Lthosphere

creating rocks by the cooling and hardening of magma.

igneous intrusions rocks are formed from the heating/cooling of magma Pressurised superheated water moves away from the batholith and cools forming crystals

igneous processes and tectonic movements can alter existing rocks without a high temp./pressure produces metamorphic rocks

causes minerals to settle and build up layers of deposited sediments

form when dissolved iron compounds become oxidised by o2 from photosynthesis producing insoluable iron oxide deposits

materials are carried and separated by flowing water and different densities minerals can be carried in different velocities of water

Isolated seas then crystals can be formed as the water evaporates

In general, as the purity of the mineral decrease, the amount of mineral present increases exponentially

All minerals in the lithosphere

contains all exploitable materials including future exploitable materials

contains all materials that can be exploited now

different minerals emit infrared radiation at different wavelengths and these can be used to identify them

gravimeters detect variations in gravity caused by variation in density and mass

magnetometers detect rocks that are more magnetic

sound waves are produced by controlled explosions/ seismic vibrator. The echoes can give information about the depth, density and shape of rock strata

is the measurement of the difficulty with which electricity passes through a material

taking samples of the rocks underground

using lab tests to confirm the chemical composition and purity of the minerals in the rock samples

decreases

increases

decreases

increases

mining causes aesthetic problems for local communities but mines can be restored when no longer used

blasting and vehicle movement cause dust and water sprays limit dust