Minerals are important to human wealth and welfare:
Minerals play an important role in forming rocks and shaping
Earth’s surface. When humans began making tools out of
iron great progress was made in advancing the world
through industries Below is a timeline showing how the value
and uses of minerals have changed over time .
SOME MINERALS AND THEIR
USES:
Talc is used in powders and make-up
Gypsum is used in drywall or sheetrock
Fluorite is used in toothpaste
Quartz (found in sand) is used in making glass
Topaz is a gemstone
Corundum is a gemstone
(rubies and sapphires)
Diamonds are used in cutting
tools and drills
Copper is used in electrical
wiring, jewelry and coins
Halite is used to deice roads,
and to season/preserve food
Calcite is used in tums to help
acid indigestion and in cement
ORES AND WHAT THEY ARE MINED FOR:
An ore is a mineral that is mined and the useful substances
in it are removed and then sold for a profit.
Protective shielding against X rays and used in batteries
Galena: an ore of lead
Graphite: an ore of pencil “lead” and is also a dry
lubricant
Pyrite: ore of iron, is also
known as “fool’s gold”
Magnetite: iron ore
Hematite: an ore of iron
and the red pigment
used for color
Most automobiles, machine tools, the hulls of large ships, building
parts and machine parts are made out of iron.
Steel is made by combining IRON with other metals. Stainless
steel is used in building parts, cooking pots and pans, cutlery and
surgical equipment. It is also used in aircraft and automobiles
Sulfur is also an ore: match heads, fireworks, medicine,
gunpowder and fertilizer.
Sulfur is used to vulcanize
rubber.
Vulcanization makes rubber
tougher. It ensures that rubber
maintains its shape.
Car tires, shoe soles, water/
air hoses and ice hockey
pucks are all made from
vulcanized rubber
MINERALS AND THEIR SPECIAL PROPERTIES:
Calcite: has double refraction and fizzes with HCl
Halite: tastes salty
Sulfur: has a rotten egg odor
Magnetite & hematite: are magnetic
Calcite & Fluorite: fluorescence
Talc & Graphite: feels greasy
Metallic minerals like gold, silver & copper: are easily
shaped
VIRGINA’S MINERAL
Virginia mines a lot of gravel
for roads and construction
The oldest and largest
Kyanite mines are located
in VA.
Kyanite is a silicate that is
blue and is used in the
production of ceramics,
cookware and jewerly.