The Smith Ranch-Highland complex is a notable example of modern uranium production in the United States. Located in the central-western part of the country, the project has helped sustain domestic supply chains for nuclear fuel and illustrates how technological approaches to mining can reduce surface disturbance while still accessing significant mineral resources. This article examines […]
Smith Ranch-Highland – United States – Uranium Read More »
Cassiterite is the primary source of metallic tin, a metal that has shaped human technology from the Bronze Age to modern electronics. Chemically known as SnO2, cassiterite is valued both as a mineral specimen and as an industrial raw material. This article examines its mineralogical characteristics, geological settings, global distribution, methods of recovery and processing,
The Crow Butte Mine is a notable example of modern uranium extraction in the United States. Located in the northwestern part of the state, the site has played a role in supplying raw material for the nuclear fuel cycle while illustrating both the economic promise and environmental complexities of contemporary mining. This article examines where
Crow Butte Mine – United States – Uranium Read More »
Cancrinite is a striking yet underappreciated member of the feldspathoid family, notable for its distinctive cage- and channel-bearing framework and its ability to host a variety of anions and molecules. It is both a mineralogical curiosity and a subject of active research because of its unique structure, occurrence in highly alkaline rocks, and potential technological
Turquoise Ridge is one of the notable gold mining operations in the United States, occupying a strategic place within Nevada’s prolific mineral belt. The mine complex combines modern underground mining techniques with decades of exploration knowledge to produce gold from a classic Nevada deposit type. Its role stretches beyond simple commodity extraction: Turquoise Ridge contributes
Turquoise Ridge – United States – Gold Read More »
The element at the crossroads of chemistry, biology and technology carries a name that evokes both ancient myth and modern utility. This article explores the many faces of selenium: where it is found in the Earth and in living systems, how humans extract and apply it across industries, the fascinating physical and chemical properties that
The global market for palladium has undergone dramatic shifts over the past decade, driven primarily by the evolving landscape of automotive emissions control and changing geopolitical supply patterns. This article explores the complex interplay between industrial demand for palladium, the role of catalytic converters in regulating vehicle emissions, supply-side constraints, and how recycling and technological
Palladium market trends and catalytic converter demand Read More »
The Mission Mine in the United States is a significant site in the story of American copper production. Located in southern Arizona, the mine sits within a landscape shaped by volcanic and intrusive geological events that created rich porphyry copper deposits. Its operation as an open-pit mine, the scale of its mineral resources, and its
Mission Mine – United States – Copper Read More »
Bytownite is a striking member of the plagioclase group whose mineralogical identity and geological significance reach from backyard geology into planetary science. Although often overshadowed in popular descriptions by its better-known relatives, bytownite plays a crucial role in interpreting magmatic histories, metamorphic processes and even the composition of other planetary bodies. This article explores where
Bustamite is a fascinating and sometimes overlooked mineral that occupies a special place among the manganese-bearing silicates. It is valued by geologists for what it reveals about rock-forming processes, by mineral collectors for its often attractive pinkish tones, and occasionally by lapidaries as a material for decorative stones. In the following sections I will describe
