PowerPoint minerals are important to human wealth and welfare

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.