Chapter 19. Chapter 19: Mineral Resources
What are mineral resources...?
Guiding Question 19.1
What are mineral resources and how do we use them in modern society?
Why You Should Care
Over millions of years, tectonic forces within the Earth slowly change rock layers as they crush, split, melt, and, finally, concentrate metals and minerals. Some of these metals and minerals are important parts of our daily lives, so we seek out these minerals and bring them to the surface through mining.
Once these minerals are properly refined, they make up a critical part of our society’s infrastructure. We use iron, sand, and marble to make our skyscrapers. Our electronic devices contain copper, gold, and rare earth metals so that they are fast and light. Our cars are lightweight marvels made of steel, aluminum, and sand (used in the making of glass).
It is important to remember that these resources are all non-renewable: The total amount on the Earth is the same over time since these atoms date from the formation of the Earth. Using the resources depletes what remains, and unless we recycle the minerals and metals after use, we run the risk of running out of them.
Test Your Vocabulary
Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A pure chemical substance made up of one type of atom; 92 naturally occurring types exist—such as gold and carbon. | |
| Smallest particle of matter that contains the physical properties of an element. | |
| Combination of two or more atoms bound together by a molecular bond. | |
| Combination of the atoms of two or more elements bound together by a molecular bond in a particular proportion. | |
| Conglomerates of one or more minerals that occur in a variety of configurations. | |
| Extraction of natural resources from the ground. | |
| Rock deposits that contain economically valuable (retrievable) amounts of metals. | |
| The process in which rock is constantly made and destroyed. |
1.
Which of the following metals and minerals are found in jewelry and electronics?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
6.
Sand mines remove ancient sand deposits that were laid down by tides or winds. These mines look for what kind of rock?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
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