industrial minerals

Building the Modern World: Geoscience that Underlies our Economic Prosperity

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Geoscience information is integral to the strength and growth of communities and provides the resources for economic growth. All building materials, energy resources, construction projects, and hazard mitigation efforts are fundamentally based on geoscientific data and the geoscience workforce.

Our speakers are:

Key topics to be addressed include:

  • The industrial materials and minerals used to construct buildings/infrastructure
  • The importance of readily available construction materials and the resulting demand for mines and quarries throughout the U.S.
  • How geoscience is used to determine whether or not sites are suitable for infrastructure development
  • How geoscience is used to help guide design and construction to enhance the quality of life, economic strength, and physical security of coastal areas

Webinar Co-sponsors:
American Association of Petroleum Geologists; American Geophysical Union; Consortium for Ocean Leadership; Geological Society of America; National Ground Water Association; National Science Foundation; Soil Science Society of America

    Resources to Learn More

    Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about geoscience and the economy.

    Building the Modern World: Infrastructure is made of ROCKS

    How do pyrite and pyrrhotite damage building foundations?

    Pyrite and pyrrhotite are minerals known as iron sulfides. When iron sulfides are exposed to water and oxygen, a series of chemical reactions breaks down the iron sulfides and forms new minerals called sulfates. These sulfates take up more space than the original iron sulfides. As they grow, the new sulfate minerals push against the surrounding rock, causing it to swell and crack. This causes damage in two main ways:

    International Raw Minerals Observatory to Launch November 2017 #DiscoverINTRAW

    Save the Date: Launch of the International Raw Materials Observatory
    Save the Date! The International Raw Minerals Observatory is set to launch in November 2017. This is a new non-profit observatory based on the work of the INTRAW project that will facilitate exchange of best practices in raw materials on a global stage. During 7 weeks, the INTRAW explored five mining industries to explore best practices to build strong mining industry.

    Interactive map of aggregate resources in South Dakota

    The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources provides an interactive map of over 6,000 sand, gravel, and construction aggregate mining operations in South Dakota.

    The map shows reclaimed (green) and active (red) mines. Users can click on individual sites to find detailed information, including location, operator, material mined, mining dates, total area mined and reclaimed, and links to photographs.

    Click here to access the interactive map.

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