Resources such as copper are running low because the need for elements with useful traits such as ductility, conductivity, malleability, and resistance to corrosion is great. Different resources come from different parts of Earth. For example, the atmosphere gives us nitrogen, oxygen, neon, and argon. The hydrosphere provides water and some dissolved minerals, and the lithosphere (or crust of the Earth) provides almost everything else. The lithosphere has the greatest variety of chemical resources. Manufacturers of theses raw materials may find a deposit of ores filled with minerals. A deposit os a naturally occurring collection of ores in the lithosphere. Ores are naturally occurring rocks or minerals that can be mined. Finally, minerals are naturally occurring solid compounds containing the element or group of elements of interest. Miners and scientists have to consider a lot before they begin mining. Some of the conditions that determine whether mining is a good idea are: quantity of the ore, percent of metal in the ore, type of mining and processing needed, distance from the mine to the manufacturing facility, the metal's supply-versus-demand status, and the environmental impact this process may have. The percent composition of a component is the percent by mass of each component found in a sample. To find the percent composition, one must divide the mass of each constituent metal by the mass of the whole and multiply by 100%. Percent composition is important because it helps geologists describe the amount of a substance in an ore and helps weigh the decision on whether or not it should be mined.
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