Mining! MRS. AVANT

Minerals are mined!  Before minerals can be used, they must be removed from the ground  There are different types of mining- what type is used depends on where on the crust the mineral is found  Gemstones are mined and are used for jewelry making  Minerals are found in rocks. Rocks that contain a mineral and can be mined for a profit are called ores

Panning  Miners use a pan to separate dense minerals from less dense minerals  Dense minerals collect in the bottom of a river bed (Gold). Gold and other dense minerals stay at the bottom of the pan and less dense minerals wash away.

Strip Mining  Miners strip away plant, soil, and unwanted rocks from the surface and use machines to dig out ore.

Open Pit Mining  Miners remove the surface layer of soil and then use explosives to recover ore

Deep Mining  Method used when ore lies deep beneath the surface (coal). Miners go deep underground and create tunnels into a hill or mountain

Environmental Impact  Ecology= how organisms relate to one another and their physical surroundings.  Mining takes away animal’s habitats and destroys plant life.