ABSTRACT
Modern civilization depends upon a wide variety of resources consisting largely of minerals that are processed to recover the materials needed for industrial activities. The utilization of mineral resources is strongly tied with technology, energy, and the environment. Some useful mineral deposits are formed as sedimentary deposits along with the formation of sedimentary rocks. Extraction of minerals from placer deposits formed by deposition from water has obvious environmental implications. The proper practice of industrial ecology can be used to significantly reduce the effects of mining and mining byproducts. The majority of elements are metals, most of which are of crucial importance as resources. The environmental problems associated with aluminum result from the mining and processing of aluminum ore. Chromium is of crucial importance because of its use in stainless steel and superalloys. Zinc minerals often contain significant fractions of lead and copper, as well as significant amounts of toxic arsenic and cadmium.
