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Minerals and the Periodic
Table of the Elements

The purpose of this book is to show that there are useful relationships between the known major mineral types and the elements of the Periodic Table.
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  • A book by
    Patrick M. Afenya
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What Will You Get From This Book?

You will know the important mineral types (listed below), how they are related to the elements of the periodic table and how they are processed to obtain their valuable elements.

Au

Gold

Native Elements

You will know the important native elements and why they are predominantly p- and d- block elements of the periodic table.

Al2O3

Corundum

Oxide and Hydroxide Minerals

You will know how useful they are and how they are related to the s-, p-, d- and f-block elements of the periodic table.

PbS

Galena

Sulphide Minerals

You will know that many are valuable as ore minerals and why they are mainly p- and d- block elements of the periodic table.

CaF2

Fluorite

Halide Minerals

You will know their usefulness and how they are related to the s-, p-, d- and f-block elements of the periodic table.

CaCO3

Calcite

Oxysalt Minerals

For example carbonates, sulphates, phosphates and silicates: You will know the extent of their usefulness and how they are related to the s-, p-, d- and f-block elements of the periodic table.

CuFeS2

Chalcopyrite

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Cu

Extraction of the Elements

You will know the methods used to extract the elements from various types of minerals.

The Book Chapters

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  • author A book by
    Patrick M. Afenya
  1. The origin and the structure of the atom
  2. The reduction potentials of the elements
  3. The melting and boiling points of the elements
  4. Native Elements
  5. Oxides and Hydroxides
  6. Sulphide Minerals
  7. Halide Minerals
  8. Carbonates, Borates and Nitrates
  9. Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
  10. Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
  11. Silicate Minerals
  12. General Trends exhibited by the Standard Reduction Potentials of the Elements and the Mineral Types in relation to the elements of the Periodic Table
  13. Extraction of the Elements

Who This Book Is For

Students of Metallurgy

Their course requires them to know most of the mineral types, how the minerals are processed and their valuable elements extracted.

Metallurgists

Practicing metallurgists and lecturers in metallurgy may find it a useful book that contains most of the valuable mineral types and the relevant processes for treating minerals and extracting their valuable elements.

Geologists

Students of geology and economic geologists may find it beneficial as a book that provides much information on ore minerals and the rock types in which they are usually found.

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About The Author

Patrick M. Afenya, a former Associate Professor of Mineral Processing, has B Sc (Geology & Chemistry), Legon, and M Sc & Ph D (London) in Mineral Processing. He worked as a metallurgist with the British Industrial Sands Ltd, Redhill, UK in 1968, and then as a plant metallurgist with Prestea Goldfields, Ghana from 1968 to 1976. He joined the University of Ghana, Legon as a lecturer in geology from 1977 to 1980. In 1980, he took up a position as a lecturer at PNG University of Technology, Lae, Papua New Guinea where he worked for 30 years. He retired as an Associate Professor in 2010. He taught subjects including mineral processing, mineralogy, geology and chemistry. His publications were in the mineralogy of gold, copper and nickel ores, in the processing of gold, copper and lateritic nickel ores and in surface chemistry of gold, carbonaceous materials and activated carbon.

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