Mineral Identification Mining In USA Information

Mineral Identification

Mineral Identification the first requirement is to identify the rock. Because, the solid Earth is made up of rocks, and these rocks are characterized as different minerals. Similarly, rocks and minerals are interconnected things. Both the terms should be understood carefully. Because, If you do not recognize a rock, then, you can not recognize a mineral. Therefore, in the study of Geoglogy, you have to be familiar with the both terms minerals and rocks.

Minerals are identified through their physical and chemical properties. In this case, you should check out the chemical properties of the minerals in laboratory. Whereas, physical characteristics of the minerals can be determined through their chemical composition and bonding. The scientists who research on the minerals are said to be Mineralogists.

The appearance of minerals can also be helpful to know that what type of the mineral is! For example, you can say that except coal and obsidian, all rocks are identified as minerals. So obsidian is made of glass, and coal is made up of carbon.

Mineral Identification Information

Following are the characteristics and properties of minerals:
1) Minerals are naturally occurring.
2) Minerals are inorganic solids.
3) Minerals have definite chemical composition.
4) Minerals have Crystal lattice structure.
5) Minerals are identify through the appearance and chemical composition.
6) Minerals have characteristic density.
7) Some minerals are shiny and cubic in crystal structure called Pyrite.
8) Some minerals are shiny and gold in color called gold minerals.
9) Some minerals have pink and grey color they are call Quartz minerals.
10) To measure the hardness of minerals, the Mineralogists use Mohs hardness scale.

Mining In US

According to the private survey of identifying minerals usage in US, look at the following list of minerals used in USA:
1) Copper
2) Feldspar
3) Lithium
4) Silver
5) Gold
6) Iron ore
7) Lead
8) Nickel
9) Berylliums
10) Molybdenum
Therefore In the United States, the mining sector is very active in researching on various solid rocks to identify minerals from them. At the same time, the US mining industry is playing an active role in creating employment opportunities in more than 45 states of United States. In other words, more than 5 lack people are employees in the US mining industry. Following is the statistics table of US in mining industry:

Statistics table of US in mining industry

1) 4th largest producer of gold in the world.
2) 4th largest producer of the copper in the world.
3) Largest producer of Soda Ash.
4) Largest producer of Zinc.
5) Largest producer of Sulfur.
6) Largest producer of beryllium.
7) Gold reservation in the US is more than $298 billion worth.
8) Largest producer and consumer of Lead.
9) Two largest copper mining are located in the US.
10) More than 87% beryllium produces by the US.
11) US industries use minerals in buildings.
12) The United States is second leading producer of the coal.
13) United States is the largest consumer of minerals as well as producer of organic and inorganic minerals.