Metals and Society

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.

Contains numerous case studies and worked examples First introductory book which deals extensively with the economic and social issues of mineral exploitation Numerous colour figures

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Chap. 1: Introduction to Economic Geology What is economic geology? Peak copper and related issues What is an ore, and what is an ore deposit? Factors that influence whether a deposit can be mined. Chap. 2: Classification, Distribution and Uses of Ores and Ore Deposits Classifications of Ores Classifications of Ore Deposits Global Distribution of Ore Deposits Global Production, Consumption and Trade in Mineral Resources Chap. 3: Magmatic ore deposits Introduction Chromite deposits of the Bushveld Complex Magnetite and Platinum Group Element deposits of the Bushveld Complex Magmatic sulfide deposits Kambalda nickel sulfide deposits Noril'sk-Talnakh nickel sulfide deposits Other Ni sulfide deposits - Sudbury, Voisey's Bay, Jinchuan Other magmatic ore deposits Chap. 4: Hydrothermal Deposits Introduction Key factors in the formation of a hydrothermal ore deposit Examples of hydrothermal deposits and ore-forming processes Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits Porphyry deposits Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits Mississippi Valley type (MVT) deposits Other hydrothermal deposits Uranium deposits Iron-oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits. Gold deposits Chap. 5: Deposits formed by Sedimentary and Surficial Processes Introduction Placers Gold placers Zr and Ti minerals in Beach sands Alluvial diamonds Other placers: tin, platinum, thorium-uranium Sedimentary deposits Types and Characteristics of Iron Deposits Other sedimentary deposits: Mn, phosphate, nitrates, salt Laterites Bauxite Ni laterites Supergene alteration Chap. 6: Economic geology in the future Introduction Rare Earth Elements Lithium Mining and Mineral Exploration in the 21st century