Week 9, 10/24-10/30:
 
 


Reading Assignment:  Chapter 8
 The Geochemically Scarce Metals



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unit (Chapter) Plan:
Contents 
(unit topics)
Activities 
(things you must do)
Abilities Acquired
(what you learned)

Back to Course Contents || Back to Course Plan (weekly schedule)



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visit this web site: CNN to check for current news on the World Resources

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contents (topics):

Production of the Geochemically Scarce Metals
Distribution of Scarce Metals in the Crust
Ore Minerals of the Scarce Metals
Classification of Geochemically Scarce Metals by Usage
The Ferro-alloy Metals
    Chromium
    Vanadium
    Nickel
    Molybdenum
    Cobalt
    Tungsten
The Base Metals
    Copper
    Lead in the Environment
    Lead and Zinc
    Tin
    More than Zinc from a Zinc Mine
    Mercury
    Cadmium
The Precious Metals
    Gold
    Gold Extraction using Mercury and Cyanide
    Silver
    Platinum Group Metals
The Special Metals
    Niobium and Tantalum
    Arsenic, Antimony and Bismuth
    Germanium, Gallium, and Indium Beryllium
    Rare Earth Elements
Distribution of Deposits of the Scarce Metals
Prospecting for Deposits of the Scarce Metals
The Long-term Future for the Scarce Metals

Study Aid: Click here for a list of bullet points to help you learn the topics of this chapter.
 

Back to Unit Plan

 
Activities (things you must do):
Read Chapter Eight of your textbook
Review the news on Mining <http://www.northernminer.com/>
Click on this link <http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/recycle/> to learn about Recycling Statistics and Information
Learn Commodity Statistics and Information of:

 
Cadmium -http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/cadmium/
Chromium http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/chromium/

Cobalt - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/cobalt/
Copper - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/copper/
Gold - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gold/
Lead - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lead/
Mercury - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/mercury/
Molybdenum - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/molybdenum/
Nickel - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/nickel/
Platinum group - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/platinum/
Silver -http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/silver/
Tin - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/tin/
Tungsten -http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/tungsten/
Vanadium - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/vanadium/
Zinc - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zinc/
Rare Earths - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/rare_earths/
Back to Unit Plan
 
Abilities Acquired (what you learned):

By the end of this chapter you should be able to:
1.- Explain why the geochemically scarce metals do no exist in specific minerals of these metals.
2.- Compare and contrast the number and sizes od deposits of the scarce metals with deposits of the abundant metals.
3.- Identify the principal use of the ferro-alloy metals.
4.- List the primary uses of chromium
5.- Explain the origin of stratiform chromite layers.
6.- Name the country that dominates chromium production and reserves.
7.- Identify the principal use of vanadium.
8.- Describe the principal mode of geologic occurrence of vanadium.
9.- Name the metal that is added to steels to make them "stainless.
10.- Identify the world's most important nickel deposits. Under what geologic conditions have most major nickel deposits formed?
11.- List the principal applications of molybdenum.
12.- Name the major metals produced from the "Copperbelt" of central Africa.
13.- Identify the metals used in the production of supermagnets.
14.- Name the metal used as the filament of incandescent light bulbs. Explain why this one metal.
15.- Describe the major "base" metals. Why were they given the name "base"
16.- Identify the world's most important types of copper deposits.How do they form?
17.- Explain the reason why  copper was one of the earliest metals used by our ancestors.
18.- Describe the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits.
19.- Explain the origni of porphyry-type deposits.
20.- Give a detail description of how stratiform ore deposits form.
21.- List the primary uses of tin.
22.- Name the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature. Describe the geologic conditions under which it forms.
23.- For what metals are the Mississippi Valle-type deposits  mined?
24.- Explain why gold is one of the first metals used by our ancestors.

25.- Explain why gold commonly occurs in placer deposits, whereas few base or ferro-alloy metals occur in this type of deposit.
26.- State when and where was the greatest American gold rush. Who found the gold, and who made the most money from the gold rush?
27.- Locate where are the world's greatest gold deposits, and how did they form?
28.- Name the country that is the leading producer of gold.
29.- Identify the country that holds the greatest reserves od gold.
30.- Identify  the primary use of silver. Which countries are the primary producers and holders of reserves of silver?
31.- List the metals that constitute the platinum group. Why was platinum discarded by the Spanish conquistadors? What are the principal uses of platinum today?Where are the world's principal reserves of platinum?
32.- Idenetify the principal uses of arsenic.
33.- Idenetify the principal uses of bismuth.
Back to Unit Plan