lithosphere key terms

gravimetry

this detects differences in gravity depending on the mass and density of mineral in the ground

magnetometry

this detects how magnetic a mineral is an detects which ones most drawn to the magnet. - metals attracted are cobalt, nickle and iron ore

seismic surveys

involve sound waves produced by controlling explosions or seismic vibrations on the surface. the achoes give information about the depth, density and shape of rocks

trial drilling

main goal is to analyze geological, chemical, and physical properties of the subsurface, such as ore purity

resistivity

measures the difficulty with which electricity passes through a material

what factors determine when and where mining will take place

over burden, market price, land ownership, ore purity cut-off ore grade and depth

overburden

rock foudn above the desired mineral wanting to be exploited. the thickness and depth of the overburden depends on whether it is economically worth mining through

market price

whether mining and exploiting a mineral is economically worth it, the market price will decide that. the market price is controlled by the demand for the mineral

land ownership

if deposits are detected under an area owned by someone that doesnt consent to it being dug up and exploited - creates conflict

ore purity

the concentration of a desired metal or mineral within raw, mined material, determining its economic value and processing requirements

depth

cost rises rapidly as the depth increases. if the dpeth is doubled then the cost wqill double

name environmental impacts of mining

dust pollution, noise pollution, turbid water, habitat destruction

dust pollution

created using open quarries

solutions to reducing dust pollution

afforestation is used as a barrier and water sprays make the dust heavy so they then fall to the ground and dont infect the atmosphere

noise pollution

caused by industrial vehicle - transport and technology

solutions to reducing noise pollution

planting trees to create a barrier and restrict working hours

turbid water

this is caused by sediment run off from pumping water into mines. the water is dispersed inot local rivers - makes water murkey and plants and animals unable to reach light

solutions to reducing turbid water

pumping sediment water into lagoons

habitat destruction

mainly caused by quarrying as underground and above ground habitats will be destroyed

solutions to reducing habitat destruction

shaft mining

resource

the theoretical availability for exploitation. includes the amount of minerals in the ground now and in the future with future advanced tech

stock

what is in the lithosphere in the present with present day tech

reserve

refers to only the amount that can be exploited now using existing tech

name some improvements in exploratory techniques

better remoting sensing and portable field equipment

better remoting sensors

newer satellites - carry out improved sensors which generate greater numbers of image pixels

portable field equipment

available for x-rays florescence and radiation detection - saves time as results are immediately available

name some improvements in exploitation methods

mechanisation - deep mining and open cast mining

mechanisation of deep mining

using machines allows going deeper where it may be too dangerous or hot for workers

mechanisation of open cast mining

larger machinery allows over burden and minerals to be extracted quickers and is cost effective

name some ways of exploiting low grade ores

bioleaching, Phytomining, leachate collection

bioleaching

the use of living organisms to extract metals from their ores

phyotmining

using plants to absorb metals and once absorbed the metals the plants are collected and incinerated - the ash is dissolved using acids then separated using electrolysis

leachate collection

when rainwater percolates through spoil heaps dissolved soluble metal ions - drain leachate and then recircuited through the spoil heaps to increase the concentration of metal ions in solution

name problems with recycling schemes

labour costs, transport, separation, identification and energy costs

why is transport an issue when recycling

transport resources in bulk is not possible so will need to be transported in smaller quantities this is expensive

why is separation an issue when recycling

alloys of mixed metals cannot easily be separated

name 2 places that recycled waste would come from

pre-consumer wastes and post-consumer wastes

pre-consumer wastes

waste trimmings produced by cutting or stamping machines

post-consumer wastes

discarded consumer products - domestic materials mostly

how can quarries be used for recreation

leisure and a reservoir