The Marigold Mine is one of Nevada’s notable gold-producing operations, combining large-scale open-pit mining with modern processing methods to recover gold from low-grade ores. Located in the semi-arid landscape of northwestern Nevada, the mine has played a steady role in regional employment, state revenue, and the broader U.S. gold supply chain. This article reviews where […]
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Astrophyllite is a striking and enigmatic mineral that captures attention with its metallic sheen and fanlike, often star-shaped crystal aggregates. Found in unusual, silica-poor igneous environments, it is prized by mineral collectors and admired by lapidaries despite its relative softness and fragility. In this article we explore its origin, properties, global occurrences, applications, and the
The Penasquito mine is one of Mexico’s most important modern mineral operations, notable for its polymetallic output and regional significance. Located in the north-central state of Zacatecas, the operation produces a mix of precious and base metals that contribute to both company revenues and local economies. This article examines where Penasquito sits on the map,
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Zirconium is a versatile transition metal whose properties and compounds have shaped technologies from ancient jewelry to modern nuclear reactors. This article explores where it is found, how it is processed, and the many applications that depend on its unique combination of strength, corrosion resistance and chemical behavior. You will also find interesting tangents about
The extraction and movement of minerals—from artisanal mines to global manufacturing hubs—form a complex web that has long resisted full accountability. Advances in distributed ledger technology are changing that dynamic by enabling new approaches to provenance, supply chain integrity and ethical sourcing. This article explores how blockchain enhances mineral traceability, the technical and operational building
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El Cerrejón is a mammoth presence in northern Colombia, a landscape-defining operation that has shaped regional economies, transport infrastructure and the national export profile for decades. Situated in the arid plains of the La Guajira peninsula, the mine extracts high-volume surface coal from one of the world’s largest open-pit deposits. The scale of activity, its
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Arfvedsonite is a striking and scientifically valuable dark amphibole that attracts the attention of mineral collectors, petrologists, and lapidaries alike. Its combination of deep color, complex chemistry and occurrence in unusual alkaline rocks makes it both an attractive specimen and an informative probe into magmatic processes. This article explores the nature of arfvedsonite, where it
The Cerrejón mine, located in the arid plains of La Guajira in northern Colombia, is one of the world’s largest single-site surface coal operations. Its massive open pits, the long string of hopper cars on a private railway, and the coal-loading facilities at Puerto Bolívar combine to make Cerrejón a landmark industrial complex. This article
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Aragonite is a fascinating and widely distributed form of calcium carbonate that plays crucial roles in geology, biology and industry. This article explores its nature, where it forms, how it is used, and several intriguing aspects that link mineralogy to environmental science and human activity. Below you will find detailed information divided into clear sections
Antigorite is a member of the serpentine mineral group that attracts attention because of its geological importance, influence on earthquake mechanics, and environmental implications. This mineral commonly forms in hydrated ultramafic rocks and produces characteristic textures and physical behaviors in crustal and mantle settings. In the paragraphs that follow I will describe what antigorite is,
