lithosphere

What are the environmental impacts of mining

• noise pollution disturbs wildlife

• Dust + methane produced causing respiratory problems

• Spoil heap removed overburden increases chance of landslides

• Turbid drainage water contains lots of sediment which limits sunlight decreasing photosynthesis in plants under water.

• Acid mine leachate- exposed minerals react with- rainwater dissolves acid is formed - dissolves toxic metals itch already carried to local ecosystems

How do earth bunds reduce the impacts of mineral exploitation

They act as a physical barrier reducing noise and visual pollution

How do water sprays reduce the impacts of mineral exploitation

Causes dust particles to settle due to greater weight increasing air quality

What is the negative of water sprays

Reduces groundwater which decreases water security

How can the timing of blasts reduce impacts of mineral exploitation

Minimizing ground vibration and shock waves when it may affect animals the most

Negatives of timing blasts

It is inconvenient

How does timing and transport restrictions reduce the impacts of mineral exploitation

Minimizes disruption to sensitive ecological processes

How does collection and neutralization reduce the impacts of mineral exploitation

Prevents the spread of contaminants which persevere soil quality by creating a sludge which is collected

How does soil compaction reduce the impact of mineral exploitation

Compresses spoil which increases stability reducing the chance of a landslide

How do sedimentation lagoons reduce the impact of mineral exploitation

Removes any suspended solids be discharged

What is bioleaching?

The use of living organisms to extract metals from their ores

How does bioleaching work?

Certain bacteria can break down low-grade ores to produce an acidic solutioncontaining metal ions

What is phytomining

Using plants which absorb metals through the roots to then extract the metals

Describe the process of phytomining

• u

What is meant by the term ore

Naturally occurring rock containing a valuable metal/ mineral

How are hydrothermal deposits formed

• water percolates through permeable rock towards magma

• minerals dissolve in hot water

• Hot water containing minerals moves away from the batholith towards the surface through fissues

• Water cools as it moves towards the surface and then minerals are deposited based on their solubility

• Minerals precipitate

How do alluvial deposits form

• River flows downhill- slope decreases- water slows.

• As it slows it loses energy

• Sediments deposited in order of weight/ density

• Heaviest deposited first

How is a secondary enrichment of uranium ores formed

• water flows through sandstone- O2 rich- potassium carrying dissolved uranium

• Reaches O2 poor sandstone

• Uranium can no longer remain dissolved

• Precipitates forming a concentrated uranium deposit

How are sedimentary rocks turned into metamorphic rocks

High pressure

High temperature

Describe the 3 step process between metamorphic rocks and igneous rocks

1. Melting

2. Magma

3. Cooling and crystallization

Describe the 4 step process between igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks

1. Weathering and erosion

2. Transportation

3. Deposition

4. Burial and compaction

What is a resource

All the material that could be exploited technically and economically now or in the future

What is the definition of reserve

The amount of material that can be exploited using existing technology under current conditions

What is mineral availability determined by?

• location

• Chemical form

• Purity

• Availability of suitable technologies

What does COOG stand for

Cut off ore grade

What is the overburden

Other material that must be used to access valuable deposit

What are the 3 main methods of extracting minerals

1. Open cast or quarrying

2. Underground mining

3. Washing out a weak mineral using hoses

Advantages of open cast mining

• use of larger machinery

• Safer - potent gases able to escape

• Ability to be converted to a reservoir or new habitat

Disadvantages of open cast mining

• visible waste and degradation

• Long term loss of land.

• Noise pollution

• Greater surface area of destruction

• Contaminate more easily transported to water source

Advantages of underground mining

• ability to drill deeper

• No dust pollution as well as reduce noise and visual pollution

• Less loss of habitat

Disadvantages of underground mining

• expensive

• Could collapse

• Trapped gases

What are the 6 mineral exploration survey techniques

1. Satellite imagery

2. Seismic surveys

3. Gravimetry

4. Magnetometry

5. Resistivity

6. Trial drilling

Why is satellite imagery useful as a survey technique

Maps surface geology- identifying rock types, faults, folds

Map structural features

Why are seismic surveys useful for survey techniques

Provide high resolution images of the subsurface

Detecting large sulfide bodies

Why is magnetometry a useful for survey techniques

Detects magnetic ore bodies

Identify rock types

Detects structures beneath cover

Why is gravimetry useful for survey techniques

Detects dense ore bodies

Maps major geological structures

Why is resitivity a useful survey technique

Detects conductive ore bodies

Mapping alteration zones

Locating groundwater and brime systems

How is trial drilling useful as a survey technique

Samples of the rock

Intersects actual mineralized zones