Mining and Environmental Effects

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to mining processes, types of mining, environmental effects, and relevant legislation.

Mining

The process of obtaining minerals from the ground.

Refining

An industrial process that removes impurities from a substance, specifically ore.

Surface Mining

The practice of removing minerals that are close to the Earth's surface.

Open Pit Mining

A method involving the creation of a large pit or hole in the ground that is visible from the surface.

Mountain Top Removal

A method of surface mining involving the removal of the entire top of a mountain with explosives.

Placer Mining

The process of searching for metals and stones in river sediments.

Subsurface Mining

Mining for resources that are located 100 meters or more below the Earth's surface.

Acid Mine Drainage

Pollution that occurs when tailings containing sulfur mix with oxygen and water, forming sulfuric acid.

Cyanide Heap Leaching

A process where ore is treated with cyanide to dissolve impurities and extract gold or uranium.

Overburden

The layer of soil and rock that must be removed to access mineral deposits, referred to as spoils after removal.

Mine Remediation

Efforts to restore the environment to its original state or repurpose the land after mining activities.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977)

Legislation that regulates surface mining operations and mandates land reclamation after mining activities.