Mining and Development of Mineral Resources; Fossil Fuels

Mining

A set of processes through which useful resources are withdrawn from nonrenewable resources.

Ores

Naturally occurring materials that can be profitably mined.

Open Pit Mining

A method involving large holes to extract low-grade metallic ore.

Strip Mining

A method that extracts horizontal layers of ore or rock.

Placer Mining

A technique for extracting gold or diamonds from river and beach sediment by density.

Quarrying

Surface mining that does not require complex processing, used for sand, gravel, and industrial minerals.

Underground Mining Methods

Techniques used for mineral deposits too deep for surface mining, involving crushing, grinding, and separating.

Petroleum

A fossil fuel derived from microscopic aquatic organisms like algae and plankton.

Kerogen

A waxy material formed from organic matter under pressure and temperature during burial.

Catagenesis

The process through which kerogen transforms into hydrocarbons.

Oil Window

The specific depth, pressure, and temperature range where petroleum forms (50°C to 150°C).

Thermal Cracking

The process that converts oil into natural gas when temperatures exceed the oil window.