Ashley Cooper / Kidney ore of haematite at Florence haematite mine near Egremont West Cumbria, England, UK, July.

Ashley Cooper / Sinkhole in a back garden in Egremont Cumbria as a result of mining subsidence when an old mine shaft opened up, England, UK. June 2005

John Cancalosi / Bauxite, an amorphous clayey rock that is the chief commercial ore of aluminum. From Weipa, Cape York peninsula, Queensland , Australia

Alan Williams / Parys Mountain disused copper ore mine showing precipitation ponds. Near Amlwch, north west Anglesey, North Wales, UK September.

Alan Williams / Parys Mountain disused copper ore mine showing precipitation ponds. Near Amlwch, north west Anglesey, North Wales, UK September.

Alan Williams / Parys Mountain disused copper ore mine showing view of the Great Opencast area in morning light. Near Amlwch north west, Anglesey North Wales, UK, September.

Philippe Clement / Hematite / haematite specimen, mineral form of iron oxide on white background

John Cancalosi / Botryoidal hematite, the main ore mineral of iron. Morocco.

John Cancalosi / Bauxite from Western Australia, Australia, Main ore of aluminium.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite, copper iron sulfide, a copper ore, with calcite. from Zacatecas, Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Botryoidal hematite main ore mineral of iron, Morocco

Pete Oxford / Aerial view of Bauxite mine, Linden town, Guyana, South America

Pete Oxford / Bauxite mine, blue water caused by industrial runoff, minerals into local water, Linden town, Guyana, South America

John Cancalosi / Shattuckite, a copper bearing mineral, Tantara mine, Katanga province, Democratice Republic of Congo, Africa.

John Cancalosi / Bertrandite, a beryllium sorosilicate hydroxide mineral (Be4Si2O7(OH)2), an ore mineral of Berylium from a Topaz mountain mine, Utah.

John Cancalosi / Bauxite (AlOH3), Aluminum ore, from Le Baux, France

John Cancalosi / Goethite (FeO(OH)), an ore mineral of iron

John Cancalosi / Allanite (Ce,Ca,Y,La)2(Al,Fe+3)3(SiO4)3(OH). This is a sorosilicate group minerals and a rare mineral ore containing Cerium (Ce) from Kingman Pegmatite, Kingman, Arizona. This mineral occurs mainly in...

John Cancalosi / Chalcocite (copper(I) sulfide (Cu2S)) a copper ore, from Flambeau Mine, Ladysmith, Wisconsin, USA.

John Cancalosi / Zincite (ZnO) a mineral ore of zinc. from New Jersey, USA.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) a mineral ore of copper, from Madan, Bulgaria. This is a copper iron sulfide mineral that crystallizes in the tetragonal system.

John Cancalosi / Monazite ((Ce,La)PO4) a mineral ore containing rare earth metals including Cerium. Iyeland, Aust-agder, Norway.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS) a lead ore, from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Galena, PbS, a lead ore, from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Tenorite CuO a copper oxide mineral, from Ajo, Arizona

John Cancalosi / Samarskite, a radioactive rare earth mineral of the series which includes samarskite-(Y) and samarskite-(Yb) with formula: (YFe3+Fe2+U,Th,Ca)2(Nb,Ta)2O8.

Sandesh Kadur / Power lines frame the irreversible damage caused by over 30 years of iron-ore mining in Kudremukh National Park, Karanataka, Western Ghats, Southern India. If mining continues, the lives of hundreds...

Daniel Heuclin / Copper ore. Chrysocolla (blue-green), azurite (blue) and malachite (green). South Arizona, USA.

Daniel Heuclin / Copper ore. Chrysocolla (blue-green), azurite (blue) and malachite (green). South Arizona, USA.

Daniel Heuclin / Copper ore. Chrysocolla (blue-green), azurite (blue) and malachite (green). South Arizona, USA.

Daniel Heuclin / Copper ore. Chrysocolla (blue-green), azurite (blue) and malachite (green). South Arizona, USA.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Giant digger loading ore into back of truck at an open mine near Norilsk. Western Siberia, Russia, 2000.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Slag heap from Iron Ore mining at the industrial town of Kiruna, Sweden.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite (CaF2) (calcium fluoride) on Sphalerite (ZnS) (zinc sulfide) Elmwood Mine - Smith County - Tennessee - USA - Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk glass-as a flux...

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) (Golden) - Commodore Mine - Colorado - USA - The major ore of copper - Copper Iron sulfide. Very important economic ore

John Cancalosi / Barite (BaS04) on Cerrusite Mibladen Morocco Barite (orange) is the major ore of barium (barium sulfate) - Mineral class: sulfates - Barite is an important commercial mineral - Widely used as a pigmen...

John Cancalosi / Goethite (HFeO2) - Hydrogen iron oxide from Spain. After hematite, the most important ore of iron - Found in various forms

John Cancalosi / Fluorite (CaF2-calcium fluoride) and Galena (PbS - lead sulfide) and Quartz (SiO2 - silicon dioxide) - Blanchard Mine - Portales Tunnel - Socorro County - New Mexico -Fluorite (purple) is one of the m...

John Cancalosi / Cinnabar (HgS) Mercury sulfide, Poverty Peak Nevada. Only ore of mercury.

Graham Eaton / Hematite, Fe2O3 (Ferric Oxide) or Kidney Ore, from Egremont, Cumbria, UK

Tim Fitzharris / Red Mountain gets its color from iron ore in the rock, Gray Copper Gulch, Colorado

Tim Fitzharris / Red Mountain gets it color from iron ore in rock, Gray Copper Gulch, Colorado

Eric Baccega / Miner with hands full of coltan metallic ore, Muhanga coltan mines, Rwanda, Africa, March 2009

Eric Baccega / Miner with hands full of coltan metallic ore, Muhanga coltan mines, Rwanda, Africa, March 2009

Eric Baccega / Miner with hands full of coltan metallic ore, Muhanga coltan mines, Rwanda, Africa, March 2009

James Aldred / Deciduous woodland growing over ruins of pre-roman iron ore mine, Puzzle Wood, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK 2006

Luiz Claudio Marigo / Heavy machinery moves iron ore deposits. Ponta da Madeira harbour, Maranhao, Brazil

Luiz Claudio Marigo / Heavy machinery moves iron ore deposits. Ponta da Madeira harbour, Maranhao, Brazil

Luiz Claudio Marigo / Tugs guide ship carrying iron ore in harbour, Ponta da Madeira, Sao Lius, Maranhao, Brazil.

Luiz Claudio Marigo / Deforestation of tropical rainforest for Manganese ore mining, Carajas, Para, Brazil

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Copper ore, shines green on rock, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Arizona

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Copper ore, shines green on rock, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Arizona

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Copper ore, shines green on rock, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Arizona

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulfide) (Golden variety), a major ore of copper. Sample from China.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead, on Quartz (SiO2), the most common mineral in the Earth's crust. Sample from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulfide), a very important economic ore (Golden variety). Sample from Peru.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite (CaF2, calcium fluoride) on Sphalerite (ZnS, zinc sulfide). Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk glass-as a flux for the steel industry and in refining of aluminum...

John Cancalosi / Hematite, the main ore of iron. Sample from Luna County, New Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the main ore of lead. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead, with Sphalerite. Sample from Gjudurska Mine, Madan district, Southern Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Hemimorphite (zinc silicate), an important ore of zinc. Sample from Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Celestite containing strontium sulfate (SrSO4), an ore of strontium. Sample from Clay Center, Ohio, USA.

John Cancalosi / Hausmannite on Garnet (Andradite), a manganese ore. Sample from South Africa, N'Chwaning Mines, South Africa.

John Cancalosi / Sphalerite, the main ore of zinc. Sample from Joplin, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Orpiment, an ore of arsenic. Sample from Shimen Mine, Hunan, China.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) (Golden variety), the major ore of copper. Sample from Herja, near Baia Mare, Romania.

John Cancalosi / Galena (the main ore of lead) and Chalcopyrite (ore of copper). Sample from Giudiurska mine, Zlatograd, Bulgaria, .

John Cancalosi / Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate), a minor ore of copper. Sample from Arizona, USA.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite and Galena, the primary ore of lead. Sample from Rogerley Mine, County Durham, England, UK.

John Cancalosi / Smithsonite (zinc carbonate, ZnCO3), a mineral ore of zinc, Also known as zinc spar, Discovered by and named for James Smithson whose bequest established the Smithsonian Institute, Colors range from w...

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead; and spalerite (black), an ore of zinc. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Bauxite (the main ore of aluminium) with Red Ocher. Sample from Dixie Mine, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite, a major copper ore. Sample from Anticona Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Junin Department, Peru.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the main ore of lead. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite (CaF2) (calcium fluoride) on Sphalerite (ZnS) (zinc sulfide).Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk glass-as a flux for the steel industry and in refining of aluminu...

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead.

John Cancalosi / Bauxite, the main ore of aluminium. Sample from Brazil.

John Cancalosi / Chrysocolla (hydrous copper silicate) an ore of copper. Sample from Congo.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulfide) (Golden variety), a major ore of copper. Sample from China.

John Cancalosi / Calcite (CaCO3), one of the most common and variable minerals on earth, used in building, metallugy, fertilizers, chemical industry, rhodochrosite, MnCO3, manganese carbonate, an ore of manganese when...

John Cancalosi / Willemite, an ore of zinc. Sample from Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA.

John Cancalosi / Azurite (copper carbonate), a minor ore of copper and used as gemstone and ornaments. Sample from Malbunka Copper Mine, Areyonga, Northern Territory, Australia.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Mimetite, a lead arsenate chloride mineral, forms as a secondary mineral in lead deposits, Resembles the mineral pyromorphite. Industrially a minor ore of lead, a popular collector's specimen. Sample...

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulphide) (Golden variety), and galena on calcite. The major ore of copper, of high economic importance. Sample from Santa Eulalia, Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Zircon, the main ore of zirconium. Sample from Kusunugu, Malawi.

John Cancalosi / Franklinite an ore of zinc, manganese and iron. Sample from Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulphide) (Golden variety), the major ore of copper; galena, and shalerite. Sample from Krushev Dol mine, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Columbite (Niobite), the main ore of niobium and used widely in industry; also a source of tantalum. Sample from Jacu claim, Equador, Borborema, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.