Download Minerals

Minerals
What is a Mineral?
• A mineral is a naturally formed, inorganic solid that
has a definite crystalline structure and chemical
composition
1.
Naturally occurring
- Found in the Earth’s crust
2.
Inorganic
- Made of materials that are nonliving
3.
Solid
- Has a definite volume and shape
4.
Crystalline structure
- Repeating pattern of mineral particles
5.
Definite chemical composition
- Contains certain elements in measurable amounts
Chemical Composition
• Element
– A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler
substances by ordinary chemical means
– All minerals contain one or more of the 92 naturally
occurring elements
– Examples: Carbon (C), Sodium (Na), & Chlorine (Cl)
• Compound
– Substance made of two or more elements that have been
chemically joined, or bonded
– Most minerals exist in this form
– Examples: Halite (NaCl)
Crystals
• Definition: Solid, geometric forms of minerals
produced by a repeating pattern of atoms or
molecules
• All minerals have a
definite crystalline
structure
The largest known gypsum crystals in the world are found in a cavern deep below northern
Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert
Two Major Mineral Categories
1. Silicate Minerals
- Compound consisting of silicon,
oxygen, & one or more metals
- Make up over 90% of Earth’s
crust
-
Examples: Quartz, Feldspar,
& Mica
2. Non Silicate Minerals
- Do not contain silicon or
oxygen
Examples: Gold, Calcite, & Fluorite
Mineral Formation
• Two Major Methods:
1. Crystallization of melted
materials (magma)
2. Crystallization of materials
dissolved in water
Mineral Resources
• Metals
– Valued for ability to be stretched into wire, flattened
into sheets, and hammered/molded without breaking
– Used in machinery, cell phones, and building materials
• Non Metals
• Used in concrete and other building materials, even
computer chips
• Gemstones
– Non metal minerals valued for color, durability, and rarity
– Used in jewelry and mechanical parts
• Other Uses
– Food, medicine, fertilizer, etc…
Mineral Mining
• Ore
– A mineral deposit large and pure enough to be
mined for profit
• Two Main Types of Mining:
1. Surface Mining
- Used when deposits are near the Earth’s surface
- Examples: Mountain top removal, Strip-mining, & Open-pit
2. Subsurface Mining
- Used when deposits are deep within the Earth’s crust
- Example: Shaft Mines
Mining Methods
Strip Mining
Mountaintop Removal
Shaft Mining
Mineral Processing
• Smelting
– Process of melting an ore and separating the
useful metal from the other elements
Environmental Impacts of Mining
• Destroys habitat of plants & animals
• Pollutes rivers, lakes, & ground water
• Scars the Earth
Before
After