Ores and Minerals PDF

Ores and Minerals What Process are involve in extracting mineral resources? How do these processes affect the environment Ore  are naturally occurring materials that can be profitably mined.  it can be a mineral or rock or metallic or none-metallic, depending on the economic requirement ...

Ores and Minerals What Process are involve in extracting mineral resources? How do these processes affect the environment Ore  are naturally occurring materials that can be profitably mined.  it can be a mineral or rock or metallic or none-metallic, depending on the economic requirement A deposit is considered a potential ore body if it is localized. Abundance is greater than its average abundance or distribution on earth crust A rock or minerals is considered an ore based on: 1. Overall chemical composition 2. Percentage of extractable resource with respect to its total volume 3. Market value of the resources  Locating Ores  potential ore bodies are located by recognizing a geologic process or combination of process that can produce a localized enrichment of one or more minerals, and that processes only happen in a particular types of environment 1. Hydrothermal Fluid Circulation  the most common type of ore mineral deposits  form when ground water of seawater is heated by magma when hot aqueous solution are expelled from a cooling plutonic body This process produces veins that the host mineral like gold, silver, and copper 2. Metamorphic processes  leads to the alteration and crystallization of minerals and aids the formation and localization of economically-important materials like graphite, marble, and asbestos 3. Magmatic processes  create ore minerals which are concentrated due to their premature recrystallization and separation of magma 4. A special type of magma called Kimberlite magma  originates deep within the mantle and is the source of diamonds, which only crystallize at depths greater than 150 km. erupted very rapidly from depth onto the earth’s surface. their passage through the crust and eventual solidification leaves behind kimberlite pipes which are highly prized as diamond ores 5.Chemical sedimentary processes  form evaporate deposits from the precipitation of salt water minerals and evaporation of lake water 6. The action of ocean waves or currents  in flowing surface water tend to take sediments along. If the wave action and strength is constant, it causes a selective sifting effect that removes sediments and leaves behind those that are heavier in what is called placer deposits  heavy minerals such as gold platinum, zircon, and diamonds are concentrated in this manner 7. All rocks exposed to oxygen and water undergo chemical weathering  chemical changes in their mineral components that result in alteration into other minerals and into the formation of residual deposits. These types of ores are common in tropical areas where the climate is conducive to their formation Many of the altered minerals are economically important such as laterite, which is important ore of iron and aluminum  Mining Ores Mining  refers to a set of processes through which useful resources are withdrawn from a stock of any nonrenewable resource.  is also refers to the extraction of mineral resources  has a critical importance to industrialized societies because some materials cannot be grown – they can only be mined. Mining Ores  is an intensive and sophisticated process that varies based on the mineral depending on whether they are excavated, stripped, or brought via tunnels and shafts  The following steps are done during mining 1. Prospecting exploration  looking for the ore body, a deposit that can yield a large amount of the required ore mineral 2. Drilling  a small part of the ore is extracted to determined the resulting ore, ore’s quality, and the amount of ore minerals 3. Modeling  determining the ore’s size, shape, and grade distribution throughout the deposit to apply appropriate mining: a. methods b. blast and dig pattern designs c. safety precautions d. efficiency of ore mineral (grade) 4. Identifying and assessing the potential impacts  consideration on the social and environmental aspects and finding ways of mitigating any consequence of the mining operation with the purpose of bringing the area back as close to its original state as possible 5. Designing and constructing the mine  Engineers and scientist work hand in hand to create the appropriate mine and operational design, and proceeds with the construction once all the necessary permits are acquired from the government and local communities 6. Ore extraction  high grade ores are separated from the rest of the deposit. 7. Milling  the ore is crushed and concentrated, waste materials are released 8. Mine Site Decommissioning  closure of the depleted mine, the mine site is cleaned up and reclaimed or rehabilitated for other purposes.  Three Possible Extraction Methods 1. Sand and gravel extraction  very little waste rock is left behind the milling process, as these types of deposit are not economically viable unless the ore is of high grade 2. Extraction from buried ore bodies  huge quantities of rock often needs to be removed and discarded so that a relative small amount of ore can be removed 3. Ore processing Producing ore minerals from ore through crushing, separating and purifying Local Ore minerals and their uses In Philippines, we are the: Fifth most mineralized country in the world Third in gold reserves fourth in copper Fifth in nickel  Natural Resources and Management  Personal ways of which we can prevent or lessen the environmental impact that results from the use, extraction, and exploration of mineral resources is by finding environment- friendly alternatives for the mineral resources needed  conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of ecosystem are also important in mitigating harmful effects of mineral resources extraction so that affected ecosystems may recover and eventually restore itself back to its natural state  natural resources management which is the management of natural resources, such as land, water, soil, plants, and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quantity of life for both present and future generations