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Charles E. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60126, charleso at elmhurst.edu, Copyright 2004

TOPIC 4: MINERAL RESOURCES

Text Readings: Chap 2

Introduction: Mining and Metals - Uses, Demands Metals such as iron, copper, aluminum, and many others are an important factor in an industrial society. From a chemistry perspective, metals are interesting because of the properties that they exhibit. All metals except for gold and in rare cases copper are in the oxidized or ion state in nature. The major chemical processes after mining the ore is to convert to the metal form. Many rare and "exotic" metals find uses in many hidden aspects of modern society. Good foreign relations are very important to enable the importation of strategic metals which are not found in the U. S.

Text: Chap 2 Use of metals that are mined - metals in an electric light bulb - metals mined in Nevada How many mined resources do you use? What Mining Provides 43 Minerals and their Uses

QUES. 1: a. How many different elements (both metals and nonmetals) are used to make a light bulb? Make a list. Second student can determine if the first answer is correct. Or QUES. 1b: Do the same as QUES. 1a for toothpaste. (2students) QUES. 1c: Make some comments about the use of elements required by you in one year or in one life time. Where do you use these elements? Do you believe it? Consider that a lot of industry may use these elements in support of our life style. (3 students)

Use of metals that are mined - metals in an electric light bulb - metals mined in Nevada. This graphic may be hard to read. (They changed the site on me from last year) In which case you can download it as a pdf Adobe Acrobat file if you have that program on your computer. OR What metals and minerals are in toothpaste? and Rocks in your mouth How many mined resources do you use? 43 Minerals and their Uses

1. Origin of Mineral Resources (ores) and distribution	Resource is anything we get from living and nonliving environment to meet our needs and wants. Nonrenewable , or exhaustible, resources exist in a fixed amount in the Earth's crust. Mineral resources include: energy resources (coal, oil, natural gas, uranium, geothermal); Metallic minerals : iron, copper, aluminum, etc.; Nonmetallic minerals: salt, gypsum, clay, sand phosphates, soil, water. Renewable Resources: Those that potentially can last indefinitely because it is replaced as or more rapidly than it is used. Examples include solar energy, trees in forests, grasses in grasslands, wild animals, fresh surface water in lakes and streams, fresh air, and fertile soil. If the natural replenishment rate is exceeded beyond a sustainable yield, the resource becomes nonrenewable and leads to environmental degradation.
A. Rock Cycle - Processes that make rocks and minerals Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic	Text p. 29-30, 32
B. Formation and Concentration of mineral resources	Magmatic concentration - molten rock stratifies by gravity as it cools and concentrates metals Hydrothermal solutions in late stages of cooling magma- sulfides of Pb, Cu, Ag, Zn, Au Black smokers undersea hot springs - sulfide ores Sedimentation - minerals dissolve in warm water and reprecipitate in cooler water Brines/seawater; laterites-weathering in the tropics - oxides of Fe, Al, Mn, Ni; Placer deposits from eroded rocks carried to streams Evaporites - from sea water - salt gypsum, potash. soda ash (sodium sulfate), phosphates List of Minerals - Brief uses, pictures, may be slow to Load
C. Ores	High grade (high percentage of metal) Low grade (very low percentage of metal) Ores in the form of sulfides or oxides mixed with silicates. Low grade ores become uneconomical if the time, effort, cost, high energy needed and costs, amount of waste material - do not yield a selling price to recover the costs.

2. Reserves, Economic resources, Depletion Time Text p. 37	Identified resources - known location, quantity, and quality Reserves - are identified resources that can be extracted economically at present prices & technology Undiscovered - potential supplies based upon geologic knowledge, but location and quantity unknown.
A. Location of Reserves imports from many countries
B. Critical and strategic minerals: Cr, Mn, Co, Al, Ta, Sn, Pt, Pd
C. Mining low grade deposits requires larger amounts of energy, more tailings, more water
D. Minerals from the sea water and ocean floor

QUES. 2: What are the lessons to be learned about supply and demand of metals in the U. S.? Economics, political - if some countries refused to export to the U. S. as in time of war. (3 students)

Strategic Metals - Time Mag.

 

3. Extraction and Concentration Methods - Text p. 35-37 General Overview of the Mining Process

A. Subsurface or underground mining	General Methods of Mining - Look at a series of sub pages Types of Coal Mining w/pictures
B. Surface or strip mining - (same as open cut mining)	General Methods of Mining - Look at a series of sub pages Diamond Mine - Pictues of the deepest hole on earth. Link found by Kevin Terry.
C. Concentration of ore	Use physical and chemical methods to increase concentration of metal, leaching of low grade ores. Flotation Process - Separation of the Metal -
D. Impact on the Environment	Mining is one of the most environmentally damaging activities carried out by humans. In the United States mining produces at least six times the amount of solid waste produced by towns and cities. Overburden, tailings, acid mine drainage, more acid mine drainage, leaching of other metals from tailings, erosion/sedimentation, landslides, tailings dam failure, reclamation. Reclamation - National Mining Association Environmental Concerns - ProfO Notes: In-situ Mining - Florence, AZ - no surface mining, but weak acid in injected into wells and recoverd in other wells. The rock is not moved. Reclamation Stories - many links to case studies

QUES. 3a: What are the chemical and environmental effects of strip mining as listed in this article. Give some specific chemical names. (2 students)

QUES. 3b: Use the internet sites on the right and take a side in the issue "Should more of the Public/U.S. Government owned lands be opened up for mining? YES or NO Give reasons. We are not talking about mining in the National Parks or Monuments. Consider the uses and benefits of the metals obtained in mining and also possible environmental effects of mining. (unlimited number students may answer)

More on Public Lands Strategic Metals - Time Mag. Mining Law of 1872 - still in effect! YES - General Methods of Mining - Look at a seris of sub pages Responsible Mining - a contribution from Rob Vugteveen Director, Asarco Mineral Discovery Center General Overview of the Mining Process ProfO Notes: Copper Mine and Smelter - extensive explanations of Asarco Mission Mine, Ray Mine, and Hayden Smelter in Arizona. ProfO Notes: In-situ Mining -BHP Florence, AZ NO - Yellowstone Gold Mine The Yellowstone Mine was stopped by the U.S. government buying the mining rights - no linger an active issue. Environmental Mining Hazards - Crandon Mine in Wisconsin

QUES. 4: Each person should pick one of the metals not already completed from section 4 A-J which follows. Prepare a brief summary report (5 paragraphs) about the metal which includes ALL of the following information: This is worth 2 Questions = 4 points. 1. location and sources of the ore (how was the ore formed over geologic time?), 2. methods to purify or concentrate the ore (give some chemistry names and/or formulas of the processes), 3. reduction methods to obtain the metal form from the compound ion form, (give some chemistry names and/or formulas of the processes) 4. uses of the metal, 5. and environmental impacts of mining and processing into the metal. This is general info about almost all of the metals. You may use the internet sources listed below (4. A-J) or a science encyclopedia in the reference section of the library (hard copy or online copy - see link on right.

Assignments: Pick one that is not already completed. If need to double up pick Fe, Al, or Cu for further discussion or try to add new information to an existing report of another element.    A. C. Buehler Library Elmhurst College Also you may Check out "Reference Sources", then "Access Science" - McGraw Hill Online Encyclopedia of Science and Technology

4. General Methods to Convert Ore to Metals

General Resources
Wikipedia is an online encylopedia which can be used to find a lot of info about specific chemicals and many other things as well.
Wikipedia - Chemistry Portal

A. Iron and steel Iron ores (35-65% Fe): Ores: Hematite (Fe2O3); magnetite (Fe3O4); siderite (FeCO3); limonite (FeO(OH)) Locations: Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Alabama. Also need coal and limestone Reduction of ore by heat and carbon to Fe	ProfO Notes: Iron Blast Furnace and process explanation HAMERSLEY BASIN IRON ORE MINE, AUSTRALIA
B. Copper (0.6-1% Cu): Locations: Utah, Arizona, Chile Copper ores many: chalcopyrite (CuFeS2); Chalcocite (Cu2S); Malachite Cu2CO3(OH)2; azurite (Cu(CO3)2(OH)2	Bingham Copper Mine photo - largest copper mine in the world. Roasting or smelting , air oxidation of sulfides; hydrometallurgy; electrolysis History and Modern Methods to Extract Copper from ore ProfO Notes: Copper Mine and Smelter - extensive explanations of Asarco Mission Mine, Ray Mine, and Hayden Smelter in Arizona. Asarco Discovery Center - Look at mining for a virtual tour of all phases of mining operations courtesy of Asarco Mineral Discovery Center Copper Production - From Ore to Finished Products
C. Aluminum p. 188-189, 234-245 Ores: Bauxite (50-60% Al)-clay mixture of hydrous oxides of Al; mixed with orange iron oxides Location: Western Hemisphere 70% - Arkansas, Jamaica, Surinam, British Guiana Chemical concentration of metal oxide ; electrolysis - 1 pop can = 300 watt-hr or 1000 kcal	ProfO Notes: Bauxite to Aluminum Process Aluminum Production with Chemical Equations CBG BAUXITE (ALUMINIUM ORE) MINING OPERATIONS, GUINEA Aluminum Encyclopedia Chemical Processing of Jamaican Bauxite - usually slow to load, but has good information.
D. Gold Mining	Cortez Gold Mine, Nevada ProfONotes: Gold Extraction Gold Encyclopedia
E. Lead	LAISVALL LEAD MINE, SWEDEN Lead Encyclopedia
F. Zinc	KIDD CREEK MINE, ONTARIO, CANADA zinc, copper, silver, indium Zinc Encyclopedia
G. Titanium	Titanium Encyclopedia New Process
Magnesium	Magnesium Encyclopedia
H. Tin	Tin Encyclopedia
I. Silver	CANNINGTON SILVER AND LEAD MINE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA Silver Encylodedia -
J. Nickel	NORILSK MINING CENTRE Nickel Encyclopedia Mond Process Mond Process with reactions
K. Calcium in Limestone	Limestone mining and uses
L. Uranium	Uranium - Mining and Processing Uranium Encyclopedia