Minerals

Many minerals and rocks are valuable resources with direct utility in our everyday lives. We forget that these minerals and rock make our lives easier and more efficient. There are three such rocks and minerals that I can think of that play large roles. Of these rock and minerals the three consist of gold, graphite and coal. These are very important in my life because I use each one everyday and respect the rocks and minerals for their contribution to everyday life.
The first mineral that plays a large role in my life as well as everyone else’s life is gold. Gold is a precious metal that is worn for personal appearance. Gold is much more than a metal it is what the world revolves around. Our nations currency is based on what is called the gold standard. Our paper money is based on the hard currency, gold, stored in Fort Knox.
The naturally occurring gold-silver alloy is called electrum. Gold occurs, in chemical combination with tellurium, in the minerals calaverite and sylvanite along with silver, and in the mineral nagyagite along with lead, antimony, and sulfur. It occurs with mercury as gold amalgam. It is generally present to a small extent in iron pyrites; galena, the lead sulfide ore that usually contains silver, sometimes a

Graphite is composed of carbon, as is diamond. In fact, the two minerals are polymorphs of each other. This means they have the same chemical composition but they were crystallized under different conditions. Graphite is formed by crystallization at low pressure and depth beneath the surface of the earth. Graphite is common around the earth and is commonly found in areas where foliation has occurred.

Coal deposits are very common in the United States. Coal can be found in mountainous regions such as the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains as well as plain regions such as Montana or North Dakota.

Coal is classified as a biogenic sedimentary rock and it is composed of what were once plants. As plant remains are exposed to water and carbon dioxide as well as other gasses, the carbon level in the remains increase. In its early stage of transformation, the material becomes peat; after heat and pressure is exposed to the remains it becomes coal, a sedimentary rock.

The third rock, which is commonly used in my life, is coal. Coal is a very commonly used rock through out the world. It is what is known as a fossil fuel. Coal is used to power steam engines, start fires and in my case solely for the purpose of outdoor barbeques. One of my favorite things to do in the summer and spring is to cook over a grill at the town park. In order to do so, I use coal as fuel for the fire.

mes also contains appreciable amounts of