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