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Minerals in the Human Context
In this assignment, you will use the information found on the internet to investigate the many ways in which we use mineral resources. All of the links for this assignment can be found within the assignment. This week, please focus on your critical thinking, writing skills, and grammar. Pay attention to where I ask you to use complete sentences or to compare and contrast ideas. Parts of this assignment have been adapted from the work of Ellen Metzger and Katie Bryant.
Part I. Minerals in Everyday Life
- A. Although you may not realize it, many minerals are used in everyday life.
Go to http://www.rocksandminerals.com/uses.htm to fill out the table below. Many minerals have multiple
uses, and you don’t need to list them all. For each mineral, list a few primary uses.
| Mineral | Uses |
| halite | In human and animal diet Food seasoning and preservation Making sodium hydroxide, soda ash, and hydrochloric acid
|
| quartz | Used as oscillators in radios and watches. Used as an abrasive for sandblasting and cutting soft stones
|
| gypsum | Manufahttps://essaygroom.com/mine-facility-project/cture of wallboard |
| calcite* | As a construction material, in agricultural soil treatment and as an abrasive. |
| galena | The ore is the primary source of lead which is used in the manufacture of batteries Used as an effective sound barrier
|
| feldspar | Making glass, ceramics enamelware, and soaps. Making bonding material for abrasive wheels, cement, and fertilizer. |
| hematite | The primary ore for iron is used to make steel, which in turn makes machinery.
|
* Hint: look under limestone (which is a rock made up of calcite).
- Minerals and Society
Not only are mineral resources important to the economy but the mining and processing of minerals also have important social and economic impacts. The questions below address three examples. Please use complete sentences.
- Rare Earth Elements and Green Technology
- Go this web site to find out about rare earth elements (REEs) and their uses:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-17357863
- What are the rare earth elements?
These are a collection of 17 chemically similar elements critical to the making of most hi-tech products. The name rare may imply that they are not easily found, but this is not the case since they are abundant but are hazardous to mine.
- Write a brief summary of how REEs are used.
Neodymium, a component of REEs, is used to manufacture strong magnets used in computer hard drives and loudspeakers. Cerium is used in catalytic converters in cars that assist them in the running in high temperatures. Praseodymium is used to make metals that are used in aircraft engines. Gadolinium also a component is used in x-ray and scanning systems. Lanthanum is used in the camera, telescope lenses, and applications such as cinema projection.
b. Read the article “A Scarcity of Rare Metals Is Hindering Green Technologies”
(http://e360.yale.edu/feature/a_scarcity_of_rare_metals_is_hindering_green_technologies/2711/ )
to answer the questions below. This article was published in 2013. Use complete sentences.
- Explain the author’s statement that rare earth elements are “scarce thanks to both geology and politics.”
The author uses these words to explain how geology and politics have caused rare earth elements to become scarce. The government chose to listen to the fouls of companies instead of sticking to their policy, while geology has made it hard to mine the rare elements.
- Although there is a high demand for rare earth elements, recycling of these metals is not common. Why? (give at least two reasons).
These are because it is tough to get the metals out of modern technology since they are fused in tiny pieces onto very large devices. Another factor that contributes to low recycling is the fact that most of these jobs are given to low paid workers who may not succeed since the process is hazardous to themselves and the environment. Policy and education have also contributed since the government, for instance, worried about lead gives the car companies a financial incentive to recycle but not to other manufacturers.
- Conflict Minerals and Your Cell Phone
Watch this video from PBS : https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/conflict-minerals-from-the-congo-to-your-cellphone
- What “conflict minerals” are being mined in the Congo?
Tin, tungsten, tantalum and blood diamonds
- What are the social impacts of this mining?
Children are forced to work in the mines by the military, and when the fighting starts, they are forced to fight.
- The Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries on Earth, but it is also one of the poorest nations in the world. Why?
This is due to poor governance in the country whereby the government fails to take control of the mines. The military also contributes to that they mine for their financial gains, and therefore, there are no resources from mining that reaches the people. Political instability is also a factor in that most of the country’s resources are spent by the military in war and none in the mining industry.