Mineral Resources A mineral is an element or an inorganic compound that occurs naturally and is solid. Ore: combination of minerals. Has crystalline internal structure. Earth’s crust has minerals Single element minerals:Gold,Silver,Dimond and Sulphur. Combinations:Salt,Mica, Quartz……. Rock:Large natural continuous part of the Eart’s crust.,Lime stone(calcium carbonate),Quatzite(Silicon dioxide) .

Mineral Resources Metallic:Iron,Alluminium,Zinc,Manganese &copper. Non-Metallic:Coal,salt,clay,cement &silica Stone 4 building material:Granite,Marble,Limestone..another category. Minerals in the form of oil,gas &coal.

Stages of Mining Prospecting: Search for minerals Exploration: Assessing the size, shape, location and economic value of deposit Development: process of preparing access to deposit so that it can be extracted Exploitation: Extraction of minerals

Geologists,Mining engineers,Geophysicists and Geochemists work together. Two types of mines: a) Surface mines(open cast or strip mines) b) deep (or shaft) mines. Mine safety:Hazardous occupation Surface mining is less hazardous than undergroud. Metal mining is less hazardous than coal mining. Underground: rock and roof falls, flooding and inadaquate ventilation r great hazards. Dust produced during mining operations is injurious to health and causes a lung disease known as “black lung” or pneumoconiosis. Fumes of incomplete dynamite exploisions r extreamely poisionous. Methane gas from coal strata is hazardous to health. In uranium mines Radiation is a problem

Uses and exploitation Development of industrial plants and machinery Generation of energy coal, lignite, uranium Construction, housing Defence equipment Transportation means Communication – telephone wires, cables. Medicinal uses– ayurveda Formation of alloys for various purposes Agriculture – as fertilizers, fungicides Jewellery – gold, silver, platinum, diamonds

Mining Subsurface mining—extraction from deep deposits, more dangerous, destructive, expensive, risk of occupational hazards and accidents Surface mining – extraction from shallow deposits a) open pit mining – machine digs holes and extracts ores e.g. copper, iron, limestone b) dredging- chained buckets and draglines are used which scrap up the mineral c) Strip mining – ore is stripped off using bulldozers, power shovels, stripping wheels e.g. phosphate rocks

Environmental Impacts Devegetation and defacing of landscape- topsoil and vegetation are removed to access the deposit. Huge quantities of debris and tailings along with big scars and disruptions spoil aesthetic value and make it prone to soil erosion. Subsidence of land – tilting of buildings, cracks in houses, bending of rail tracks, leakage of pipelines (underground mining) Ground water contamination

Environmental Impacts Surface water pollution - heavy metal pollution, acid mine drainage and radio active contamination is common Air pollution – smelting is done to separate metals from ores which gives out Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), Sox, soot, arsenic, cadmium, lead etc., Occupational health hazards – miners suffer from various respiratory and skin diseases.

Remedial Measures Ecofriendly mining techniques. Ex: Microbial leaching technique – bacterium Thiobacillus ferroxidans can be used for extracting glod embedded in iron sulphide ore Restoring mined areas by re-vegetating them with plants stabilization of mined lainds, gradual restoration of flora Prevention of toxic drainage discharge and confirming to the standards of air emissions

Case Studies Mining and quarrying in Udaipur Mining in Sariska Tiger Reserve In Aravallis Uranium mining in Nalgonda