1. Assignment #1 – Canada’s Mineral Wealth
Geography 20F

2. Key Terms
Any mineral that can be burned to produce energy ex) coal, oil, natural gas FOSSIL FUEL
Method of mining used to recover mineral deposits located very near the surface STRIP MINING
Process whereby concentrates are processed into pure metals SMELTING
Valuable substance that is taken from rocks by mining MINERAL
Expert that studies the formation of rocks GEOLOGIST
Processing ore into concentrates MILLING
Known quantity of minerals in a country or area MINERAL RESERVE
Mineral that yields a metal when processes ex) iron, gold, uranium, silver METALLIC MINERAL
Method of mining used to recover deep mineral deposits UNDERGROUND MINING
Rock that contains enough minerals to make mining profitable ORE
Mining using a large hole that is dug for the purpose of extracting ore found near the earth’s surface OPEN PIT MINING

3. 1.Look at figure 23-1 on PP# 316 – try to match up the mineral product with the finished product

4. 2. How much of Canada’s total mined minerals are exported to other countries? What was the total of all mineral production in 2001?
80%
$83B

5. 3. Look at figure 23-5 on PP# 319 – Rank the top five provinces in terms of mining production and what is most produced (industrial, metallic, fossil)
a) Alberta B (F,I) b) BC 8.264B (F,M,I) c) Saskatchewan 7.733B (F,I,M) d) Ontario 5.770B (M,I,F) e) Quebec 3.604B (M,I)

6. 4. Why are milling and smelting a major part of the mining industry
4. Why are milling and smelting a major part of the mining industry? What does each one contribute to creating a pure metallic mineral?
Mines only produce ore which is not a pure mineral, most is actually waste rock
Mill – separates most of the waste rock away from the mineral creating ORE CONCENTRATE
Smelter – ORE CONCENTRATE and FLUX are placed in a heated furnace to separate the last of the pure mineral, which is poured into moulds
The TAILINGS – or flux/rock material is hazardous and most be properly treated before being disposed of

7. (Back Page) Complete the following for each type of mining – a) why is this method used? b) brief description of how each one works

8. (back page table) Three groups of Canada’s valuable minerals Provide a 1-2 sentence description with examples for each one.
Metallic minerals – metal producing minerals Value – gold, silver platinum Strength – iron Human Uses – wires, steel
b) Fossil Fuels – mineral burned to produce energy Coal, oil, natural gas Majority of Canada’s energy needs met through fossil fuels
c) Industrial Minerals – Non metallic, not burned Gravel, asbestos, potash