STUDY GUIDE: Uses of Minerals - KEY
Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks.
aluminum
expense
profit
traces
amethyst
gems
rare
useful
crystal
ores
supply
value
demand
polished
Stones called gems are highly prized minerals because they are
Beautiful and often rare. Many gemstones have a
crystal structure that allows them to be cut and
polished to the high quality needed for jewelry.
The difference between a
gemstone and the common form of the same mineral is sometimes slight. The purple stone.
amethyst, for example, is quartz with just traces
of iron in its structure.
Some minerals contain a useful substances that can be mined at
a profit. Such minerals are called ores
Bauxite is this kind of mineral because
.
aluminum can be taken from it and
made into useful products. In most cases, waste rock or material must be removed before a mineral
can be used. If the expense of mining gets higher than the
value of the material, the mineral is no longer considered to be an ore.
The value of the material can also change if the
demand increases or decreases.
supply or the
Use words in the box at the top tat fit to complete the puzzle.
G E M S
P R O F I
A L U M I
T
N U M
A M E T H Y S
O R E S
T R A C E S
C R Y S
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