Metals and Society: An Introduction to Economic Geology (Springer Geochemistry Mineralogy)

Economic Geology focuses not only on the nature and origin of ore deposits but also explores the economic issues that surround the exploitation of mineral resources. Topics of particular focus are the rate of exploitation of natural resources, the question of when or if these resources will be exhausted, the pollution and social disturbance that accompanies mining, the compromises and challenges that arise from the explosion of demand from China, India and other rapidly developing countries, and the moral issues that surround mining of metals in lesser developed countries for consumption in the "first-world" countries. With its dual character, the book is useful as an introductory text for students in earth sciences and a reference volume for students, teachers and researchers of geography, economics and social sciences. Metals and Society: an Introduction to Economic Geology 1 Front matter 2 ISBN 978-3- 642-22995-4 5 Preface 6 Contents 8 Introduction 12 Chapter 1: Introduction 16 1.1 What Is Economic Geology? 16 1.2 Peak Copper and Related Issues 20 1.3 What Is an Ore? 23 1.4 What Is an Ore Deposit? 26 1.5 Factors that Influence Whether a Deposit Can Be Mined 28 1.5.1 Tenor and Tonnage 28 1.5.2 Nature of the Ore 30 1.5.3 Location of the Deposit 31 1.5.4 Technical, Economical and Political Factors 32 References and Further Reading 33 Chapter 2: Classification, Distribution and Uses of Ores and Ore Deposits 34 2.1 Classifications of Ores 34 2.1.1 Classifications Based on the Use of the Metal or Ore Mineral 34 2.1.2 Classifications Based on the Type of Mineral 36 2.2 Classifications of Ore Deposits 39 2.2.1 A Classification Based on the Ore-Forming Process 41 2.3 Global Distribution of Ore Deposits 42 2.3.1 Geological Factors 43 2.4 Global Production and Consumption of Mineral Resources 49 2.5 World Trade in Mineral Resources 54 2.6 General Sources 57 References 57 Chapter 3: Magmatic Ore Deposits 58 3.1 Introduction 58 3.2 Chromite Deposits of the Bushveld Complex 58 3.3 Magnetite and Platinum Group Element Deposits of the Bushveld Complex 63 3.4 Magmatic Sulfide Deposits 64 3.4.1 Controls on the Formation of Magmatic Sulfide Liquid 65 3.4.2 Controls on the Segregation and the Tenor of Magmatic Sulfide Liquid 67 3.4.3 Kambalda Nickel Sulfide Deposits 68 3.4.4 Norilsk-Talnakh Nickel Sulfide Deposits 73 3.4.5 Other Ni Sulfide Deposits 77 3.5 Other Magmatic Deposits 80 3.5.1 Diamond 83 References 86 Chapter 4: Hydrothermal Deposits 88 4.1 Introduction 88 4.2 Key Factors in the Formation of a Hydrothermal Ore Deposit 88 4.2.1 Source of Metals 88 4.2.2 Source and Nature of Fluids 89 4.2.3 The Trigger of Fluid Circulation 92 4.2.4 A Site and a Mechanism of Precipitation 93 4.3 Examples of Hydrothermal Deposits and Ore-Forming Processes 94 4.3.1 Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) Deposits 94 4.3.2 Porphyry Deposits 103 4.3.3 Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) Deposits 109 4.3.4 Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) Deposits 113 4.4 Other Types of Hydrothermal Deposit 118 4.4.1 Stratiform Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits 118 4.4.2 Uranium Deposits 119 4.4.3 Iron-Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) Deposits 122 4.4.4 Gold Deposits 123 References 126 Chapter 5: Deposits Formed by Sedimentary and Surficial Processes 128 5.1 Introduction 128 5.2 Placer Deposits 130 5.2.1 Gold Placers 131 5.2.2 Beach Sands 137 5.2.3 Alluvial Diamonds 139 5.2.4 Other Placers: Tin, Platinum, Thorium-Uranium 140 5.3 Sedimentary Fe Deposits 141 5.3.1 Introduction 141 5.3.2 Types and Characteristics of Iron Deposits 142 5.3.3 Other Sedimentary Deposits: Mn, Phosphate, Nitrates, Salt 146 5.4 Laterites 147 5.4.1 Bauxite 147 5.4.2 Ni Laterites 151 5.5 Other Lateritic Deposits 153 5.6 Supergene Alteration 153 References 154 Chapter 6: The Future of Economic Geology 156 6.1 Introduction 156 6.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE) 157 6.3 Lithium 162 6.4 Mining and Mineral Exploration in the Future 165 References 168 Index 172 Metals and Society: an Introduction to Economic Geology......Page 1 Front matter......Page 2 ISBN 978-3- 642-22995-4......Page 5 Preface......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 12 1.1 What Is Economic Geology?......Page 16 1.2 Peak Copper and Related Issues......Page 20 1.3 What Is an Ore?......Page 23 1.4 What Is an Ore Deposit?......Page 26 1.5.1 Tenor and Tonnage......Page 28 1.5.2 Nature of the Ore......Page 30 1.5.3 Location of the Deposit......Page 31 1.5.4 Technical, Economical and Political Factors......Page 32 References and Further Reading......Page 33 2.1.1 Classifications Based on the Use of the Metal or Ore Mineral......Page 34 2.1.2 Classifications Based on the Type of Mineral......Page 36 2.2 Classifications of Ore Deposits......Page 39 2.2.1 A Classification Based on the Ore-Forming Process......Page 41 2.3 Global Distribution of Ore Deposits......Page 42 2.3.1 Geological Factors......Page 43 2.4 Global Production and Consumption of Mineral Resources......Page 49 2.5 World Trade in Mineral Resources......Page 54 References......Page 57 3.2 Chromite Deposits of the Bushveld Complex......Page 58 3.3 Magnetite and Platinum Group Element Deposits of the Bushveld Complex......Page 63 3.4 Magmatic Sulfide Deposits......Page 64 3.4.1 Controls on the Formation of Magmatic Sulfide Liquid......Page 65 3.4.2 Controls on the Segregation and the Tenor of Magmatic Sulfide Liquid......Page 67 3.4.3 Kambalda Nickel Sulfide Deposits......Page 68 3.4.4 Norilsk-Talnakh Nickel Sulfide Deposits......Page 73 3.4.5 Other Ni Sulfide Deposits......Page 77 3.5 Other Magmatic Deposits......Page 80 3.5.1 Diamond......Page 83 References......Page 86 4.2.1 Source of Metals......Page 88 4.2.2 Source and Nature of Fluids......Page 89 4.2.3 The Trigger of Fluid Circulation......Page 92 4.2.4 A Site and a Mechanism of Precipitation......Page 93 4.3.1 Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) Deposits......Page 94 4.3.2 Porphyry Deposits......Page 103 4.3.3 Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) Deposits......Page 109 4.3.4 Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) Deposits......Page 113 4.4.1 Stratiform Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits......Page 118 4.4.2 Uranium Deposits......Page 119 4.4.3 Iron-Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) Deposits......Page 122 4.4.4 Gold Deposits......Page 123 References......Page 126 5.1 Introduction......Page 128 5.2 Placer Deposits......Page 130 5.2.1 Gold Placers......Page 131 5.2.2 Beach Sands......Page 137 5.2.3 Alluvial Diamonds......Page 139 5.2.4 Other Placers: Tin, Platinum, Thorium-Uranium......Page 140 5.3.1 Introduction......Page 141 5.3.2 Types and Characteristics of Iron Deposits......Page 142 5.3.3 Other Sedimentary Deposits: Mn, Phosphate, Nitrates, Salt......Page 146 5.4.1 Bauxite......Page 147 5.4.2 Ni Laterites......Page 151 5.6 Supergene Alteration......Page 153 References......Page 154 6.1 Introduction......Page 156 6.2 Rare Earth Elements (REE)......Page 157 6.3 Lithium......Page 162 6.4 Mining and Mineral Exploration in the Future......Page 165 References......Page 168 Index......Page 172 This book is a comprehensive overview of economic geology for the general geologist and anyone else interested in the minerals industry and the global supply of raw materials. It includes some thought-provoking statements and questions for discussion on globalisation and current practices in the minerals industry. In the second edition, all chapters have been extensively revised, and a new author has been added to increase coverage of some mineral deposits and topics. The economic issues surrounding the exploitation of mineral resources is discussed in three of the six chapters of the book. It deals with issues that are commonly addressed in current science reporting – the rate of exploitation of natural resources, the question of when or if these resources will be exhausted, the pollution and social disturbance that accompanies mining, the compromises and challenges that arise from the explosion in demand from China, India and other rapidly developing countries,and the moral issues that surround mining of metals in lesser-developed countries for consumption in the “first-world” countries. The book will be useful both as an introductory text for students in the earth sciences and a reference volume for students, teachers and researchers of geography, economics and the social sciences. In the second edition Steve Kesler (University of Michigan) has been added as an author to rewrite some chapters. The motivation for this revised edition is to more intensively address economic issues that surround the exploitation of mineral resources. This emphasis gives the book a unique character. With these sections Metals and Society deals with issues that pervade much of current science reporting the rate of exploitation of natural resources, the question of when or if these resources will be exhausted, the pollution and social disturbance that accompanies mining, the compromises and challenges that arise from the explosion of demand from China, India and other rapidly developing countries, and the moral issues that surround mining of metals in lesser developed countries for consumption in the first-world countries. With its dual character, the book will be useful as an introductory text for students in the earth sciences and a reference volume for students, teachers and researchers of geography, economics and the social sciences. This book focuses not only on the nature and origin of ore deposits but also explores the economic issues that surround the exploitation of mineral resources. Coverage includes demand from developing nations, exploitation and exhaustion of resources and more.