Botkin and Keller

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Chapter 26

• Minerals and the Environment

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How Mineral Deposits Are Formed

• Ore Deposits formed when metals are
  concentrated in anomalously high amounts by
  geological processes
• Mineral resources are usually extracted from ore
  deposits

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Resources and Reserves

• Minerals are classified as
• 1. Mineral Resources
• Elements, chemical compounds, minerals or rocks
  that can be extracted to obtain a usable
  commodity
• 1. Mineral Reserves
• The portion of the resource that is identified
  and from which usable materials can be legally
  and economically extracted at the time of
  evaluation

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Availability of Mineral Resources

• When the availability of a mineral becomes
  limited, there are 4 possible solutions
• 1. Find more sources
• 2. Recycle and reuse what has already been
  obtained
• 3. Reduce consumption
• 4. Find a substitute

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Impacts of Mineral Development

• Environmental Impacts
• Depends on many factors mining procedures,
  climate, rock type, etc.
• Social Impacts
• Increased demand for housing and services in
  mining areas

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Minimizing Environmental Impact of Mineral
Development

• Environmental regulations at the federal, state
  and local levels
• On-site and off-site treatment of waste
• Practicing the 3 Rs of waste management

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Minerals and Sustainability

• R-to-C Ratio
• A measure of the time available for finding the
  solutions to depletion of nonrenewable resources
• R known reserves
• C rate of consumption

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