1. Environmental Science Do Now 12-19-17
Do Now (5 min): Take your Do Now sheet and answer each question.
 1) What type of mineral is considered commercially valuable?
2) What type of mineral is not considered commercially valuable?
3) What is an alloy?

2. Environmental Science Do Now 12-19-17 KEY
Do Now (5 min): Take your Do Now sheet and answer each question.
 1) What type of mineral is considered commercially valuable? Ore mineral
2) What type of mineral is not considered commercially valuable? Gangue mineral
3) What is an alloy? An alloy is a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion.

3. Reminder…Q2 Progress Report Grades will close TOMORROW!!!
The Q2 progress report posting window closes tomorrow at 5pm.
I have closed my 2nd quarter progress report grades!!!

4. Objective
The student will know the types of mining practices and resources obtained from mining by taking notes, answering concept check questions and creating a 5-illustration poster depicting the negative impact of mining.
Mastery Level:
280 participation points for taking mining notes
70% (14/20) or better on concept check questions
525/750 or better on mining poster

5. Mining and Mineral Resources
Today’s notes are worth 280 pts.
Today’s notes are worth 280 pts.
Mining and Mineral Resources

6. 2. Quarrying
A quarry is a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted.
Building stones (granite and marble) are mined in quarries.
Aggregates (sand, gravel, and crushed rock) are the main products of quarrying.

7. 3. Solar Evaporation
Solar evaporation is the process of placing sea water into enormous shallow ponds.
Sun evaporates the water and increases the concentration of sodium chloride
This method of salt production is used in areas that receive little rainfall and have high evaporation rates.
Solar evaporation is used largely in developing countries and 30% of worlds salt comes from solar evaporation.

8. D. Placer Mining
Placer deposits are minerals that are concentrated by wind and water into surface deposits.
Streams transport mineral grains to a point where they fall to the streambed and are concentrated.
Stream placers often occur at bends in rivers where the current slows.
Gold, diamonds and other heavy minerals are mined by dredging.

9. E. Smelting
Smelting is where crushed ore is melted at high temperatures in furnaces to separate impurities from molten metal.
Flux bonds with impurities and separates them from the molten metal
Molten metal falls to the bottom of the furnace and is recovered.
The Slag (impurities)form a layer on the top
Gases (sulfur dioxide) are captured so they do not enter the environment

10. F. Undersea Mining Ocean floor contains significant mineral resources
Cost and great waters depths at which minerals are found are two reasons undersea mining has not been successful.

12. 16.3 Mining Regulations and Mine Reclamation
Because of environmental impacts of mining, it is the most heavily regulated industries in the US.
Reclaiming the land or returning it to its original condition after mining is a part of every surface coal mining operation.
A. The Environmental Impacts of Mining
Billions of dollars are spent to clean up abandoned mines.

13. 1. Air and Noise Pollution
At surface coal mines dust is produced by removing, loading, hauling and dumping soil and overburden.
Dust is also produced when ore is blasted apart
Noise is created by equipment and blasting
Most surface mines are not located near urban populations
Regulations in US forbid mining operations to allow dust or noise t exit the area being mined

14. 2. Water Contamination
Water resources can be negatively impacted by mining
Containments can wash into streams where they can harm or kill aquatic life
Minerals that contain a lot of sulfur and react with water to produce dilute sulfuric acid.

15. 3. Displacement of wildlife
Removing soil from a surface mine site strips away all plant life.
With the removal of plants animals will leave the area
When the soil is returned to the site different plants and animals may establish themselves.
Dredging disturbs river bottoms and destroys aquatic plant live.
Disturbance of a riverbed can cause sediments to contaminate a river for up to 10 km

16. 4. Erosion and Sedimentation
Excess rock from mines is dumped into large piles called dumps.
Running water erodes unprotected dumps and may harm water quality and aquatic life
5. Soil Degradation
Soil at a mine is removed from the uppermost layer downward
If soils is not removed and stored in separate layers the soil may be nutrient poor when it is reclaimed.
Soil rich in sulfur once exposed to water and oxygen release acid.
If acidified soil is returned to the mine site it may be difficult for plants to grow.

17. 6. Subsidence
Subsidence is the sinking of regions of ground with little or no horizontal movement.
Can occur when pillars in a mine collapse or the mine roof or floor fails
Buildings, houses, roads, bridges, underground pipelines and utilities may be damaged
7. Underground Mine Fires
Fires in underground coal seams are one of the most serious environmental consequences of coal mining
Lighting, forest fires and burning trash can cause coal-seams fires.
These fires are hard to put out and often left to burn out (which may take decades).
They release smoke and gasses that can cause respiratory problems.

18. B. Mining Regulation and Reclamation
Mines in US are regulated by federal and state laws
Mining company must comply with Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

19. 1. Reclamation
Reclamation is the process of returning land to its original or better conditions after mining is completed.
The Surface Mining control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) create a program for the regulation of surface coal mining.
The act set standards that minimize the effects of coal mining on environment

20. Extend - Concept Check Questions
11) Explain why mines are regulated by the United States government.
12) Name 2 sources of pollution linked to mining. What are the causes?
13) Explain how mining can lead to the contamination of water.
14) Explain how wildlife is negatively impacted by mining.
15) Explain how mining causes erosion and soil degradation.
16) What is subsidence? What causes subsidence?
17) What are the causes of underground mine fires? Are they easy or difficult to put out? Why?
18) Mining is regulated by what 3 acts?
19) What is reclamation?
20) What does the SMCRA of 1977 regulate?
1) What is a quarry?
2) Name 5 products obtained from a quarry?
3) What energy source powers solar evaporation?
4) Explain the process of solar evaporation.
5) What are placer deposits? How do placer deposits become concentrated with minerals?
6) Name 2 minerals found in placer deposits.
7) What is smelting? What is smelting used for?
8) What is flux used for?
9) What is slag?
10) What are the top ten minerals in the United States?

21. Evaluate – Impact of Mining Illustrations Poster (Worth between 750-850 pts.)
Develop a neat informative poster that depicts, in picture form (Yes, you must draw!), 5 negative impacts of mining to our environment.
Must be:
Neat [150 pts.]
In color (colored pencils, crayons or markers) [100 pts.]
Shows clear illustrations of 5 negative illustrations of mining. [500 pts.]
If completed TODAY, you will get a bonus of 100 points, if turned in TOMORROW, no bonus.