Minerals are very important nutrients for dairy animal production. Deficiency of minerals may leads to certain structural, physiological or immunological disorder affecting growth, production and reproductive health of animals. Minerals deficiency is an area specific problem and supplementation strategy must be revised accordingly. Requirements of minerals for reproduction and immunity are gene...

Trace minerals such as zinc, copper, and manganese are essential cofactors for hundreds of cellular enzymes and transcription factors in all animal species, and thus participate in a wide variety of biochemical processes. Immune development and response, tissue and bone development and integrity, protection against oxidative stress, and cellular growth and division are just a few examples. Defi...

There has been considerable recent interest in the suggestion that mineral fibres other than asbestos might be associated with mesotheliomas in the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Compared with the wealth of information on the consequences of exposure to asbestos, information about the effects of other fibrous minerals is sparse and much of it is of a preliminary nature. In this editorial the ...

Strong evidence for evaporitic sulfate minerals such as gypsum and jarosite has recently been found on Mars. Although organic molecules are often codeposited with terrestrial evaporitic minerals, there have been no systematic investigations of organic components in sulfate minerals. We report here the detection of organic material, including amino acids and their amine degradation products, in ...

There has been considerable recent interest in the suggestion that mineral fibres other than asbestos might be associated with mesotheliomas in the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Compared with the wealth of information on the consequences of exposure to asbestos, information about the effects of other fibrous minerals is sparse and much of it is of a preliminary nature. In this editorial the ...

It is commonly believed that the composition of groundwater does not change naturally. So if a change is recognized through taste and/or odor, many may think that something bad has happened. Perhaps the aquifer has become contaminated, or something is wrong with the well. However, a common cause of changes in water quality is through natural variations within the aquifer. What gives groundwater...

Trace minerals are required for essentially all biochemical processes in the body. Many of these minerals are necessary for optimal growth, physiologic function, and productivity in animals. This paper focuses on 8 trace minerals: cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iodine (I), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). These trace minerals have been chosen because nutritio...

The processing mineralogy characteristics of an oxidized lead-zinc ore from Sichuan were studied systematically using numerous modern instruments. Results showed that lead and zinc oxide content in the ore exceeded the minimum industrial grade, and also included a relatively high concentration of silver and iron. This ore is composed of many different minerals. Major zinc-containing minerals in...