Introduction

Abstract

Human exploitation of minerals extends back for many thousands of years and, contrary to popular belief, mining may in fact be the ‘oldest profession’. Early people used minerals, initially for pigments, and stone tools for grinding and cutting. We still use some of the same minerals for pigments, and although tool technology has moved on there are many parts of the world where stone tools are still used for very long-established purposes. As civilization has developed, so the exploitation of minerals has increased. Some uses are long established; for example, brick clays have been worked for over 5000 years. Although the technology of brick making has changed considerably during this time, and although clays can now be described in detail both mineralogically and chemically, brick clays are still best defined as those clays from which bricks can be made. Similarly, the basic principles of glass and cement manufacture have been known at least since Roman times, although modern techniques place increased demands on the qualities of the raw materials that are used in manufacturing processes. New uses for minerals are constantly appearing, in response to technological and, increasingly, political developments. Minerals are now used in many areas of manufacturing industry, in the development of new products and new materials.