1. Mining
Chapter 16

2. Important Definitions
Mineral: Naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition, an orderly internal structure, and a characteristic set of physical properties
Ore Minerals: Minerals that are valuable and economical to extract-can be metallic or nonmetallic
Gangue Minerals: minerals that have no commercial value, but are usually collected with ore minerals and must be separated

3. Mineral Uses Different minerals have different uses
EXAMPLES , table 2 pg. 444

4. Subsurface vs. Surface Mining
Subsurface Mining
Room-and-pillar mining: a network of “rooms” are cut into a seam and between the rooms, pillars are left to support the roof
Longwall mining: A machine called a shearer moves back and forth across the face of a coal seam and a conveyor takes the coal out of the mine
Solution mining: Hot water is injected into the ore and dissolves it while compressed air makes bubbles that lift the ore to the surface

6. Subsurface vs. Surface Mining
Open-pit mining: ore is mined layer by layer downward
Solar Evaporation: sea water is placed in shallow ponds and allowed to evaporate, leaving behind salt (sodium chloride) which can be harvested

7. Environmental Impacts of Mining
Abandoned mine clean up
Air and noise pollution
Water contamination
Wildlife displacement
Erosion and sedimentation
Soil degradation
Subsidence: sinking regions of ground from the collapse of parts of an empty mine
Underground mine fires can occur when minerals are exposed to oxygen