Mining and Resource Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary flashcards focused on mining, minerals, and resource concepts.

Diminishing Returns

Each extra foot dug gives less valuable material.

Alloy

Two metals melted together to make a stronger one.

Arsenic

A poisonous element; scientists wear gloves around it.

Underground Mining

Digging deep tunnels to reach minerals.

Sulfur

A mineral that smells bad when heated.

Renewable Resource

A resource that comes back quickly (wind).

Non-renewable Resource

A resource that takes millions of years to form (coal).

Cobalt

A metal used in batteries.

Cobaltite

A mineral that contains cobalt.

Rock

A mix of many minerals.

Mineral

A pure natural substance with its own crystal shape.

Placer Deposits

Gold that gathers in riverbeds over time.

Overburden

Top layer of dirt/rock removed before mining.

Open Pit Mine

A huge hole dug from the surface.

Strategic Metals

Important metals protected for technology needs.

Gangue

Worthless rock mixed with valuable ore.

Ore

A rock with enough valuable mineral to make money.

Vein

A streak of pure mineral inside rock.

Smelting

Heating ore to separate the metal.

Independent Variable

What you change on purpose.

Dependent Variable

What you measure after the change.