Tin in the touchscreen and that becomes the solder that binds the components together comes from the mineral cassiterite, which is found in igneous rocks and some sediments. Indium used to make the touchscreen is found in deposits along with copper that is used for wiring and lead used for solder. Rare earth elements used to make the magnets in the speaker and microphone, the mechanism that causes the phone to vibrate, and the bright colors on the screen come from minerals like bastnäsite and monazite, which are found in some igneous rocks. The aluminum that makes the glass shatter resistant comes from an aluminum ore called bauxite. The silica that makes up the glass and the silicon in the computer chips come from quartz sand. Each of these elements comes from either living things or non-living resources such as rocks and minerals. More than 70 different elements are found in the plastic and metal casing, touchscreen, battery, electronics, and circuitry that make up a smartphone. Image Credits: (b) ©Scanrail/Getty Images EVALUATE Lesson Self-Check CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT? FIGURE 17: A smartphone is composed of many different elements. GPS FOR UNDERGROUND MINING CONFLICT MINERALS Go online to choose one of these other paths. Be sure to cite specific evidence to support your claims. When drawing evidence from these sources, ask yourself: Are the facts verifiable-that is, can they be proved to be true? Is the source an expert? Finally, develop your argument and present it to your peers. Use reliable sources, such as government agencies, educational institutions, and personal interviews with authorities. Do the benefits of recycling outweigh the costs? Research the societal and environmental benefits as well as the financial costs and benefits of recycling in the community. Language Arts Connection Gather evidence to develop an argument for recycling in a specific community. Some recycling technicians work at recycling plants to make sure the materials are sorted properly. Others work for waste management companies to ensure that recycling is being collected properly and that people who want to recycle have what they need. Some recycling technicians work for large businesses, universities, and government offices to create and manage recycling programs and motivate people to recycle. Recycling technicians may carry out a variety of jobs related to recycling. Recycling technicians play a key role in this process. Recycling common materials like aluminum, glass, and steel, as well as less abundant materials such as rare earth elements, is important for both the environment and the economy. While some resources are plentiful, others are in very limited supply. Mining rock and mineral resources is expensive in terms of both dollars and cost to Image Credits: ©Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg/Getty Images the environment. Predict How could improving recycling rates and recycling technology influence the effects of mining around the world? Lesson 2 Rock and Mineral Resources 141ĬONTINUE YOUR EXPLORATION Careers in Science Recycling Technician FIGURE 16: A technician is taking apart a television set in order to recycle parts at this technology center in Katō, Japan. iron, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zinc, and zirconium. a This girl is helping to recycle items that have been carelessly b Scrap metal can be recycled for many elements, including disposed of in a neighborhood park. FIGURE 15: Recycling materials such as trash and scrap metal help to reduce the demand for resources that must be mined. Building smaller houses, recycling aluminum cans and glass jars, and buying a used car instead of a new one are all ways to reduce the effects of mining on the environment. Everyone can help significantly reduce the need for mining simply by reducing our consumption, reusing products when possible, and recycling materials. Materials that can be mined and processed with less damage to the environment can be substituted for those that cause more damage. For example, when engineers improve the ability to extract a particular metal from a rock, less rock needs to be mined. Getty Images (r) ©Patrickmorrisseyphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images Minimizing the Impact of Mineral Extraction Decreasing the amount of a particular resource that must be mined to meet demands can reduce the negative effects of mining.
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