1. Mineral Resources
Can You Dig It?

2. Definition & Types Mineral Resources: Different types:
“Inorganic, naturally occurring, solid, crystalline substances”
Different types:
Metals (Iron, Lead, Copper, Nickel)
Industrial Minerals (Aluminum, Gypsum, Titanium)
Gem Minerals (Gold, Silver, Diamond, Emerald)
Energy minerals (Graphite, Fluorite, Quartz)

3. Location Mineral resources are found in: California (gold)
Kentucky (coal)
Washington (aluminum)
Arizona (copper)
Texas (sulfur)

4. Benefits Coal provides about 50% of electricity for U.S.
Aluminum is very light weight, strong, recyclable
Copper has roles to help maintain a healthy body
Sulfur is a key component in gunpowder and matches
Gold is a good conductor of heat and electricity

5. Environmental Consequences
Mining: - “The process or industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine”
Subsurface
Room & Pillar Mining
Long-wall Mining
Solution Mining
Surface
Strip
Open-Pit
Solar Evaporation
Contamination from leakage of chemicals
Affects the health of the local population
Causes erosion, formation of sinkholes and loss of biodiversity
Mining can cause contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water

6. Uses of resources Gold: Sulfur: Copper: Aluminum: Coal:
Jewelry, coinage, awards, &dentistry
Sulfur:
Steel, rubber, cement, explosives, adhesives & sulfuric acid
Copper:
Sheathing of ships, heating/air conditioning systems, &wiring
Aluminum:
Baseball bats, golf clubs, pop cans & automobiles
Coal:
Energy in creating heat or electricity

7. Costs Equipment: Rock Breaker- $29,800 Drill- $1,861
Tunneler- $2,500,000
Excavator- $2,000,000
Underground Diesel Truck-$81,000
Conveyer-$10,500
Grader-$200,000
Loader-$70,000
Long Wall coal mine- $74,400,000

8. Applicable legislation
Laws:
Federal Land Policy and Management Act
- Prevents undue and unnecessary degradation of fertile lands
Toxic Substance Control Act
- Requires regulation of chemicals that present risk to a health or environment
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Regulates coal mining operations and reclamations
Clean Air Act
Sets air quality standards
Safe Drinking Water Act
- Directs standards for quality of drinking water

9. Extra Facts A telephone contains about 40 different mineral materials
There are over 4,000 different types of minerals
Only around 30 of these are commonly found
Sometimes made up of one element (Gold)
Most the time is made of two or more (Aragonite)
A telephone contains about 40 different mineral materials
A television has about 35 minerals and an automobile has about 15 minerals

10. Video

11. literature Cited http://minerals.usgs.gov/west/factfaq.htm
-in-the-world/
does-a-mine-cost/ 9