Minerals
Every mineral is formed in a different way, this is just some of the many examples.Evaporating salt water: When a body of salt water dries up, minerals such as Gypsum and Halite are left behind
http://www.ehow.com/video_4997359_minerals-found-salt-water_.html
Metamorphic rocks: When changes in temperature, pressure, or chemical make up alter a rock metamorphism takes place. Examples of this would be Garnet, Mica, Talc, and Calcite.
Limestones: Crystalized dissolved materials at the bottom of lakes and seas. Examples include Calcite and Dolomite.
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| Gypsum |
Pegmatites: As magma rises upward toward the earths crust, it can form tear-drop shaped bodies. Exaples are gemstones such as Topaz and Tourmaline.
Plutons: As magma rises upward toward the earths crust, it can sometimes stop moving and slowly cools forming million of mineral cryistals. Examples include Mica, Quartz, and Feldspar.
Mining
Rock and minerals are extracted using one of two methods.
Surface Mining
When mineral deposits are located at or near the surface of the earth. Types of surface mines are open pit, quarries, and surface coal mines.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2632068?uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100816584101
Subsurface Mining
This is used when minerals are located too far beneath the surface to use surface mining. Requires passage wasys to be dug to get to the minerals.
