TITLE CARD

A Strategic Instructional Material in Earth Science

Prepared by:
Kristina Paula P. Dizon, RN, LPT, MAEd.
Becuran High School
Santa Rita, Pampanga

GUIDE CARD
Minerals are not found simply lying on the ground. They need to be excavated and
processed before they can be used for various purposes.

In this module, you will discover different means on how minerals are explored,
mined and processed.

Let the learning begin!

Learning Competency: describe how ore minerals are found, mined, and processed for human use
(S11/12ES-Id-9)

Review
Mineral deposits refer to the occurrence of minerals in sufficient size and grade
concentration that enable extraction under the most favorable conditions, and have
potential for economic development.

Metallic minerals occur in ores, from which they are extracted, while nonmetallic
minerals occur as aggregates. The accumulation of minerals is dependent on
geologic processes.

Minerals can occur as magmatic ore deposits, hydrothermal ore deposits,

sedimentary ore deposits, placer ore deposits and residual ore deposits.
Discussion

Mineral exploration is an important process that provides geological and economic

considerations in producing a mine. Mineral exploration consists of three stages: project
design stage, field exploration and pre-product feasibility study.
Discussion
The project design stage is the initial step to take. This involves conducting a Discussion
review of geologic reports, mining history, maps, government requirements, budget,
social, environmental, political and economic acceptability of mining, and organizational
proposals.

The next step is field exploration. This stage involves physical activities in the TITLE
identified area. It is subdivided into three phases: regional reconnaissance, detailed CARD
exploration and prospect evaluation.

Regional reconnaissance involves the identification

and targeting interesting mineralized zones over a large area.
Detailed exploration entails the conduct of surface and subsurface
activities. Prospect evaluation includes the assessment of market
profitability, environmental and societal cost.

The last stage is the conduct of pre-production

feasibility study, wherein the accuracy of all data
collected
during the previous stage is validated. The purpose of this
stage is for an independent assessor to satisfy the
interested
investors to provide funds for the project production.
 A Strategic Instructional Material
in Earth Science

Prepared by:
Kristina Paula P. Dizon, RN, LPT, MAEd.
Becuran High School
Santa Rita, Pampanga

GUIDE CARD

Learning Competency: identify the minerals important to society (S11/12ES-Ic-7)

Review

Hello there, learner! I am Miner Jo. Before proceeding to

the lesson, I am here to assist you in digging through your prior knowledge
about minerals.
 Minerals are naturally occurring chemical elements or compounds which are products of
inorganic processes. They have specific properties including color, luster, streak, hardness, cleavage, habit,
specific gravity, and reaction to hydrochloric acid.

Minerals may also belong to different mineral groups which could either be silicates, oxides, sulfates,
sulfides, carbonates or halites.

Discussion
Many of the materials we use today are made of different minerals.
Different mineral properties make them suitable for various purposes.

The glass in your windows and kitchenware are made of silica, quartz,
titanium and sodium carbonate.

The speakers you use in your sound systems were crafted using
materials with aluminum, cobalt, silver, silica, iron, titanium, graphite,
carbon, strontium and neodymium.

The stainless steel which makes up many of the metal works in different buildings is made of iron,
nickel and molybdenum.

The tiles found in your bathroom floor and countertops in your kitchen are made of clay, feldspar,
fluorite, lithium, silica and talc.

The table salt you use in food is a mineral. Sodium chloride is a halite. In addition, the dish soap in your
kitchen is also formulated with halite and sodium carbonate.

Bricks that make up the walls of different infrastructures contain shale, barium, and manganese.

The pieces of jewelry you own may be made of metals like gold, silver, and platinum. They can also
have gems or precious stones.

The cans, in which some foods are contained, are made of tin. On the other hand, the cosmetics and face
powder may contain talc while the sunblock that you use to protect your skin from the sun’s rays contains
compounds with zinc.

Discussion
Minerals typically occur within ores (mostly containing
metals) from which they are extracted, or in aggregates (typically
refers to non-metallic minerals). Some minerals do not exist in
nature as pure, meaning, they are mixed with other substances.
However, there are those which are termed as native minerals.

Native minerals are elements which occur in nature and are

uncombined with other elements. Minerals that can be found in nature in
their pure state include gold, silver, copper, platinum, lead, mercury,
tantalum, tin zinc, graphite, selenium and silicon. Iron can be sparingly
found in pure form.

Minerals can also be classified as either metallic or non-metallic. There are also minerals which can be
considered as gemstones. Metallic minerals such as aluminum, titanium, iron copper and steel are the most
commonly used minerals in construction. Gold, silver, platinum and copper are commonly used in electronic
devices, as well as in jewelry. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity.

Non-metallic minerals are used in the production of cements, ceramics and glass. The most commonly
used minerals are silica, clay and limestone.
 Gemstones have been considered as valuable because they are beautiful. They are cut and polished into
fine jewelry. Some examples of gems are diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, jade, turquoise and quartz. Other than
jewelry, some of these stones have industrial uses. Diamonds are used to cut and polish other materials like
glass and metals, because diamonds are very hard. The mineral corundum, from which rubies and sapphires are
varieties, are used in sandpaper. Diamonds are also used in drill bits and saw blades to improve their cutting
abilities.