Living with Minerals

Description

This book highlights how the availability of minerals is crucial to providing the basic requirements of life. In any community the basic requirements of people are food, clothing and shelter. All of these are dependent to some degree on the availability of minerals. For example, mineral fertilisers are used for crops, stone wheels for grinding cereals, and metal pots and pans for cooking food. Synthetic fibres, such as rayon and nylon derived from hydrocarbons and are used to make clothes. Stone, sand, limestone and clay provide building materials.

Minerals fundamentally contribute to the manufacture of vital requisites such as food, clothing, heat, light and shelter, in order for human communities to exist.

As the countries of the world develop, their needs for minerals are ever increasing. History shows how the discovery and possession of minerals, the adoption of mineral based technologies and the ability to trade effectively in minerals has influenced the wealth and development of nations.

This handbook is abundantly illustrated with photographs and diagrams that are intended to convey the scope and dynamism of our past and current mineral proud society that has grown up over the years in South Australia.