News Release 558

THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES REMINDS
MISSOURIANS TO REMEMBER THEIR MINERALS

Volume 34-558

Contact: Hylan Beydler

(For immediate release)

573-368-2118

ROLLA, MO, DEC. 21, 2006 -- When you get up Christmas morning, remember your minerals. Remember your minerals? Yes, in addition to enjoying the excitement of Christmas, be sure to take a look around and notice the many minerals that brighten your day.

Beginning at the crack of dawn or whenever you are coerced out of bed (bed frame and springs made from iron and nickel) and stumble across the room. With a flip of the switch, you turn on the electric light (copper, aluminum and petroleum products). After brushing your teeth with a toothbrush (limestone, mica, talc, clays, and petroleum products) and toothpaste (limestone, phosphate, gypsum, selenite, fluorite, and dolomite), you start your day.

You set the coffeepot in motion, which is made of glass or ceramics (silica sand, limestone, talc, and feldspar).

You sit down in your easy chair (made of petroleum and aluminum products, dyes made of sphalerite and chromite and foam rubber made of sulfur) and enjoy watching your family open gifts.

Your little girl's Christmas morning is made special because she just opened a package containing a beautiful tiara (adorned with Mozarkite -- the official state gemstone -- quartz, crystal and jasper). Her sister is ecstatic about her MP3 player (aluminum, silica, copper, quartz and nickel). Those sleek skis (graphite) and boots (limestone, talc, clay, mica, and petroleum products) make for a great choice for another child. Your wife absolutely loved her diamond (a real diamond, of course) and necklace of gold.

A shiny new putter (zirconium plus titanium) presented by your family will be a nice addition to your collection of golf clubs.

The photos you take throughout the day (camera made of silica and petroleum products) will be on the list of items to send to the grandparents and will become treasures for everyone when the children are older.

You pop into the kitchen and retrieve that first cup (glass or ceramic mug made of silica, limestone and feldspar) of coffee (coffee beans fertilized with phosphate) and return to the living room. Again, you enjoy the beautiful Christmas tree and lights (aluminum, copper, feldspar, lime, manganese, nickel, nitrogen, quartz, salt, soda ash and tungsten -- just some of the mineral materials used in the construction of a light bulb). Additionally, materials used to color or coat the glass bulbs can include cadmium sulfide or combinations of cerium oxide and titanium dioxide for yellow; cuprous oxide or gold chloride for ruby red and cobalt oxide for blue-violet. Manganese dioxide is used for amethyst-purple; neodymium oxide or nickel oxide for violet; sulfur for yellow-amber; uranium for fluorescent green and chromic oxide for yellow-green or emerald-green.

Later, you'll watch the parades, special programs and the football games in front of the television (silica, iron, copper, aluminum, and nickel). But for now, while everyone is enjoying their gifts, you jump in the shower (made of ceramic tiles that are composed of silica sand, limestone, talc and feldspar) and turn on the water (softened by halite). You adjust the showerhead and adjust the water faucets (iron, nickel, and chromium) for warm water. Not forgetting the soap (talc), shampoo (coal tar, lithium clays and selenium) and a rinse, you exit, sparkling clean.

As you enjoy reading your local newspaper (kaolin clay, limestone, sodium sulfate and soda ash), you are surprised and delighted to find an interesting article concerning geology. Then you admire your great-aunt Linda's blue glass platter (cobalt) situated atop your beautiful fireplace mantle (made of limestone). Additional forms of limestone found in everyday life include lime, crushed stone, cement and gravel. No wonder limestone is Missouri's billion-dollar industry!

Using your pencil (metal band made of aluminum or brass, made from zinc -- another of Missouri's major commodities -- sand and copper), you circle the geology article to share later with your family.

A look out the family room window reveals that snow continues to fall. You are delighted to see two playful cardinals have found your fence (metal wire coated with zinc) to be a fine stop for the moment.

Oops, what is left of that cup of coffee you poured earlier is now cold, so you decide to warm it in the microwave oven (silica, copper, gold, iron, and nickel).

Soon, you and your family enjoy a light breakfast. And just in case you develop an upset stomach because of all of the excitement, don't forget the Milk of Magnesia (magnesium and dolomite), Kaopectate (kaolin clay) or Tums (calcium carbonate, which is limestone). As you pass by the office, you glance toward the computer screen (silicon, barium, phosphorous, boron, strontium and lead -- Missouri also is a major lead producer) and forego logging on the computer.

The remainder of the day is spent surrounded by loved ones and a bounty of food. Around 10 p.m., you look up at the clock (manufactured from limestone, mica, talc, silica sand, clays, steel, and petroleum products) and carry your smaller child upstairs on the carpeted floor (limestone, selenium, and petroleum products) to tuck her into bed. Then wish and kiss the others good night, thankful that your family is safe and warm (heat provided by energy derived from Missouri fossil fuels, natural gas, propane, electricity, nuclear, wood and possibly, wind).

Missouri minerals, rocks, gemstones, fossils and map-making tools are on display at the Edward Clark Museum of Missouri Geology at the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey (DGLS), 111 Fairgrounds Rd. in Rolla. Additionally, a wide variety of educational posters and publications are available. The division's publications desk can be reached by calling 573-368-2125 or 800-361-4827. Also visit DGLS's Web site at: www.dnr.mo.gov/geology.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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Editor: An image is available online at: /newsrel/images/mozarkitestate.jpg. The cutline is below.

This paperweight is made from Missouri Mozarkite, the official state mineral. The name is a contraction of "Mo" -- Missouri, "zark" -- Ozarks and "ite" -- meaning rock. American Indians may have valued this colored chert as a special form of flint used for making arrow points. Mozarkite occurs in many colors -- pink, brown, purple, rose and wine predominating. These polished stones can be made into pendants, bookends, and belt buckles.