1. Chapter 16: Mining and Mineral Resources SEV4. Students will understand and describe availability, allocation and conservation of energy and other resources

2. Discussion Prompt: In what ways are minerals valuable?

3. Section16-1: Minerals and Mineral Resources All minerals –are naturally occurring –are usually inorganic solids –have a defined chemical composition –have an orderly internal structure –have a defined set of physical properties

4. What is a mineral? (cont’d) Single element - native mineral –gold (Au) –silver (Ag) –copper (Cu) 2 or more elements - compound –quartz – silica (silicon and oxygen)

5. Ore Minerals Ore minerals –have economic value –profit must exceed cost of extraction and refining Gangue minerals –no economic value –must be separated from ore minerals

6. Metals vs. Nonmetals Metallic minerals –conduct electricity –shiny –opaque (no light passes through) Nonmetallic minerals –good insulators –shiny or dull –may allow light through

7. How do ore minerals form? The type of mineral that form depends on the environment in which it forms. 1. Cooling from magma: tends to form metals 2.Hydrothermal solutions: hot water found beneath Earth’s surface with dissolved minerals -the minerals crystallize into minerals after flowing through cracks in rocks Evaporites: salts that result from evaporation of water in rivers and streams –Occurs in hot regions=a lot of evaporation

8. Uses of mineral resources SEE TABLE 2 on p.444, also read text Metals can be bent, made into wires, flattened into sheets Durable, resist corrosion Conduct heat and electricity Alloys: combine most appealing properties of minerals (stainless steel, gold used for jewelry) Gypsum (used in wallboard) Gemstones –Diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz

9. Section 16-2: Mineral Exploration and Mining Discussion Prompt: When you think of mining, what do you think of?

10. Mineral exploration Deposits have 100x to 1,000x the normal concentration of minerals Planes observe them –Gravity –Density –Radioactivity Grade ore content (Is it worth mining it?)

11. Types of Mining Surface Mining: on Earth’s surface –Open-pit coal mining –Quarrying –Solar evaporation Subsurface Mining: below Earth’s surface –Room-and-pillar mining –Longwall mining –Solution mining

12. Subsurface mining 50 m or more underground Describe each of these three types of subsurface mining in your notes (p. 446). 1.Room-and-pillar mining 2.Longwall mining 3.Solution mining

13. Surface mining Open-pit mining (coal, copper) 1.Surface coal mining topsoil set aside overburden removed exposed coal removed fill in with overburden return topsoil

14. Surface mining (cont’d) 2. Quarrying granite marble sand gravel crushed rock (aggregates)

15. Surface mining (cont’d) 3. Solar Evaporation –Salt water in enormous, shallow ponds –Water evaporates, leaving salt crystals (halite) behind –Used in areas with little rainfall –30% of earth’s salt

16. Placer mining Placer deposits – valuable mineral created when rock disintegrates becomes concentrated by wind or water in places where currents are weak (see p. 449) Dredge –Floating barge that excavate minerals from water and separates out the valuable minerals –Keeps valuable ore minerals –Leaves processed sediments

17. Smelting Crushed ore is melted at high temps –Separates minerals from impurities using a material called flux to bond with the impuritites flux + impurities = slag (less dense so comes to the top) Sulfur dioxide captured to prevent pollution

18. Undersea mining Ocean floor contains a lot of valuable minerals –Diamonds, gold, silver, etc. Largely unsuccessful –Expensive –Dangerous

19. Section 16-3: Mining Regulations and Mine Reclamation Discussion Prompt: Why do you think mining needs to be regulated?

20. Regulations and Reclamation Higher Energy Demands = more coal mines –Need coal for electricity Before mining, companies must have a plan to reclaim the land –A plan to return land to its original condition

21. Environmental Impact Regulations are relatively new We are now cleaning up old mines

22. Air and Noise Pollution Caused by surface mining Dust – moving soil, winds, blasting ore Noise – equipment, blasting Noise and dust can’t exit mining area in USA due to regulations Surface mining in rural areas only

23. Water Contamination Seepage enters mines and becomes contaminated –This washes into streams, etc. Sulfur in coal reacts with oxygen to make weak sulfuric acid which is a toxic chemical –Known as acid mine drainage

24. Displacement of Wildlife Loss of plant life  Animals leave Dredging in aquatic systems damages river and lake bottoms and sediment is formed Reclamation attempts to make damage temporary

25. Sedimentation Excess rock placed in “dumps” Running water takes sediments from these piles and deposits into rivers and streams –May harm water quality and aquatic life

26. Soil degradation Soil has several layers Must ensure the soil is replaced in the same layers, so must remove and store in separate layers -sulfur is in deepest layer and must stay there or will harm plants

27. Subsidence Subsidence: sinking of regions of the ground because of building over abandoned mines Ground sinks

28. Underground mine fires Difficult to put out, may burn for years –A fire in an Australian mountain mine has been burning for an estimated 2,000 years (see photo on p. 454) Causes –Lightning –Forest fires –Burning trash –Flash fires

29. Mining Reclamation Reclamation: process of returning land to its original or better condition after mining Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 –Sets standards for reclamation

30. Regulations Read p. 455 for details Clean Water Act Safe Drinking Water Act Comprehensive Response & Liability Act Endangered Species Act Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act –Return land to original condition

31. Answer These Questions On p. 455 answer #1-5 Answer in complete sentences. You will need to read.