11-3 & 11-4 Geology & Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Front

Mineral reserves can be increased when higher prices make it profitable to mine deposits that were previously too expensive.

Back

True

Front

Nanomaterials made out of common, abundant elements may soon replace the need for mining some metals.

Back

True

Front

A longer depletion-time estimate assumes no recycling or reuse and no increase in reserves.

Back

False

Front

Mining has polluted mountain streams in western U.S. watersheds and accounts for about half of all the country’s emissions of toxic chemicals.

Back

True

Front

To make it economically worth their while, companies must mine large quantities of _____.

Back

low-grade ore

Front

What fraction of all solid waste in the United States is produced by surface and subsurface mining?

Back

three-fourths

Front

_____ uses bacteria or fungi to separate minerals from ore in a manner that is much less harmful to the environment than conventional mining methods.

Back

biomining

Front

The use of _____ is likely to play a large role in the predicted materials revolution.

Back

nanotechnology

Front

Heating ores to release the metals they contain is called ___ and it usually results in environmental problems. Options: smelting, biomining, tailings, open pit mining, nanoteching

Back

smelting

Front

In a competitive market, which of the following will NOT occur as a result of a resource becoming depleted? Options: a drop in price, a rise in price, new exploration, increased recycling, reduction of waste

Back

a drop in price