Question

Name the mineral used in the manufacture of ___________.
a) Cement
b) Aluminium
c) Synthetics

Answer 1

Hint:
i) Regarding cement the mineral is made up of sedimentary rock.
ii) For Aluminium the mineral is processed known as electrolysis.
iii) The mineral which makes up synthetics is also known as crude oil.

Complete answer:
Cement is manufactured with the help of limestone mineral which is a kind of carbonate sedimentary rock. It is basically made up of minerals calcite and aragonite which are different forms of calcium carbonate. The chemical formula is CaCO3. Limestone is used for the production of several items such as toothpaste, paints, sculptures etc. For example, the Megalithic Temples of Malta are entirely made up of limestone which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Aluminium is manufactured with the help of bauxite mineral which is a sedimentary rock consisting of high aluminium content, boehmite and diaspora making it the main source of aluminum and gallium in the World. It was discovered by a French Geologist Pierre Berthier in the year 1821 in a village Les Baux in France. At a global level Australia is the largest producer of bauxite in the World and China stands second, while India is on the fifth position.

Synthetic is manufactured by petroleum which is also known as crude oil. The formation of petroleum started millions of years ago when the plants, algae and plankton drifted in the oceans. After the death of these organisms they sank into the seafloor and with the passage of time they were buried and crushed under millions of tons of sediment and plant debris. The organic matter which was pressed in between the Earth’s mantle faced very high temperatures covered by millions of tons of rocks and sediments above it.

The absence of oxygen in these climatic conditions started transforming the organic matter into a waxy component termed as kerogen which transformed into hydrogen and carbon in the presence of heat and pressure. For example coal, peat, natural gas etc. The petroleum then seeps out to the surface of the Earth where there is low pressure and collects in a reservoir known as Oil-in-place.

Note:
i) China is the largest producer of cement in the World.
ii) Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of aluminium in the World.
iii) The United States is the major producer of petroleum in the World.