Minerals and Mining

Minerals & Mining

Use the slides and videos to fill in your notes and answer the questions.

Multiple Choice

A natural resource that can be replaced by nature in a short period of time.

• Renewable Resource

• Nonrenewable Resource

Multiple Choice

A natural resource that can only be replaced only through processes that take millions of years.

• Renewable Resource

• Nonrenewable Resource

Multiple Choice

How long does it take for the non-renewable resource, coal, to form?

• Millions of years

• Hundreds of years

• Ten years

• 1 year

​What is mining?

Multiple Choice

A deposit of rock that has a high enough concentration of minerals to be extracted for a profit is called a(n)

• ore

• smelt

• leach

• conservation

Multiple Choice

Whether or not something is mined is determined by its monetary value.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is mining?

• Discovering new caves

• Extracting valuable materials (natural)

• Extracting artificial materials

Multiple Choice

Mining that is done above ground is called...

• surface mining.

• subsurface mining.

Multiple Choice

When ore is removed in layers by removing the soil that is on top.

• Open Pit Mining

• Oil Derricks

• Strip Mining

• Fracking

Multiple Choice

Removing a mountaintop to reach the ore that lays underneath.

• Open Pit Mining

• Fracking

• Mountaintop Removal

• Contour Mining

Multiple Choice

When ore is extracted from near the surface by digging deep into the ground.

• Strip Mining

• Contour Mining

• Mountaintop Removal

• Open Pit Mining

Multiple Choice

Which type of mining occurs when gold is panned from a stream?

• open pit
• placer
• strip
• solution

Multiple Choice

Mining that is done below ground is called...

• surface mining.

• subsurface mining.

Multiple Choice

Deep deposits of minerals being removed from underground though tunnels and shafts is the definition of: 

• Strip Mining 
• Mountaintop Removal 
• Subsurface Mining 
• Surface Mining 

Multiple Choice

Why is undersea mining historically unsuccessful?

• danger

• cost

• Dangerous animals

• Little to no money

1. Exploration

2. ​Extraction

3. ​Remediation/ Reclaimation

​The mining process

First we need to find a resource. This includes many methods such as:

​

​Exploration

• ​Surface Mapping

• Chemical Sampling

• Geomagnetism

• Subsurface Drilling

After we have identified a resource and picked a mining method we can begin to remove the ore from the earth. Extraction is the process of operating the mine itself.

Extraction is where you can begin to make a profit, though some mines will sit on their ore for years until the price is high enough to refine and sell.

​

​Extraction

Mining is a often a very destructive process and can cause many negative environmental impacts. Once a mine is no longer economically viable they many mine operators used to just leave the area or declare bankruptcy.

In response many countries around the world now require mine operators to fix up their land before moving on. This process is called reclaimation or remediation.

​

Reclaimation / Remediation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT environmental impacts of mining?

• Destroys natural communities over large areas.

• Acid drainage pollutes groundwater.

• Creates minimal dust.

• Causes erosion

Multiple Choice

Which is a negative of mining?

• Increased chances for erosion

• Obtaining valuable resources

• Getting rich

• Making energy and electricity

Multiple Choice

Which of the one of the following is and effect of land being disturbed by mining?

• Better water quality

• Loss of Habitat for animals

• New habitat for animals

• No negative effects

Multiple Choice

Acid mine drainage is cause by which element?

• carbon

• sulfur

• nitrogen

• boron

Multiple Choice

Acid mine drainage is the result of

• ash and air debris creating acid rain

• boulders and debris blocking the flow of rivers/streams

• Sulfur in tailings leaching into the soil

• minerals from mining being left behind creating pollution

Reclamation

Multiple Choice

Reclamation is.....

• not required in the US.

• a process that causes significant environmental damage.

• returning the land back to its original condition after mining

• required for every country and every type of mine in the world.