Australia's Natural Resources
- Hayley Sherrard -
Ten of Australia's main natural resources:
1) Alumina
2) Coal
3) Cobalt
4) Copper
5) Gold
6) Iron Ore
7) Lead
8) Nickel
9) Petroleum
10) Silver
1) Alumina
2) Coal
3) Cobalt
4) Copper
5) Gold
6) Iron Ore
7) Lead
8) Nickel
9) Petroleum
10) Silver
GOLD
One of the many main natural resources that Australia provides is the mineral, gold. This highly important and precious golden mineral is mined in many parts of the land below. Gold has shaped huge parts of Australia's history an it's economy. Gold is a chemical element, formed under ground. It is recognised as the symbol Au and the atomic number of 79, on the periodic table. This mineral is a malleable metal with a very shiny lustre. There are many different types of gold in Australia, such as White gold and Rose gold. Both are man-made and produced by combining of gold and other metals. The amount of gold in jewellery for example, is measured in karats. Pure gold consists of 24 karats.
Did you know that Australia is the 2nd largest of producer of gold for the world's economic gold resource?
The way gold is formed naturally underground is a very slow and fascinating process. In Australia, the mineral process of gold took place an extremely long time ago. For mainly eastern states, Australia's gold development started millions of years ago. Although for Western Australia, this formation began thousands of millions of years ago. Firstly, the development of gold begun with the Earth's internal heat. This core heat created a hot fluid deep beneath the Earth's crust. the hot fluid, over a long period of time, moved through and over areas of underground rock, which dissolved the tiny minerals of gold. As the hot fluid proceeded towards the surface it cooled, forming concentrated gold deposits and veins.
Did you know that 52% of mined gold is used for jewellery alone?
There are two classifications used for the approach of how gold is found. When gold is being mined underground, it can be found in quarts or ores. these are called primary gold deposits, which need to be extracted from the larger developed rock. On the other hand, gold can also be found in creek or river beds by panning or cradling it out from the water. Gold has been found here because of its heavy weight, which causes it to flow down water currents and streams. These are called secondary gold deposits.
Gold has been used for countless things today and in history, especially in Australia. Not only does Australia export their natural resource of gold, but use gold for many interesting things. From jewellery to electrical wires, the uses of gold are endless. Because gold is a good conductor of electricity, is malleable and ductile, the metal is often melted, shaped, fashioned, cut and manufactured for useful products. Even incredibly thin gold leaves are used as edible decoration for expensive desserts! The quantity of gold found in Australia is 5,200 tones.
Gold has been used for countless things today and in history, especially in Australia. Not only does Australia export their natural resource of gold, but use gold for many interesting things. From jewellery to electrical wires, the uses of gold are endless. Because gold is a good conductor of electricity, is malleable and ductile, the metal is often melted, shaped, fashioned, cut and manufactured for useful products. Even incredibly thin gold leaves are used as edible decoration for expensive desserts! The quantity of gold found in Australia is 5,200 tones.
Did you know that there is enough gold in the world for each human being to own five gold rings?
Most of Australia's gold is mined in the western areas of Australia. The largest open mine in Australia, known as 'The Super Pit', excavates the most natural Australian gold. This mine is found in Western Australia and is located in Kalgoorlie. The Super Pit is large enough to see from space and has been continually mined for 100 years.
The economic value of gold in Australia is massive. Our economy grows big with the profits of exporting this precious mineral to other countries. Australia exports most of the mined gold to India, which consumes the most gold in the world. Although, we also create use for our own natural resource as well. Australian employment of miners are paid highly for their risky work underground. Many miners from many parts of Australia and the globe come down-under for work and good wages. People involved with the Australian mining operations and industries, all earn lots of money. Take Gina Reinhart for example.
The economic value of gold in Australia is massive. Our economy grows big with the profits of exporting this precious mineral to other countries. Australia exports most of the mined gold to India, which consumes the most gold in the world. Although, we also create use for our own natural resource as well. Australian employment of miners are paid highly for their risky work underground. Many miners from many parts of Australia and the globe come down-under for work and good wages. People involved with the Australian mining operations and industries, all earn lots of money. Take Gina Reinhart for example.
Gold Gallery
Map including a few locations of the ten main natural Australian resource mines:
Key:
Light Green= Alumina mine
Blue= Coal mine
Pink= Cobalt mine
Red= Copper mine
Yellow= Gold mine
Dark Green= Iron mine
Orange= Lead mine
Black= Nickel mine
Brown= Petroleum mine
Purple= Silver mine
Scale: 1cm=500km
Light Green= Alumina mine
Blue= Coal mine
Pink= Cobalt mine
Red= Copper mine
Yellow= Gold mine
Dark Green= Iron mine
Orange= Lead mine
Black= Nickel mine
Brown= Petroleum mine
Purple= Silver mine
Scale: 1cm=500km
Bibliography
http://www.australianminesatlas.gov.au/education/fact_sheets/gold.html
http://www.ga.gov.au/minerals/mineral-resources/gold.html
http://www.google.com/imghp
http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/
http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold
http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=169
http://www.ga.gov.au/minerals/mineral-resources/gold.html
http://www.google.com/imghp
http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/
http://www.numbersleuth.org/worlds-gold/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold
http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=169