ABSTRACT :
In this article, we are going to learn about another interesting aspect i.e minerals. Each and everything around us is somewhere associated with minerals.
> Look around you, you will find it. So, it is important to know about minerals,it's meaning origin, properties, etc...
>We are here to make your learning easier, with no further delay let us check out the topic.
MINERALOGY :
Before knowing its details let us first know what it means. The study of minerals is known as mineralogy and mineralogy is the branch of geology.
A collective mass of minerals forms a rock, which in general is said as building blocks of rocks.
ETYMOLOGY:
The word "mineral" originated from medieval Latin to late middle English. i.e from minera<mineralis<minerale<mineral.
INTRODUCTION :
A mineral is very much essential in our day-to-day life. Minerals are generally defined as "A naturally occurring inorganic solid that has a definite chemical composition and an ordered internal structure".Through which the basic classification is done. This is a very important definition which clearly defines the criteria of a mineral should have.
> Minerals also contain many physical and chemical properties which will be discussed further. The uses of the mineral have become mandatory in the man-kind.
THE FIVE CRITERIA:
This is the most important part of mineralogy. This gives a clear idea of what is a mineral and what qualities should a mineral have.Here are those five criteria:
i)Solid: A substance must exist in a solid-state at standard temperature and pressure under normal conditions on earth.
ii)Naturally occurring: The substance must occur naturally i.e not made by humans, humans may also disappear someday but minerals would continue to be made and exist.
iii)Inorganic: The substance should not be made from living things or it does not occur living, It must be Inorganic.
iv)Fixed chemical formula: It must have definite chemical composition made out of specific elements from the periodic table.
v)Ordered internal structure: The atoms involved in making up a mineral must possess an orderly arranged structure.
USES:
When it comes to uses, the list goes to infinity, everything we use is somehow associated with minerals.
To simplify your understanding, we have categorized uses of minerals in 3 major groups out of many, are;
>ESSENTIAL MINERALS
>INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
>AGRO MINERALS
ESSENTIAL MINERALS:
Essential minerals are the minerals that a body needs for proper functioning. our body needs many minerals and here it is divided into 2 groups. They are;
- Macrominerals (major minerals)
- Microminerals (trace minerals)
Both the major and trace minerals are equally important to a body, But the thing is trace minerals have to be taken lesser than the major minerals. A balanced diet consists of both the major and trace minerals in a required amount following are the list of those minerals;
MACROMINERALS:
1. MINERAL: SODIUM
FUNCTION: PROPER FLUID BALANCE etc,
SOURCES : TABLE SALT ,VEGETABLES,BREADS,etc.
2. MINERAL: CHLORIDE
FUNCTION: PROPER FLUID BALANCE, STOMACH ACID, etc.
SOURCES : TABLE SALT,MEAT,BREADS etc.
3. MINERAL: POTASSIUM
FUNCTION: NERVE TRANSMISSION, MUSCLE CONTRACTION, etc.
SOURCES : MEAT,MILK,VEGETABLES etc.
4. MINERAL: CALCIUM
FUNCTION: HEALTHY BONES & TEETH, BLOOD CLOTTING, etc.
SOURCES: MILK, LEGUMES, etc.
5. MINERAL: PHOSPHOROUS
FUNCTION: MAINTAIN ACID-BASE BALANCE etc.
SOURCES : FISH,EGGS,MEAT etc.
6. MINERAL: MAGNESIUM
FUNCTION: MAKING PROTEIN, IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH, etc.
SOURCES: NUTS AND SEEDS, LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES, etc.
7. MINERAL: SULFUR
FUNCTION: FOUND IN PROTEIN MOLECULES
SOURCES : MEAT,FISH,EGG,MILK etc.
MICROMINERALS :
Note: The amount of iron is required more than other trace minerals.
1. MINERAL: IRON
FUNCTION: PARTS OF RBC THAT CARRIES OXYGEN IN BODY, etc.
SOURCES : RED MEAT ,DRIED FRUITS ,etc.
2. MINERAL: ZINC
FUNCTION: MAKING PROTEIN AND GENETIC MATERIAL, etc.
SOURCES : MEAT,FISH,GRAINS,etc.
3. MINERAL: IODINE
FUNCTION: HELPS IN GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, METABOLISM
SOURCES : SEAFOOD, BREAD, DAIRY PRODUCTS, etc.
4. MINERAL: SELENIUM
FUNCTION: ANTIOXIDANT
SOURCES : MEATS, SEAFOOD, GRAINS.
5. MINERAL: COPPER
FUNCTION: NEEDED FOR IRON METABOLISM.
SOURCES : NUTS,SEEDS,DRINKING WATER ,etc.
6. MINERAL: FLUORIDE
FUNCTION: PREVENT TOOTH DECAY, etc.
SOURCES : MOST TEAS ,FISH,etc.
7. MINERAL: MANGANESE
FUNCTION: PART OF MANY ENZYMES
SOURCES : PLANT FOODS, etc.
8. MINERAL: CHROMIUM
FUNCTION: REGULATE BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.
SOURCES : NUTS,CHEESES,UNREFINED FOODS,etc.
9. MINERAL: MOLYBDENUM
FUNCTION: PART OF SOME ENZYMES
SOURCES : MILK LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES, etc.
INDUSTRIAL MINERALS :
Industrial minerals are the minerals used in making the things we use in our day-to-day life. Minerals contribute to almost everything in our daily life.
QUARTZ: Used in clocks, watches, radios, when it is melted used as glass, etc.
CALCITE: Used for industrial and agricultural purposes. Also used for medicine and other uses.
TALC: Used in cosmetics, paper, paint, and other products.
GYPSUM: It is used for der wall. as it contains water, when it is heated it loses it and defense against building fire.
COPPER: Used to manufacture the electric wire, water, copper pipes, and utensils too.
LIMESTONE: Toothpaste has powdered limestone.
These are only a few of many, and now let's see some detailed examples, here we go...
MOBILE PHONES: All electronic devices couldn't exist without the contribution of minerals.
display: silica,cassiterite,bauxite,sphalerite.
electronics and circuitry: Chalcopyrite, Tetrahedrite, Silicon, Arsenopyrite, Tantalite, Wolframite.
battery: spodumene,graphite.
speaker and vibration: bastnaesite and a few other metals and minerals.
GREEN TECH: To reduce more energy consumption we often recycle things and dive into new technologies. It is possible only by the materials are taken from the ground.
>yes, we are here to see about minerals in hybrid vehicles.
>Hybrid vehicles include the following minerals to work.
WIRING: Copper is used much in hybrid cars than non-hybrid cars for wiring, tungsten is also used for wiring.
CARPETING: Boron and limestone is used for the work of carpeting.
STEEL-BELTED TIRES: Mica, sulfur, beryllium, cobalt, zinc, and copper are used for it.
GLASS: Trona and feldspar are used for the window glass in the vehicle.
BATTERIES: Cadmium, lead, lithium, nickel are used for the batteries.
CIRCUITRY: Gold and platinum.
SOLAR PANELS: It is a panel which absorbs the sun rays to generate the electricity, minerals are used, and to make it and here is few of many,
Solar cells :Cadmium,copper,gallium,indium,selenium,silica,tellurium,
Semiconductor chips: Arsenic, Boron minerals,Copper is used for wiring,Lead is used to batteries,Iron ore for steel.
AGRO MINERALS:
Agro minerals come from the term agro geology, some agro minerals occur naturally which can be used instead of fertilizers. The primary minerals are formed at high pressure and temperature results in Igneous and metamorphic rocks, which later get wethered in soil and release the essential plant nutrients.
It happens after the physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes, different changing climate conditions are responsible for it.
These are also categorized into 2 groups. major elements and minor elements.
MAJOR ELEMENTS:
Nitrogen- found in all plant proteins and chlorophyll, It is important in plant growth.
Phosphorous- It can transfer the energy from the sun to plant.
Potassium- It increases the diseases resistance in plants, It also improves the fruit quality.
Calcium- For Development of roots and leaves calcium is very important.
Magnesium- It is a key component in chlorophyll. It has an important role in photosynthesis.
Sulfur- It is responsible for the flavor and odor of components.
Boron- Carries sugar[glucose] translocation.
TRACE ELEMENTS:
Iron- Promotes plant growth.
Manganese- Help in photosynthesis.
Zinc- Production of plant hormones such as elongation of stem and expansion of leaf.
Molybdenum- Helps the oil organisms bacteria convert nitrogen into soluble compounds. It is essential in the format of proteins in soil.
Our body has a very complicated mechanism that needs several minerals for its proper functioning which are off from the same ground.
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