Geology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Geology - Essay Example After miners have extracted the ores from the ground, they then refine them using other substances to remain with the valuable elements. Extraction and processing of these iron ores is an expensive venture but it largely depends on mineral concentration and the form it occurs in the ground. In order to establish if a mine is commercially viable, the engineers evaluate if it has substantial mineral and metal deposits whose proceeds will generate income over and above the mining costs. In mineral extraction, there are terms that help us understand this whole refining process. Industrial minerals are stones and other naturally occurring substances that are mined and processed because they have an economic value. This is because they are used to produce other compounds and objects that are used for technological advancements. Protolith is the original rock formation that is passed through a series of solutions to come up with the resultant mineral, the process of passing these rocks thro ugh water and other solutions through a chemical reaction is called metasomatism. Gangue is a term that refers to the parts of the ore left after minerals and metals have been extracted. It is the largest contributor to environmental concerns associated with mineral extraction since it forms large debris that is not easily disposed. They also contaminate water meant for commercial and domestic use when it comes into contact with. This is because it has other dangerous minerals which mix with water to form a harmful compound to animal and plant life (Middleton, 2003 p 56)2. Other gases are released to the atmosphere causing air pollution. Occurrences The earth is made up of three components; the air (atmosphere), water (hydrosphere) and land (lithosphere). Minerals form part of the soil underneath our feet. There are numerous geological reactions that happen underground that result in mineral formation and its contents largely depends on the amount of each element taking part in the process. The time taken to form these minerals also ensures huge deposits since some chemical reactions take time to reach full reaction. The time taken and amount of elements forming these minerals and metals determine the quantity and quality of eventual produce. Geologists then determine these considerations before engaging the authorities and locals in preparations for extraction. For instance, to extract commercially viable aluminium from the ground, its composition in the gangue should be at 8.2%, with an acceptable grade of 30%. It is at 5.6% and 50% for iron respectively (Mather, 1967)3. These metals exist in their mineral form in a variety of compounds shown by chemical formulas. Table 1: Mineral occurrences of famous metals Mineral Metal Mineral formula Galena Silver Ag Native gold Gold Au Azurite Malachite Chalcopyrite Copper (exists in three forms) Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Cu2CO3(OH)2 CuFeS2 Haematite Magnetite Pyrite Iron(exists in three forms) Fe2O3 Fe3O4 FeS2 Galena Lead PbS Ca ssiterite Tin SnO3 Cinnabar Mercury HgS Geological distribution These metals exist in the ground as sulphides, sulphites, sulphates, silicates and oxides. The choice of chemicals used in purification stage depends on the form parent metal exists in. Copper exists in three forms (Cu, Cu2 and CuO) and together with iron, are mostly found in carbonate rocks which are formed through a prolonged process of chemical reactions. These metals are also found in sandstones and shales which are sub-crustal rock formations (Press, 2004 p 71)4. Evaluating mineral deposits across the globe is an arduous task since it is difficult to effectively determine the presence of a metal in geographically expansive

Education, No child left behind act Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education, No child left behind act - Article Example Supreme Court banned racial segregation in public schools and determined that the "separate but equal doctrine" was unconstitutional. On Jan. 8, 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 into law with tremendous bipartisan support. The final votes were 87-10 in the Senate and 381-41 in the House. Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Congressmen George Miller (D-CA) and John Boehner (R-OH) were its chief sponsors in the Senate and the House. (US Department of Education). The main proponent of the Act was President George W. Bush. President Bush wanted to expand the educational opportunities for all students, including students who are just learning the English language and students who are new to the US. The law ensures that all children regardless of their ethnic and cultural origin can receive a quality education and enhance their academic potential. The Act reflects the President's education reform plan and contains changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The NCLB Act enhances the federal government's role in K-12 education by focusing on school success as measured by student achievement. The Act also contains the President's four education reform principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work. With this law, American taxpayers will derive benefits from their heavy investment in education. (Paige and Gibbons, 2004) No Child Left Behind was the successful culmination of a standards-and-testing movement that began with A Nation at Risk report by the Reagan administration in 1983. This push for a standards-based reform gained further support during the 1989 education summit in Charlottesville, Virginia. In that summit, President George H. W. Bush together with the nation's governors set performance goals for American schools. By 1991, President Bush's "America 2000" proposal included voluntary national testing tied to world class standards. President Clinton signed into law "Goals 2000," which provided grants to help states develop academic standards. With the 1994 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the states were required to develop content and performance standards for K-12 schools. Congress adopted the adequate yearly progress that became the linchpin of accountability in No Child Left Behind. States were mandated to make substantial progress toward the goal of aca demic proficiency for all students. However, at that time, there was no deadline for these standards to be met. Several states which were supposed to pass the standards failed to meet these standards. (Paige and Gibbons, 2004). Features of the Legislation The first feature of the NCLB is that it demanded greater accountability by increasing the annual goals for student achievement. Schools and districts register adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward meeting set targets. Educators must meet their targets. NCLB has set minimum standards for teacher quality. These standards assist local educational agencies such as districts on decisions covering curriculum, textbooks and materials. These standards constitute a starting point for developing assessments to measure student mastery. Annual assessments are done and all students are classified into one of these performance levels. NCLB requires all