Minerals Resources
* Minerals are non-renewable resources because the amounts that exist are finite although most are very abundant. * Economically recoverable resources account for a tiny proportion of the total that exists. * The main limitations on mineral availability are the locations, chemical form and purity of the deposits, and the availability of technologies to exploit them. * Their exploitation is economically important but can cause environmental damage.
Factors affecting the viability of exploiting mineral deposits
Exploration, extraction and processing all cause significant environmental damage. A range of methods may be used to reduce these. 1. Extraction costs:-Affected by depth, overburden quality, drainage problems, size of deposit. 2. Processing costs :-The cost of extracting a metal depends upon the other elements with which it is combined.eg aluminium is most abundant in clay but can only be economically extracted from bauxite 3. Purity 4. The financial cost, energy required and quantity of ore-bearing rock extracted all increase rapidly as ore purity decreases. 5. Land conflicts:-Competing land uses may be considered more important or valuable than mining. E.g. urban areas, conservation of landscape or wildlife.
We live İn a time of rapid changes in world population and technological innovations. Technological changes are occurring at unprecedented rates, which are projected to increase İn the years ahead. These forces, combined with the desire of hundreds of millions of people in developing countries to raise their standard of living, are resulting in increasing demands for food, minerals, construction materials and energy. At the same time, there is increased recognition of human influence on the global environment and increased concerns about the longterm consequences of resource exploitation on nature and the ultimate habitability of the
Factors affecting the viability of exploiting mineral deposits
Exploration, extraction and processing all cause significant environmental damage. A range of methods may be used to reduce these. 1. Extraction costs:-Affected by depth, overburden quality, drainage problems, size of deposit. 2. Processing costs :-The cost of extracting a metal depends upon the other elements with which it is combined.eg aluminium is most abundant in clay but can only be economically extracted from bauxite 3. Purity 4. The financial cost, energy required and quantity of ore-bearing rock extracted all increase rapidly as ore purity decreases. 5. Land conflicts:-Competing land uses may be considered more important or valuable than mining. E.g. urban areas, conservation of landscape or wildlife.
We live İn a time of rapid changes in world population and technological innovations. Technological changes are occurring at unprecedented rates, which are projected to increase İn the years ahead. These forces, combined with the desire of hundreds of millions of people in developing countries to raise their standard of living, are resulting in increasing demands for food, minerals, construction materials and energy. At the same time, there is increased recognition of human influence on the global environment and increased concerns about the longterm consequences of resource exploitation on nature and the ultimate habitability of the