Describing the need for mineral resource conservation and epochs? Mention the investment of land resources.
Answers
Answer:
MINERAL RESOURCES
Their Importance:
· Essential for industrial and economic development of nations.
· Copper, tin & iron ore were essential to the ancient metal-using cultures of the Bronze & Iron Ages.
· Used in construction, engineering and chemical industries.
· Railways, computers, cars, skyscrapers etc in modern society depends upon the exploitation of mineral resources.
What are minerals?
· A naturally occurring inorganic substance.
· Created by (natural) geological processes but transformed into mineral resources by cultural processes.
Types of Minerals:
FUEL (coal, oil and natural gas) and...
NON-FUEL minerals resources.
NON-FUEL minerals are sub-divided into:
· METALLIFEROUS (i.e. gold, silver iron) &
· NON-METALLIFEROUS (i.e limestone, potash
Exploration for Mineral Resources:
Mineral exploration is shaped by geologic factors but cultural factors and other variables define the favorable areas. The factors include:
· Accessibility to major highways and railways
· Archeological evidence of ancient metal works
· Historical evidence of previous mining activity
· Accidental discoveries.
· Availability of geological information about rocks.
· The demand for the minerals.
Factors to consider in the search and exploration of minerals:
· Probability of successful search
· Initial capital expenditure and running cost for extracting, processing and marketing the mineral
· Levels of future demand and current price
· Political risks
· Risks stemming from changing market conditions and the development of substitutes.
Reducing risks in mineral Exploration
Search for minerals in areas where:
· there has been historical evidence of mineral presence
· base maps and geological survey data are available
· successful discoveries have already been made