Economic Geology

Mineral resources  Renewable  Can be replaced in a humans life time  Non-renewable  Limited supply  Can not be replaced in a humans lifetime

Ores  Mineral deposit from which a metal or nonmetal can be profitably extracted  Native Elements  Native element minerals are those elements that occur in nature in uncombined form with a distinct mineral structure.

Clicker  Wood is considered… A. A renewable resource B. A non-renewable resource C. Neither D. It is not a resource

Mineral ores formation  Cooling of magma  When magma cools dense material sink to the bottom  Contact metamorphism  Magma comes in contact with rocks  Rock changes  Dissolve minerals forming veins

Mineral ores formation  Placer deposits  accumulation of valuable minerals formed by gravity separation during sedimentary processes.  Dissolving  Precipitating  Water dissolves minerals  Water evaporates and minerals precipitate out

Homework  Study Table 11-1 (p. 197). Name 4 metallic minerals and 4 non-metallic minerals that you have used in the last few days and describe what they were used for.

Mining video  Revised definition of a ore:  Any mineral or MATERIAL that has economic value

Types of ores mined from Earth  Metallic  Copper  Gold  Silver  Graphite  Non-metallic  Diamonds/ gemstones  Salt  Gypsum  Fuel  Oil  Natural gas  Coal  Uranium

Michigan common ores  Aggregate  Sand, gravel  Used for construction  Halite / Brine  Salt/ Salt water  Used for food  Deicing (lowers freezing point of water)  Iron ore  Used for industry  Copper  Wires  Coins

Fossil fuels  Organic material that has stored energy  Made of hydrocarbons (consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon)

Clicker  Aggregate is an important ore. Is it a mineral?

Fossil fuels non-renewable  Can not be replaced in our lifetime  MILLIONS OF YEARS to form  When fossil fuels are burned  Combustion reaction  CO 2 and H 2 O vapor

Negative impacts Mining/ processing Fossil fuels

Fuel resources  Coal:  Carbonization: dense forests in low-lying wetland areas, buried under mud and soil.  Uses:  Primarily burned for electricity  Efficiency:  <47%  Environmental effects:  Acid rain from high sulfur content  Greenhouse gases  Smog

Fuel resources  Crude oil:  formed when large quantities of dead organisms, are buried underneath sedimentary rock and subjected to intense heat and pressure.  Uses:  Transportation  Petroleum products  Efficiency:  <67%  Environmental effects:  Greenhouse gasses  Oil spills  Drilling

Fuel resources  Natural gas:  formed when layers of buried plants and animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years.  Uses:  ranges and ovens, gas-heated dryers, heating  Efficiency:  <90%  Environmental effects:  Greenhouse gasses

Fuel resources  Uranium:  Radioactive element, mined as a ore.  Uses:  Nuclear fission  Splitting of a nucleus of an atom  Power  Efficiency:  <99%  Environmental effects:  Radioactive waste  Mining

Clicker question  Which fossil fuel has the highest efficiency? a) Natural gas b) Oil c) Uranium d) Coal

Nuclear energy