Minerals+and+mineral+resources


 * COAL

Readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock **



Used in steel making and to provide the lowest cost in electricity in the world and also in fuel

Coal is mined In the United States, United Kingdom, and South Africa

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In this article it mainly talks about how mining for gold is a huge rip off for the people that are mining it. The people in El Salavador are suffering and dying because mining for gold in the area where they don’t even know if there is gold there or not. The price of gold has increased and the people will get paid a good amount but what if they don’t find any or if they dig and then there is no more.

=**Articles Gold Mining in El Salvador**= [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []


 * Physical Properties Discovery Lab**

Ø Nearly 4000 minerals have been named, and 30 to 50 new ones are identified each year. Ø Rock-forming mineral—make up most of the rocks of Earth’s crust Ø Economic mineral—minerals are used extensively in the manufacture of product s that drive our modern society Ø Determining what is or is not a mineral is in the hands of the International Mineralogical Association Ø Minerals are placed into categories in much the same way as plants and animals are classified by biologists. Ø Some common mineral species include quartz, compositions Ø Important mineral classes include the silicates, (SiO44-), carbonates (CO32-), halides, (Cl1-, F1-, Br1), Sulfates (SO42-) Ø Mineral classes are further divided into groups based on similarities in atomic structures or compositions Ø Polymorphs—same composition different crystal structures Ø Common mineral groups include the feldspars, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, and olivine Ø Only 8 elements make up the bulk of rock-forming minerals and represent over 98% (by weight) of the continental crust, which include: O, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Na, K, Mg Ø  Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron-fundamental building block Ø In nature, the simplest way for independent tetrahedral to become neutral compounds is through the addition of positively charged ions Ø Vast numbers of tetrahedral connect to form single chains, double chains or sheet structures Ø Polymerization—achieved by sharing of oxygen atoms between adjacent tetrahedral Ø The feldspars are by far the most plentiful silicate group comprising more than 50% of Earth’s crust. Ø Most silicate minerals form when molten rock cools and crystallizes. Ø Light silicate are generally light in color and have a specific gravity of about 2.7 which is considerably less than the dark silicates Ø Feldspar-the most common mineral group can form under a wide range of temperatures and pressures Ø All of the feldspars have similar physical properties Ø Potassium Feldspar—contain potassium ions in its structure Ø Plagioclase feldspar-contains sodium and calcium ions that freely substitute for one another depending on the environment during crystallization Ø Striation—Fine parallel lines on the feldspars Ø Quartz—the only common silicate mineral consisting entirely of silicon and oxygen
 * Notes 87-95 **
 * How are Minerals Named and Classified? **
 * Classifying Minerals **
 * Major Mineral Classes **
 * The Silicates **
 * Common Silicate Minerals **

Estimated percentages (by volume) of the most common minerals in Earth Crust



**Stibnite is a classic mineral species with fine crystal clusters and long curved crystals

Three Types of silicate structures

Notes 95-97 ** Ø Nonsilicate minerals are typically subdivided into classes based on the anion or complex anion that the members have in common Ø The minerals in each group have similar physical properties that are useful in mineral identification Ø Some of the most common nonsilicate minerals belong to one of three classes of minerals—the carbonates, the sulfates, and the halides Ø The two most common carbonate minerals are calcite, CaCo3 and dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 Ø Two other nonsilicate minerals frequently found in sedimentary rocks are halite and gypsum Ø Weathering creates many important mineral deposits by concentrating minor amounts of metals that are scattered through in weathered rock into economically valuable concentrations Ø The formation of bauxite the principal ore of aluminum is one important example of an ore created as a result of enrichment by weathering processes Ø Many copper and silver deposits result when weathering processes concentrate metals that are deposited through a low-grade primary ore. Ø Pyrite is important because when it chemically weathers, sulfuric acid forms, which enables percolating waters to dissolve the ore metals. Ø Placers—are deposits formed when heavy minerals are mechanically concentrated by currents Ø Placers associated with streams are among the most common and best known but the sorting action of waves can create places along the shore Ø Placer deposits usually involve minerals that are not only heavy but also durable and chemically resistant. Ø Earth materials that are not used as fuel or processed for the metals they contain are referred to as nonmetallic mineral resources. Ø People often do not realize the importance of nonmetallic minerals because they see only the products that resulted from their use and not the minerals themselves. Ø Nonmetallic mineral resources are commonly divided into two broad groups—building materials and industrial minerals
 * Important Nonsilicate Minerals **
 * __Notes 647-650__ **
 * Weathering and Ore Deposits **

** **  **Section of Alluvial Gravels at the Blue Ribbon Mine Alaska **
 * Nonsilicate Minerals
 * Bauxite is the ore of aluminum and forms as a result of weathering processes under tropical conditions.