Minerals and REE's (Rare Earth Elements)

Question 1

Define a mineral

Answer 1

A mineral is a naturally occurring substance with distinctive chemical and physical properties, composition and atomic substance.

Question 2

Define an ore

Answer 2

An Ore is a rock containing minerals with a high concentration of a certain element, typically a metal which can be extracted from the rock.

Question 3

Define:
a mineral reserve
a mineral resource

Answer 3

Mineral reserves are the economically viable mineable part of mineral resources.

Mineral resources have not yet demonstrated economic viability, but have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.

Question 4

Define a Rare Earth Elements (REE’s)

Answer 4

A group of 17 lesser know elements, which are vital to creating technology.

Often encased in hard rock, and in which there is low concentrations.

Question 5

What are REE’s used for?

Answer 5

Mainly in the creation and production of technology.

Question 7

Which country dominates REE’s production and consumption

Answer 7

China

China holds 85% of all REE’s globally.

China produces 60% globally and processes 90%.

Question 8

Define Geopolitics

Answer 8

The study of the effects of Earth’s geography and how it affects political and international relations.

Question 9

What is Chalcopyrite?

Answer 9

A mineral which is very abundant with Copper. It is the most common source of copper with it accounting for over 50% of the worlds production.

Other copper minerals being:
Malachite
Bornite
Chalcocite
Azurite

Question 10

Where is Chalcopyrite found and how is it extracted?

Answer 10

Chalcopyrite/Copper is found in the lower area of the crust towards the mantle.
–>
Percolation through Precipitation or oceans brings the copper up from the lower crust towards the upper crust.
–>
It is then drilled/extracted.

Question 11

List some uses of Copper:

Answer 11

-Used in construction
-Currency (Coins)
-Conducts heat
-Conducts electricity
-Aesthetic reasons (It is shiny/looks nice)
-Copper kills/weakems bacteria through oxidising copper atoms
-Corrosion resistant

Question 12

Who is the largest consumer of Copper?

Answer 12

China

Question 13

Who is the largest producer of copper?

Answer 13

South America:
Contains 8/10 of the largest mine production globally (6 in Chile, 2 in Peru)

Question 14

Where are the major distributions of Copper throughout the Earth?

Answer 14

South America (Andes mountain range) - Largest measured undiscovered resource
North West Mexico, USA and Canada - Has large deposits