NATURAL FORMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES Mineral Resource – is a concentration of naturally occurring material in or on the earth’s crust that is extracted & used at a reasonable cost to consumers. Commercially valuable minerals and rocks are referred to as industrial minerals. Rocks from which minerals are mined for economic purposes are referred to as ores. Minerals form over geologic time (millions of years) and are therefore classified as non- renewable resources. Common minerals: calcite, quartz, mica ORES (ROCKS) 1)Metallic – iron, copper, aluminum 2)Non-metallic – salt, sand 3)Energy – coal, oil, natural gas, uranium Mineral Resources

Hydrothermal Vents Create ORES USGS defines mineral resources into two categories 1) identified & 2) undiscovered Reserves are identified as resources from which a usable nonrenewable mineral can be extracted for profit. HOW DO WE FIND MINERAL DEPOS ITS? 1)Drilling deep wells and extracting core samples 2)Aerial photos & satellite images to reveal protruding rock formations (outcrops) 3)Radiation measure – detect uranium ore ORES from WEATHERING  Sedimentary Sorting (gold)  Evaporite Deposits (salt)  Residual Deposits (bauxite)

Overburden – layers of soil & rock overlying a mineral deposit & is removed during surface mining. SPOILS Subsidence –. Subsidence – slow or rapid sinking of part of the ground that is not slope related. Smelting Smelting – process in which a desired metal is separated from the other elements in an ore. Gangue Tailings Waste material Piles of Gangue WORDS TO KNOW

STRIP MINING & MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL  Exposure of toxic materials that will leach into ground and surface waters  Wildlife is exposed to toxins  Sediment runoff

 Land Erosion ( sediment runoff)  Acid Mine Drainage  Habitat Loss  Land Collapse  Fires - fumes  Black Lung Disease  Acid Mine Drainage  Emits - SO 2, NO x, CO 2  Inorganic Mercury in Atmosphere - methylmecury in aquatics  Ground-level ozone – smog  Respiratory Disease STRIP MINING Subsurface MINING COMBUSTION (electrical production)

Open Pit Mines (coal, copper, uranium, lead, gold, silver)Open Pit Mines (coal, copper, uranium, lead, gold, silver) Exposes waste rock like pyrite (FeS 2 ) which can react with water to form sulfuric acid.Exposes waste rock like pyrite (FeS 2 ) which can react with water to form sulfuric acid. Releases ferric ions (Fe++)Releases ferric ions (Fe++) Leaches toxic heavy metals (Al 3 +, Zn 2 + )Leaches toxic heavy metals (Al 3 +, Zn 2 + ) Red Staining - “Yellow Boy”Red Staining - “Yellow Boy” Changes pH (can be higher or lower as it degrades natural buffers)Changes pH (can be higher or lower as it degrades natural buffers) Increases conductivity and hardnessIncreases conductivity and hardness

TYPICAL COAL BURNING POWER PLANTS  High CO 2 emissions (greenhouse gas)  Other emission: SO 2 (acid rain); NOx; & Mercury  Human health impact – respiratory diseases  Large disruption to land  Acid Rain  Global Climate Change ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Coal Supplies 50% of our electrical needs in the United States China largest global consumer of coal reserves

 High land impact  Increased Surface Mining  High CO 2 emissions  Higher cost  Lower net yield COAL GASIFICATION Disadvantages Advantages  Large supply  Vehicle Fuel Produces synthetic natural gas by coal liquefaction

1)Removes most of the sulfur dioxide 2)Reduces emissions of NOx 3)Burns coal more efficiently and cheaply than conventional methods Fluidized-Bed Coal Combustion Cleaning - Chemical/Physical cleaning of coal prior to combustion Scrubbing - injection of limestone into gases, reaction of carbonate with sulfur dioxide produces calcium sulfate (sludge). CLEANING UP COAL!

Disturbed land; mining accidents; health hazards; mine waste dumping; oil spills and blowouts; noise; scarring; heat; subsidence Solid waste; radioactive waste; air, water, & soil pollution; noise; safety & health hazards; heat Noise; ugliness thermal water pollution; pollution of air, water, and soil; solid and radioactive wastes; safety and health hazards; heat Use transportation or transmission to individual user, eventual use, and discarding Mining Exploration; Extraction Processing Transportation; purification, manufacturing ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO MINING PRACTICES & USE

Percolation to groundwater Leaching of toxic metals and other compounds from mine spoil Acid drainage from reaction of mineral or ore with water Spoil banks Runoff of sediment Surface Mine Subsurface Mine Opening Leaching may carry acids into soil and ground water supplies Fig. 14.7, p. 326 ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM MINING PRACTICES

The ruins of Centralia Pennsylvania no longer exists on some maps. The story began sometime in 1961 along the outskirts of town when trash was burned in an old open pit mine. The fire in the open pit caught an exposed vein of coal on fire. The coal then began to burn underground. That was in Over 40 years and 40 million dollars later the fire still burns through old coal mines and veins following the coal under the town and the surrounding hillsides. The fire, smoke, fumes and toxic gases that came up though the back yards, basements and streets of Centralia practically ripped the town apart. Attempts to put the fires out were unsuccessful.

IMPACT: 1962: Pop. Of 1,100 – 2, Families & Businesses 1996:Pop. Of Families - NO businesses