Lesson 5: Importance of Mi erals to the Society Objectives: In this lesson you will learn the following: 1 Identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical and chemical properties Identify the minerals’ importance to the society Cite ways to prevent or lessen the environmental impact that results from the exploitation, extraction, and use of mineral resources The Use of Minerals in a Growing Society ‘The last module tackled the different categories of rocks, their properties, and how they ‘were formed. In this module, we will learn the many uses of minerals in our continuously 18 society. The environmental impact thet result from exploitation, extraction, and use ineral sources in our planet today ill be discussed as well. Mineral as Earth’s Material Minerals are among the earth's naturally occurring materials which are essential to sustaining all of the organisms living in the planet. They are naturally occurring and generally inorganic solids which have occurred from natural geologic processes. They have crystalline structures and definite composition. ‘There are thousands of minerals identified on Earth, and they exist everywhere. They are in every object that people use everyday. From your mother’s jewelry collection to your family computer, a lot of things are made up of various minerals. Physical properties of Minerals Identifying a mineral is easier if you know its physical properties. There are many properties of a mineral which can be useful in distinguishing them. You can easily identify two different forms of the same mineral simply by checking their fundamental properties. Color: this is usually the property used to identify minerals easily. The color of a mineral varies because each mineral absorbs light differently. However, thi ble way to identify minerals, the least ‘Streak: it is the color of the mineral in powder form. In cases where minerals seem to be different due ta the trace particles inside them, scientists pulverize them to get their true color. Hardness: it refers to the mineral’s capability to withstand scratching. The relative hardness of minerals is measured using Mohs scale. The scale is developed by the German mineralogist named Frederick Mohs (1773-1839).eaessvseouud a2 (source: aesblog.gia.edu) The harder the mineral, the greater its resistance to scratching. The Mohs scale grades 10 fairly common minerals, on a scale from 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest. Cleavage and fracture: these are used to describe how minerals break into pieces. Cleavage refers to the breakage or weak point along the crystalline structure of a mineral where itis likely to break smoothly. When a mineral break in a direction where there is no cleavage, it fractures instead. Crystalline structure: also called the crystal lattice, it tells how a mineral’s crystals are arranged. A mineral that forms a regular repeating three-dimensional crystal lattice is called a crystal solid, while a mineral with no particular arrangement is an amorphous solid. ‘Teansparency/diaphanelty: this refers to the extent of light that can pass through the mineral. The degree of transparency varies depending on the thickness of the mineral. Magnetism: the mineral’s ability to attract/repel other minerals.Tenacity: this is the minerals! level of resistance to stress such as crushing, bending, breaking, or tearing. It is helpful in determining if the mineral is brietle, elastic malleable, ete. Luster itis the mineral’s reaction to light. It can tell if the mineral is brilliant or dull, (Odor: the distinct smell of a mineral that was formed from a chemical reaction when subjected to water, heat, air, or fri ‘Speeifie gravity: this is the measure of the mineral's density. It determines how heavy the mineral is by its weight to water. Specific gravity can be used to distinguish two minerals that have the same color. Chemical Properties of Minerals Minerals can also be identified and classified according to their chemical composition. James Dana (1813-1895), a geologist and mineralogist, classification. He divided the minerals into eight basic classes: was the first to use this method of Silicate class: the largest and most abundant group of minerals. They primarily contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (0), but also contain other elements such as Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), and Magnesium (Mg). Carbonate class: they are mostly found deposited in marine environments. They are formed from the shells of dead plankton and other marine organisms. Carbonates are ‘among the most widely distributed minerals in the Earth's crust, ‘Sulphate class: these minerals form in areas with high evaporation rates where salt waters slowly evaporate. They are made of compounds of sulfur, oxygen, and metals. Sulphates tend to be soft and translucent. Halide clas hey form from halogen elements and includes fluorite, halite, sylvite, and sal ammoniac components. They are very soft and easily dissolved in water. Oxide class: they are formed from the combination of a metal with oxygen. Metallic minerals such as hematite and spinel belong this class. ‘Sulphide class: they contain important metals such as copper, lead, and silver, which are economically significant. These metals are found in electrical wires, industrial materials, and other things needed in construction. Phosphate class: these minerals contain phosphorus. They are not common in occurrence as the other classes. Native elements: the native element class contain metals and intermetallic elements. Most native elements are made up of combinations of chemical elements,The Use of Minerals in Various Industries ‘There are thousands of identified minerals that can be found on Earth, and we make use of the most of them. alll industries rely on minerals, be it food industry ar manufacturing. Below are some of the minerals that are commonly used in various industries today. They are the minerals which are essential to our daily living. Aluminum: itis the most abundant metal element found in Earths crust. Itis used in automobiles, packaging, and construction. Jing construction, electric and electronic products (cables and wires, switches, plumbing, heating), roofing, chemical and pharmaceutical machineries, and mare. Gold: itis used in jewelry and arts. It is also used in medicine, as well as in making medallions and coins. Its also essential for scientific and electronic instruments. isalso used in scientific equipment Halite (salt): used as food seasoning and for food preservation. Halit in ceramic glazes, metallurgy, curing of hides, mineral waters, an for optical parts Iron ore: used to manufacture steels of different kinds. It is also used in metallurgy, magnets, and auto parts. Redioactive iron is used in medicine and research. Lead: Used in lead-acid batteries, X-ray and gamma radiation shielding, tanks, and solders, seals or bearing; used in electrical and electronic applications Exploitation, Extraction, and use of Mineral Resources and their Environmental Impact Minerals has been useful in every aspect of the humans’ daily lives. They are esses ‘the progress of different industries all aver the world today. However, we must keep in mind that improper use of our mineral resources can have harmful effects to our environment, which in turn will have 3 negative impact to our society. Exploitation of minerals resources for economic growth is sometimes accompanied by environmental degradation. There has been a rapid increase in the extraction and processing of raw materials since the 19” century, and as the world population continues to rise, s0 is the depletion of natural resources. This includes the minerals that we get from the earth, from fossil fuels to precious metals. Moreover, the use of mineral resources on an industrial scale brought an alarming impact to our environment.Pollution One of the most apparent effects of mineral resource exploitation is pollution. Mining operations often cause pollution of the atmosphere, surface waters and ground ‘water. Trace elements such as cadmium, cobalt, and copper when leached from mining wastes contaminate water resources, making it toxic. People and animals that will consume toxic water are prone to diseases, and it may even cause their death, Destruction of Land Extraction of mineral resources can lead to loss of land. This can be due to chemical contamination, destruction of productive layers of soil and even permanent scarring of the land surface. Subsidence Old, deep mines that are left behind may cause the ground surface to subside in @ vertical or horizontal direction. This may cause severe damage to buildings, roads, and farmlands, and it can be hazardous to human and wildlife. Depletion of Mineral Resources The rapid growth of industi 5 all over the world require the extraction and processing of large amounts of mineral resources. Unfortunately, as mineral resources are a non-renewable resource, there is a gradual depletion of the mineral resources on Earth today. Loss of Biodiversity Exploitation of mineral resources causes loss of biodiversity because of the lass, of natural habitat. Many species of wildlife have become endangered or even extinct because of this. Excessive extraction and use of mineral resources will have a negative impact to our environment. This will result to destruction of ecasystems, and the loss of wildlife and other living organisms. Many organizations are have been advocating environmentally sustainable mining. Improved recycling of materials, as well as improved mining policies, in order to lessen the environmental impact of mining. Water and energy conservation practices are also being implemented. Reduction of mine wastes and restoration of environmental function at mine sites are also being implemented to preserve the ecosystem as much as possible.References: Carbonate mineral, Retrieved from: htips://www.britannica.com/science/carbonate-mineral Mineral Classification. Retrieved from: hetp://www.rocksandminerals4u.cam/mineral classification. html Minerals Zone: World Mineral Exchange. Industrial Minerals. Retrieved from: http://www.mineralszone.com/minerals/ 40 Common Minerals and Their Uses. Retrieved from: http://www.nme.org/indexpho/minerals- Mondal, Puja. 7 Effects of Mining and Processing of Mineral Resources on Environment. Retrieved from: http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/environment/7-effects-of mining-and-processing-of-mineral- resources-on-enviranment/28189/ MiningFacts.org. How can mining become more environmentally sustainable? Retrieved from: http://www. miningfacts.org/Environment/How-can-mining-become-more-environmentally-sustainable/