Earth and Space Unit 9.1 Mining Review

Why Michigan is so rich in materials

Its bowl-shaped basin that contains lots of copper, likely deposited at the split of the North American plate

Surface mining

Mining mineral deposits on or near Earth’s surface

Open-pit mining

A form of surface mining which involves digging a large hole in the ground to extract minerals and ore such as gold or copper.

Quarries

A form of surface mining in which pits are blasted open to dig out building materials such as limestone, clay, sand, gravel, marble, etc.

Strip mining

A form of surface mining in which a large piece of “overburden” is removed to access coal underneath.

Subsurface mining

Mining where minerals are deep underground, so shafts are dug into the ground

Room-and-pillar

A form of subsurface mining in which rooms are cut out of a horizontal layer while pillars of ore are left standing

Longwall mining

A form of subsurface mining in which a shearer moves back and forth across the ore seam, causing ore to fall into a conveyor transporter

Solution mining

A form of subsurface mining in which hot water is injected into the ore to dissolve it, which is then pumped to the surface for extraction.

The 3 forms of surface mining

Open-pit, quarries, strip mining

The 3 forms of subsurface mining

Room and pillar, longwall, solution

Does Wisconsin suck?

Yes

Which state is the worst?

Ohio