1. ROCK
- A NATURALLY FORMED COLLECTION OF DIFFERENT MINERALS
MINERAL
- A NATURALLY OCCURING CHEMICAL COMPOUND FOUND IN THE EARTHS CRUST WHICH CONTAINS DIFFERENT ELEMENTS
ORE
- ROCKS CONTAINING MINERALS

2. Mining Methods

3. Which Method? The method of mining chosen depends on the following:
The type of mineral
The geology of the area
The cost and how much the mineral is worth

4. Surface mining
Ore body is near surface – cheapest option = dig it out.
Drilling and blasting rock away creates a large pit of open cut mine.
Useful for ores spread over a large area and are most suitable for low grade ores.

5. Underground mining
Used when the ore is deep, fairly concentrated and confined to a small space.
Shafts are created to reach the ore and it is then removed.

6. Dredging Removes minerals from sand.
A large pit is dug and filled with water.
The minerals are heavier than sand and so are easily separated from it when in water.

7. Leach Mining
Some materials can be mined by dissolving them in a fluid that is injected into the ore body.
A leach fluid is pumped into the ore and then the dissolved ore in the solution is pumped back to the surface.

8. Petroleum Wells
Narrow holes are drilled into layers of sedimentary rock until they reach the oil or gas.
Piping is inserted into the well and then the petroleum is pumped to the surface.