Earth's Resources and Mining Concepts

These flashcards cover key concepts relating to Earth's resources, the impacts of mining, geological processes, and related environmental concerns.

Describe how plate tectonics and density are related.

Shifting of tectonic plates is caused by differences in density, where one plate may slide under another because its density is higher than that of the other plate. Because of this, density and plate tectonics are directly related, and density can have a very large impact on the movement of tectonic plates.

Describe how plate tectonics and other factors concentrate minerals in the Earth?

Subduction → melting creates magma rich in metals

Volcanism → brings minerals toward the surface

Hydrothermal fluids → hot, mineral-rich water deposits metals in cracks
Other factors include pressure, temperature, and water movement, which all help gather minerals into concentrated deposits.

Describe how Plate Tectonics leads to the transport and alteration of Earth’s resources

Transports materials (like minerals) across Earth

Alters them through heat and pressure (metamorphism)

Recycles them via subduction and volcanism

what is an ore?

An ore is a rock that contains a valuable mineral in high enough concentration to be mined profitably

What are three different types of mining?

Open-pit mining, underground mining, and placer mining.

Describe the ecological impacts of resource extraction

Habitat destruction, Water and soil pollution, Air pollution (dust, emissions), Loss of biodiversity, Long-term land degradation

Describe pH scale? What pH does most life prefer to be in the range? Describe how the ratio of H+ ions to OH- ions can determine pH?

Measures how acidic or basic a substance is (0–14). 7 = neutral, <7 = acidic, >7 = basic. Most life prefers a pH range of about 6–8, pH depends on ion concentration: More H⁺ ions → more acidic, More OH⁻ ions → more basic

Describe how acid mine drainage might form.  What types of contaminants might be in the water?

Forms when sulfide minerals (like pyrite) are exposed to air and water → they react to form sulfuric acid. Contaminants include: Heavy metals (iron, lead, mercury), Sulfates, Acidic water (low pH

Describe how biomagnification occurs.

Toxins (like mercury) build up in organisms and increase in concentration at higher levels of the food chain. Predators at the top end up with the highest toxin levels because they consume many contaminated organisms.

Describe the process of fracking and any environmental concerns that go with it.

Process:

• Drill into rock

• Inject high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals

• Crack the rock to release oil/gas

Environmental concerns:

• Groundwater contamination

• High water use

• Earthquakes (induced seismic activity)

• Methane leaks (greenhouse gas)

Describe how fossil fuels form

Dead plants and organisms are buried under sediment

Heat and pressure over millions of years transform them into coal, oil, or natural gas

Occurs in low-oxygen environments (prevents decomposition)

Quantify the amount of oil you can get from a tar sand

Take the amount of grams per meter³ and then divide by the density of oil (0.92) to get the amount of liters per meter³, this can work with cm³ or any area measurement as well.