GL5 Resources 2006 Q4 Bulk Materials MS

1
GL5 Resources 2006 Q4 Bulk Materials MS

• 4. (a) Describe the formation of one named bulk
  mineral deposit and assess its economic
  importance in the construction industry.
• (b) Explain the processing steps by which one
  named element or compound of industrial value
  is derived from a geological raw material.

2
GL5 Resources 2006 Q4 Bulk Materials MS

• MUST BE BULK MATERIAL.
• Non-bulk materials awarded marks for ECONOMIC
  IMPORTANCE if case made for use in the
  construction industry e.g. copper, iron, steel.  
• Specification examples sand/gravel and
  limestone

3
GL5 Resources 2006 Q4 Bulk Materials MS

• e.g. Sand and gravel
• Formation rock cycle.
• - Unconsolidated superficial deposits
  associated with fluvial deposition
• - Thin (up to 10m) irregular deposits
• - formed by weathering and erosion of highlands
  
• - transported to lowlands by rivers and streams
• - sands and gravels also associated with
• - erosion of cliffs to form beaches
• - reworking of glacial till by meltwater to
  form
• - fluvioglacial deposits
• - may be deposited in sea e.g. North Sea
• - Case studies credited

4
GL5 Resources 2006 Q4 Bulk Materials MS

• Economic importance
• Vital for construction industry concrete
• Plentiful resources in river valleys, coasts and
  shallow offshore water
• Current UK annual consumption 5 tonnes per
  capita.
• Demand associated with building development
• Environmental awareness means possibility future
  use of more aggregate from industrial waste as
  substitute.  

5
GL5 Resources 2006 Q4 Bulk Materials MS

• (b) Explain the processing steps by which one
  named element or compound of industrial value is
  derived from a geological raw material.
• Answer depend upon the element/compound used.
• e.g. Copper from ore
• Primary and secondary crushing of ore
• ?
• Grinding to powder in ball and rod mills
• ?
• Separation of ore from gangue by froth flotation
• ?
• Filtration , pressing and drying to produce a
  powdered copper concentrate
• ?
• Heating (smelting of concentrate) to produce
  copper metal