Websites+-+mineral+extraction

Back to Where do metals come from? Destiny WebPath Express URL: http://neon.mems.cmu.edu/cramb/Processing/history.html This web site does just what its title says--gives a brief history of metals and talks about seven metals in particular. There are short paragraphs on gold, copper, silver, lead, tin, iron, and mercury, which are the seven metals of antiquity. These were the first metals discovered. The web site also lists other metals that were discovered later on in history. In addition to this information, there is also a section on the growth of metallurgy. || URL: http://www.worstpolluted.org/projects_reports/display/87
 * A Short History of Metals
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 * Artisanal Gold Mining

Mine this page for information on artisanal gold mining and mercury pollution, published by the Blacksmith Institution, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving pollution problems. Learn what artisanal gold mining entails and where the process of mercury amalgamation is used. Find out how this industry impacts environmental health, as well as human health, and learn what is being done to improve these conditions. Also, use the table and map to see what countries have the greatest... || URL: http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/pages/cobalt.html
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 * Cobalt

Discovered in Sweden in 1735, cobalt was named with the German word for goblin. This chemical element is a silvery metal with a bluish hue that is used to color ceramics and paints. Find out why it is useful in making magnets. Discover its usefulness in medicine, food preservation, and human nutrition. Investigate chemical data about this element and explore where it can be found, which minerals contain cobalt, and why it is used in electroplating and alloys. || URL: http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1219-french_guiana.html
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 * Illegal Mining Threatens Forest, Biodiversity, Natives in French Guiana

Most of French Guiana is covered by tropical rainforests, which are home to more than 1,000 animal species and 5,000 plant species. The biggest rainforest under European jurisdiction is not being protected from illegal gold mining. Stricter measures against illegal mining in Brazil has pushed hydraulic mining operations over the border, where they are wrecking havoc but unlikely to be caught. Gold extraction techniques are polluting the environment with mercury while miners are also... || URL: http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0832880.htm
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 * Mettallurgy

The science of obtaining, refining, shaping, joining, and combining metals is called metallurgy. Metallurgy studies how metals can be extracted from ores or formed into alloys. Ore may be crushed and mixed with water to separate the metal from other minerals. Other chemicals, electrolysis, or heat may be used to remove impurities and refine the metal. Follow links to specific metals to learn more about how each is extracted and processed. Investigate many of the terms used in metallurgy. || URL: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/coal_mining.htm
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 * Methods of Mining

This web site not only tells you about different methods of mining coal, it also has a great illustration to help you understand it. From the University of Kentucky, the web site describes the process of underground mining. You will also get a description of surface mining. Use the illustration to see how coal is taken out of the earth. Each underlined word takes you to a photograph of the term. Follow the link to learn about the uses of coal. || URL: http://www.epa.gov/region3/mtntop/
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 * Mid-Atlantic Mountaintop Miming

In mountaintop mining, the whole top of the mountain is removed to get to the coal seam. The overburden of rock and dirt is dumped in a valley. After the coal is removed, the area is regraded and reforested. Mountaintop mining is common in Appalachia, where billions of tons of coal could still be found at the end of the 20th century. Investigate the environmental impact of mountaintop mining. More than 1,200 streams showed increased mineral levels that negatively affected fish and... || URL: http://www.alcoa.com/ingot/en/info_page/making_mining.asp
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 * Mining

Alcoa, the world's foremost producer of aluminum, briefly describes its role in the bauxite mining industry on this company web page. The page describes the mining process and Alcoa's dedication to rehabilitating the land affected when it is no longer useful for mining. Links to the other steps in the process of aluminum production refining and smelting can be found in the frame of the left side of the page under the heading Making Aluminum. || URL: https://blogs.nicholas.duke.edu/thegreengrok/mtmvf_post/
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 * Mountaintop Mining: Scientists, Government at Cross Purposes

In 2010 the United States Environmental Protection Agency approved a huge mining project in West Virginia. At the same time a group of scientists called for an end to mountaintop mining. This blog post from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment explains the differences between underground mining and surface mining. There is brief history of mining in West Virginia and notes about why surface mining is used more frequently than underground mining. The environmental consequences... || URL: http://science.howstuffworks.com/rare-earths-info.htm/printable Found in 200 different minerals, the rare earth metals aren't all that rare. Find out why they are called rare earth elements. This group of elements is also called the lanthanide series because it starts with lanthanum and all the elements have properties similar to that first element. Investigate the properties these elements share. Discover their importance in making glass, refining petroleum, and improving aluminum and steel. Rare earth metals are usually extracted from bastnaesite or... || URL: http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/pages/samarium.htm
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 * Rare Earths
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 * Samarium

Probably named after a mineral called samarskite, samarium is a silvery element. This element may also get its name from a Russian Colonel Samarsky, who was an official at the mine. This metal is used in optical lasers, glass, magnets, and electronics. Discovered in Paris, it is found in ores like monazite and bastnaesite. Ion exchange and solvent extraction are used to isolate the element. Find out more about its appearance, uses, sources, and isotopes. || URL: http://periodic.lanl.gov/21.shtml
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 * Scandium

The existence of the element ekaboron was predicted between calcium and titanium in atomic weight before it was discovered in 1878. It is identical to the element known as scandium. More abundant in the Sun and stars than on Earth, scandium can be found in tiny quantities in more than eight hundred minerals. Examine the properties of this soft, lightweight, silver-white metal. The most important use of this element is in high-intensity lights. Study the history of this element and its common... || URL: http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/pages/titanium.html
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 * Titanium

Discovered in the 18th century, titanium was named after the mythical sons of Uranus in Greek legends. Less dense than steel but just as strong, titanium makes great metal alloys for building aircraft. Its diverse uses range from artificial hips to white paint. Investigate chemical data and information about titanium and learn about major sources for this element. Learn about titanium's resistance to salt water, which makes it a great material for ships and desalinization plants. Explore the... || URL: http://www.nuclearfaq.ca/cnf_sectionG.htm
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 * Uranium

This page section from a site that answers frequently asked questions about nuclear power in Canada, discusses the history and role of the uranium mining industry. In addition to background on the location and use of current uranium stores, the information describes techniques that use Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) technology, to convert uranium ore into nuclear energy sources. Although there are no illustrations of uranium mining or production on this site, the text contains page links... ||
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