AP Environmental Science Mining/Waste Unit

Nonmetallic Minerals

A naturally occurring substance from earth that lacks shine, malleability, and good electrical conductivity

High Grade Ores

Naturally rich, concentrated deposits of valuable minerals

Sanitary Landfill

a depression in low populated areas built for the final waste desposal

PCBs (Poly chlorinated biphenyls)

Man-made organic chemicals once used in electrical equipment, paints, and plastic for their stability

Sedimentation

The process of settling or being deposited as a sediment

Hazardous waste

any discarded or used material, or manufacturing byproduct, that has potential to be harmful to human health or the environment

Low Grade Ores

ores like coal, copper, ores with low concentrations of gold

Glassphalt

An asphalt paving material that replaces (asphalt) with crushed, recycled glass

Rocks

Natural solids made of minerals

Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic

Minerals

Naturally occurring, solid, inorganic substances with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure

Subsurface mining

Extracting minerals deep below the Earths surface through tunnels and shafts

Major ore

naturally occurring rocks containing minerals

Composting

making vegetable matter manure into decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer

Polymer

a large molecule made of many repeating smaller units

Convergent Plate Boundary

where two tectonics plates move towards each other, colliding and causing significant geological activity

Strip Mining

a surface mining method removing soil and rock in strips to access shallow, horizontal mineral deposits

Open pit mining

surface mining method that extracts rocks of minerals from a large, open pit in the ground

Photodegradable

capable of being decomposed by sunlight

Reuse

use again or more than once

Pangea

A massive super continent that joined most of Earth's landmasses 300-200 million yrs. ago

Recycling

the action or process of converting waste into reusable material

Reduce

to make smaller in amount, degree or size

Surface Mining

Removal of overburden to access ore near surface

Overburden

soil, vegetation, and rocks that are removing in order to get to an ore deposit below

Sea-floor spreading

the geological process of where new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates pull apart

Transform Plate Boundary

Where two tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other, primarily causing shallow earthquakes

Biodegradable

an object capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms

Plate Tectonics

Earth's outer shell broken into large moving plates, explains continental drift, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formations

Divergent Plate Boundary

where two tectonic plates pull apart, allowing magma to rise, creating new crust

Lithosphere

Earth's rigid, rocky outer-layer, comprising the crust and the uppermost mantle

Faults

Fractures in the earth's crust where rock blocks move, causing earthquakes or slow creep

Source Reduction

the practice of preventing waste from being created in the first place

Integrated Waste Management (IWM)

a comprehensive strategy that combines various methods like reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery

Mining Law of 1872

A federal law that opens valuable mineral deposits on public lands for exploration and purchase by citizens

Materials Recover Facility

a plant that sorts recyclables for manufacture, making recycling efficient for communities

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

the primary U.S. federal law establishing a framework for managing hazardous and non-hazardous waste from "cradle to grave"

Incineration

the controlled, high temp burning of waste to reduce and mass, converted into ash, flue gas and heat

Non-municipal solid waste

all solid waste not from households, businesses or institutions

Mineral Reserves

the economically viable, extractable portions of mineral resources

Tailings

the residue of ore

Leachate

water that has been filtered through a solid and leached out some of the constituents

Continental Drift

the theory that Earth's continents are slowly moving over geological time

Blast Furnace Smelting

a continuous process with hot, pressurized air to super-heat coke, iron ore and limestone in a tall furnace

Smelting

A high heat, chemical process to extract metals from their ores by applying heat and an reducing agent

Shaft mine

vertical excavations that facilitate access to underground minerals

Asthenosphere

the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, where convection is thought to occur

Plate boundary

A zone where Earth's tectonic plates meet

Municipal Solid Waste

everyday waste from homes, businesses, and institutions

Slag

Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore