Minerals
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sustainability
What are minerals and how do they form?
Minerals form when chemical elements join together in the Earth. They are solid and often form crystals. Rocks are a mixture of different minerals.
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Layers of Galena (lead ore) and calcite, Derbyshire
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South America has some of the largest deposits of bauxite, iron ore and nickel, with Chile producing 35% of the world’s copper.
There is an international agreement, the Antarctic Treaty, not to exploit the mineral reserves in Antarctica.
China produces three quarters of the world’s antimony, graphite, rare earth minerals and tungsten.
Sustainability
Minerals are used in lots of things essential to everyday life. When they become rare it becomes more expensive to get them out of the ground and often has a bigger impact on the environment. It’s important we use them responsibly.
Raising awareness of where minerals come from, re-using things and recycling can all have a positive impact on our planet.
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Large-scale opencast mining can leave a huge scar on the landscape. Pixabay Photo Library
Minerals and technology
There are about 30 different elements in a smart phone, many of them rare. Without recycling electronic devices, we could jeopardise our ability to make new ones in the future.
The metal indium is used in touch screens, because it conducts electricity and is transparent. It is found mixed with zinc, iron, lead and copper ores. It's also used in solar panels, so we're going to need a lot of it in the future.
Gallium is used in LEDs, medical thermometers, solar panels and telescopes. Produced in the lab, it is a by-product of aluminium and zinc production.