Download the eurorainbow of schools greece 18-23 march

THE EURORAINBOW OF
SCHOOLS
GREECE 18-23 MARCH 2012
STONES AND MINERAL
RESOURCES IN SICILY
MINERAL RESOURCES IN SICILY
• Central Sicily is famous worldwide for its mines
of sulfur and splendid specimens, still
unmatched in the world for their beauty, of
sulfur, celestite and gypsum.
• In the ‘700 development of the chemical
industry in France and England with great
demand for sulfuric acid for the production of
soda, increased the demands of sulfur,
stimulating research and the opening of new
mines. It was used in medicine but also in the
gunpowder weapons industry.
SULPHUR
Sicily is also famous for some zeolite to be
found in the western part of the island
• Zeolite is a strange
material. If you spray
water on it begins to
radiate heat up to 80
degrees, then dry out and
quickly return to the initial
position, ready to heat up
again. No wonder her
name means "boiling
stone".
CELESTITE
• Celestite (or celestite) is a
mineral consisting
essentially of strontium
sulphate (SrSO 4)is located
in the limestone soils and
sediments associated with
gypsum, anhydrite, halite
and sulfur.
• It is s extracted to obtain
strontium carbonate which is
used as special glass
screens for televisions and
monitors.
GYPSUM
• Gypsum is a typical mineral which is
formed by direct precipitation from
supersaturated waters.
• Gypsum, milled and dried, is used in
construction, sculpture, stationery and, in
the noble varieties of colored alabaster, as
a decorative stone
OBSIDIAN
• Obsidian is an igneous
rock that is generated
due to the rapid
cooling of magma
brought to the surface
by volcanic eruptions.
It is used to make
necklaces and
precious weapon
points.
ROCK SALT
PUMICE STONE
• Pumice is an igneous
explosive rock,very light for
the very high porosity. It is
the only rock that floats in
water. It is used in cosmetics
(known as pumice stone)
and in the industrial laundry
(stone wash). The building
industry uses it as an
acoustic and thermal
insulation