Mining and Mierals

Mineral

Any naturally occurring solid element or inorganic compound with a crystal structure, a specific chemical composition, and distinct physical properties.

Mineral examples

Gold, Diamonds, Phosphates, Sulfates, Graphite, Silver, etc

Metal

pure substance, element that is malleable, ductile, lustrous

Ore

mixture of minerals in which metals are extracted

Mining

Any process used to extract non-renewable resources (oil, coal, metals, water).

Why are we interested in mining minerals

financial gain, creation of products, and advancement of quality of life for humans

Strip mining minerals

Coal, Sand, Gravel

Strip mining impacts

Completely removes vegetation/topsoil, erosion of soil once overburden refilled, pollution of waterways due to acid drainage

Strip mining country

U.S. - largest export of sand and largest reserve of coal

Subsurface mining minerals

Gold, Coal, phosphate, uranium

Subsurface mining impacts

Most dangerous form of mining, inhalation of gases (black lung disease)/cave-ins, creation of sinkholes, produces leachate which can travel to groundwater.

Subsurface mining country

South Africa - Mponeng mine deepest subsurface mine on planet

Tailings lake

Accumulation of liquid toxic waste/materials left from the smelting process of ore

Chine

Where is the largest tailing lake

Neodymium

the element being extracted at this plant. It is combined with Iron and Boron to form an alloy that then will be used to make magnets. These magnets are used within wind turbines (one of the cons to this type of energy source).

The Berkeley Pit

an abandoned copper open pit mine located in Butte, MT. Since its closing it has slowly filled with water and leached copper, iron, and other heavy metals left exposed from the mining activities into this body of water.

Current efforts at the Berkeley Pit

creation of a wastewater treatment facility to treat the water located within the pit and relocate it to the Yankee Doodle Tailings Pond

Smelting

heating ore beyond the melting point of all components, combining with other metals/mixtures, and removal of desired product.