Canada’s Primary Industries: Mining

Minerals Minerals are natural substance that we value because we can use them for something: Metallic minerals: gold, nickel and iron ore Non-metallic minerals (Industrial): cobalt, potash, sand and gravel … diamonds Fuel minerals: oil, natural gas and coal

Digging for Minerals

Open Pit Mine

Open Pit Mine – Watch video on Diavik

Strip mining - Oil sands

Underground Mine

Underground Mine

Underground Mine

Where in Canada are the mines located?

Animated Rock Cycle

Metal mines: nickel, gold, copper http://mmsd.mms.nrcan.gc.ca/maps/MiningMap/min-min-eng.aspx

Industrial (Structural) Mineral Mines: Potash, diamonds http://mmsd.mms.nrcan.gc.ca/maps/MiningMap/min-min-eng.aspx

Fuel Minerals: Coal Mines http://mmsd.mms.nrcan.gc.ca/maps/MiningMap/min-min-eng.aspx

What products are made from minerals?

Issues facing the Mining Industry Negative Impact on the Environment Abandoned Mines Loss of Jobs Echo Effect Exhausting the Supply Staying Competitive Boom-Bust Towns

Issues facing the Mining Industry Negative Impact on the Environment: acid precipitation: over $1 billion has been spent controlling harmful emissions from mines and processing plants. However, the emissions still find their way into the air and water.

Issues facing the Mining Industry Abandoned Mines: What happens to the land after an ore body runs out and a mine closes? There are dozens of abandoned mines across Canada that have left scars on the landscape and are continuing to be sources of pollution as wastes from the mines leak into rivers and lakes.

Issues facing the Mining Industry Loss of Jobs: About 50% of the minerals mined in Canada are exported before any processing is done. Therefore, any potential processing jobs are lost to the various countries we export the minerals to

Issues facing the Mining Industry Echo Effect – What happens in one country can be felt in other countries. If the market for minerals is slow in China, it is felt in our markets here in Canada and we lose money.

Issues facing the Mining Industry Exhausting the Supply – Canada must develop new ways to mine lower grade ores and remote ore deposits because the higher grade minerals are being depleted quickly.

Issues facing the Mining Industry Staying Competitive – In order to compete with other countries, we must start lowering our production costs and processing our minerals at a lower cost. Countries producing oil Countries producing diamonds

Issues facing the Mining Industry Boom-Bust Towns – Towns must diversify in order to stay alive after a mine closes.