1. Minerals: A Nonrenewable Resource
Chapter 16
Minerals: A Nonrenewable Resource

2. Introduction to Minerals
Salt
Copper
Concrete – sand, gravel, crushed limestone

3. Introduction to Minerals
Mineral Distribution and Formation
Some minerals very abundant (e.g., Al, Fe)
Some are very scarce (e.g., Cu, Mo)
Some may be found about anywhere, but in such low abundance mining is unprofitable

4. Introduction to Minerals
Mineral Distribution and Formation
Formation of Mineral Deposits
Magmatic concentration
Hydrothermal processes
Sedimentation
Evaporation

5. Introduction to Minerals
How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed
Discovering Mineral Deposits
aerial photos / satellite images
examine magnetic field
seismographs

6. Introduction to Minerals
How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed
Discovering Mineral Deposits
Extracting Minerals

7. Introduction to Minerals
How Minerals are Found, Extracted, and Processed
Discovering Mineral Deposits
Extracting Minerals
Processing Minerals

8. Environmental Implications of Minerals
Mining and the Environment
Disturbs large areas of land
Uses huge quantities of water
Affects water quality
Cost-benefit Analysis of Mine Development
Benefits of the mining vs. Preservation of the land

9. Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals

10. Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals
The problem of tailings

11. Environmental Implications of Minerals
Environmental Impacts of Refining Minerals
Case-in-Point: Copper Basin, TN

12. Environmental Implications of Minerals
Restoration of Mining Lands
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

13. Environmental Implications of Minerals
Restoration of Mining Lands
Creative Approaches to Cleaning Up Mining Areas
Conversion to wetlands
Phytoremediation

14. Minerals: An International Perspective
Many developed nations have observed significant environmental damage due to mining
Many developed nations exacerbate problem by having mining interests in developing countries

15. Minerals: An International Perspective
U.S. and World Use
North American consumption of selected metals

16. Minerals: An International Perspective
Distribution Versus Consumption
Some minerals needed for many industrial processes but only found in abundance in few places
Results in dependence
Stockpiling common

17. Minerals: An International Perspective
Will We Run Out of Important Minerals?

18. Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Locating and Mining New Deposits
Many known deposits haven’t been exploited because:
accessibility problems
technology issues
too deep

19. Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Minerals in Antarctica
Antarctic Treaty (1961) limits activities in Antarctica
If significant mineral deposits were found, should they be exploited?

20. Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Minerals from the Ocean
Manganese nodules

21. Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Minerals from the Ocean

22. Increasing the Supply of Minerals
Advanced Mining and Processing Technologies
Ability to exploit low-grade ores
Biomining

23. Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies
Finding Mineral Substitutes
Substituting inexpensive / abundant resources for expensive / scarce resources
E.g., Glass, plastics, and aluminum have substituted for tin

24. Using Substitution and Conservation to Expand Mineral Supplies
Mineral Conservation
Reuse
same product used over and over
Recycling
product is processed into another product
Changing Our Mineral Requirements
fight the “throw away” mentality