools create a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-born insects. Malaria and other water-born diseases increase significantly whenever open pools of water are nearby.

16. IImpact on Environment On animals: Manganese is an essential component of over thirty-six enzymes that are used for the carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, however if taken excessively, manganese substances can cause lung, liver and vascular disturbances, declines in blood pressure, failure in development of animal fetuses and brain damage.

17. Laboratory tests with test animals have shown that severe manganese poisoning should even be able to cause tumor development with animals. On Plants: Manganese can cause both toxicity and deficiency symptoms in plants. When the pH of the soil is low manganese deficiencies are more common

18. On the contrary, highly toxic concentrations of manganese in soils can cause swelling of cell walls, withering of leafs and brown spots on leaves. Deficiencies can also cause these effects. Between toxic concentrations and concentrations that cause deficiencies a small area of concentrations for optimal plant growth can be detected.

20.  A phosphate is an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester or chemical compound of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology.

21.  Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry. At elevated temperatures in the solid state, phosphates can condense to form pyrophosphates.

23.  The cost of mining in Nauru is estimated at over $200 million.

24.  There are some quarry in Thailand selling around US$ 0.75 per kilo (2.2 pound).

25.  Just like any other mining activity, phosphate mining is harmful both to environment and people.  It causes deforestation  It causes pollution  Pollution contaminates all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately the people who depend on the fish for their main source of protein and their economic livelihood.

26.  The majority of soil and vegetation can be stripped away.  Phosphate in water can cause excessive growth of algae.  It can also make our water polluted and not safe for drinking.

27.  It can cause skin burns.  Burning may cause damage to the liver, the heart or the kidneys.

29.  Coal is the most abundant and economical fossil fuel in the world and over 6,400 million tonnes of coal were produced globally in 2008. More than 80% of the world’s coal reserves are located in the United States, China, India, Russia, Australia, and South Africa. Coal is primarily used for the generation of electricity, with smaller volumes used for industrial process heat and in steel production.

30.  Coal is the currently the most frequently used fuel for electricity generation. It produces about 42% of the world’s electricity. On a levelized cost of production basis, the global market value of coal-fired electricity exceeded $400 billion in 2008.

32.  Markets and Trends Worldwide includes a broad review of the market for clean coal technologies for coal-fired electricity generation. The report provides a discussion of several of the technologies employed or in development to address the environmental impact of coal.

33.  The market demand for coal, electricity, and clean coal-fired electricity is quantified and projections for growth in demand are provided, along with the key factors influencing this growth. The report also provides profiles of 14 companies active in clean coal.

34. Week Ended Central Appalachia 12,500 Btu, 1.2 SO2 Northern Appalachia 13,000 Btu, <3.0 SO2 Illinois Basin 11,800 Btu, 5.0 SO2 Powder River Basin 8,800 Btu, 0.8 SO2 Uinta Basin 11,700 Btu, 0.8 SO2 7-May-10$61.15$59.75$41.40$12.35$40.00 14-May-10$64.60$60.75$41.40$12.00$40.00 21-May-10$64.60$60.75$41.40$11.65$40.00 28-May-10$64.60$60.75$41.40$11.50$40.00 4-Jun-10$64.60$60.75$41.40$11.65$40.00 11-Jun-10$64.60$60.75$41.40$11.90$40.00 18-Jun-10$64.60$59.25$41.40$12.00$40.00 25-Jun-10$64.60$59.25$41.40$12.65$40.00 This is a sample market value of coal mining from Central Appalachia (CAP), Northern Appalachia (NAP), Illinois Basin (ILB), Power River Basin (PRB), and Uinta Basin (UIB)) in the United States.

35. EESTIMATED PROJECT COST (in US$ Million): MMine: 10.0 PPower Plant: 90.0 TTOTAL: 100.0

36.  Just like any other mining activity, phosphate mining is harmful both to environment and people.  It causes deforestation  It causes pollution  Pollution contaminates all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately the people who depend on the fish for their main source of protein and their economic livelihood.

37.  Coal mining causes a number of harmful effects. When coal surfaces are exposed, pyrite (iron sulfide), also known as "fool's gold", comes in contact with water and air and forms sulfuric acid. As water drains from the mine, the acid moves into the waterways, and as long as rain falls on the mine tailings the sulfuric acid production continues, whether the mine is still operating or not.

38.  This process is known as acid rock drainage (ARD) or acid mine drainage(AMD). If the coal is strip mined, the entire exposed seam leaches sulfuric acid, leaving the subsoil infertile on the surface and begins to pollute streams by acidifying and killing fish, plants, and aquatic animals which are sensitive to drastic pH shifts.

39.  Muscle and blood, skin and bones, a mind that's weak and a back that's strong. The railroads snaked along the river bottoms into the coal fields in the late 19th century, companies were forced to import their labor and set up mining communities, literally overnight replacing silent mountains and roaring streams with a boisterous new society of steel, smoke and sinew.

40.  Release of carbon dioxide and methane, both of which are greenhouse gases causing climate change and global warming. Coal is the largest contributor to the human-made of CO 2 in the atmosphere.  Waste products including uranium, thorium, and other radioactive and heavy metal contaminants.

41. AAcid rain AAcid mine drainage(AMD)  I Interference with groundwater and water table levels DDust nuisance SSubsidence above tunnels RRendering land unfit for the other uses

42.  Due to limited data given limited time in this research, our recommendation for the best project proposal is based only on the market demand and impact on environment and people of the mineral product. We cannot use the cost of mining or investment cost as the criteria for the decision because factual data or actual/field research is needed.

43.  Based on demand, coal mining is preferable because 42% of the world’s electricity relies on coals, it is very profitable in the world market.  On the contrary, just like any other mining activities, it contributes to air pollution and endangers human lives in the process of transporting and storing it. However, this problem can be mitigated by continuous monitoring of water at coal mines, by using the following technologies:

44. The five principal technologies used to control water flow at mine sites are:  diversion systems,  containment ponds,  groundwater pumping systems,  subsurface drainage systems,  subsurface barriers. contaminated water is generally pumped to a treatment facility that neutralizes the contaminants.

45.  In our opinion, the project proposal of Company C is the most preferable project proposal because it is the most commonly used fuel for generating electricity, therefore, the demand is always present. Since industries particularly in both developed and developing countries uses electricity to operate their business, coal is highly in demand. It is also the most abundant and economical fossil fuel which means it is not rare to find.

46.  http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/p.htm#Env ironmental%20effects%20of%20phosphorus http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/p.htm#Env ironmental%20effects%20of%20phosphorus  http://www1.american.edu/ted/NAURU.htm http://www1.american.edu/ted/NAURU.htm  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphate  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining  http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table31. html http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table31. html  http://www.infomine.com/commodities/manganese.asp http://www.infomine.com/commodities/manganese.asp  http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/mang/p0005.htm http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/mang/p0005.htm  http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/mang/au/au/p0005. htm http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/mang/au/au/p0005. htm  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal  www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/mn.htm www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/mn.htm  www.kids.mongabay.com/lesson-plan www.kids.mongabay.com/lesson-plan