mining how we get our minerals and rocks. what things can form minerals? surface water carrying...
TRANSCRIPT
MiningHow we get our minerals and rocks
What things can form minerals?
• Surface water carrying dissolved minerals
• When salt water evaporates
• Presence of groundwater• Magma can carry crystals
ORE: A natural material whose concentration of economically valuable minerals is high enough for
the mineral to be mined profitably
• A material that is not man-made,• It is pure and worth lots of money• and companies can sell it to make a profit
What affects how much ore is worth?
• Cost of extracting vs the value of the ore
• Usually have to be processed
Gold ore
How can we mine for ore?
• Surface mining (pits, surface coal mines, quarries)• Subsurface mining
a. Open Pits
• To remove large, near-surface deposits of things like gold and copper
• Explosives• Transport away
b. Surface Coal Mines
• Aka “strip mining”
c. Quarries
• Open pits that are used to mine building stone, crushed rock, sand, gravel
2 mining methods:
• Surface mining• Subsurface mining
Subsurface Mining
• When mineral deposits are too deep
• Dig passageways into the Earth
What is responsible mining?
• Mining can destroy or disturb habitats of plants and animals
• Waste products can pollute water
Ways to fix:
• Reclamation: the process by which land used for mining is returned to its original state or better– Required by law
Ways to fix:
• Another way to be responsible: reduce mineral product use, recycle, etc
Your Job:
• Read 78-79• Fill in the notes as you read• Homework: – Page 79– #s: 1-4, 8