Define mineral resource and list two major types of such resources. Describe three uses of rock as a resource. Define ore and distinguish between a high-grade ore and a low-grade ore. What are reserves? Describe the life cycle of a metal resource. Describe three major harmful environmental effects of extracting, processing, and using nonrenewable mineral resources.
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Answer:
◆ Mineral Resource : It is defined as homogenous, naturally occurring, inorganic solids, each having their own characteristic chemical composition and highly ordered atomic structure.
=> Two major types of mineral resources are :
- Metallic Resource : Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Nickel, Chromium, and Aluminum are metallic resources .
- Non-metallic Resource : Sand, gravel, gypsum, halite, Uranium and dimension stone are non-metallic resource .
=> Three uses of rock as resource :
- Construction aggregate.
- Dimension and ornamental stone.
- Road and railroad bed material.
◇ Ore : An Ore is a naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted profitably.
High-grade ore contains a large concentration of the desired mineral. while Low-grade ore has a smaller concentration.
◇ Reserves : It is a supply of something that someone has and can use when they need to .
=> In the life cycle of a metal resource each step in this process uses large amounts of energy and produces some pollution and waste. Mining, processing, and using mineral resources take enormous amounts of energy and can disturb the land, erode soil, produce solid waste, and pollute the air, water, and soil .
=> Three major harmful environmental effects of extracting, processing, and using nonrenewable mineral resources are disturbed land, solid wastes and the pollution of water, air, and soil