1. Mining Notes

2. Mineral
Solid substance found in nature which is made of a single element or compound
Examples: salt, gold, silver
Calcite

3. Important Minerals: Aluminum: cans, cars, planes, buildings
Copper: electrical wiring
Iron: used to make steel
Sulfur: paint, explosives, pesticides, medicines
Silver: jewelry, film developing

4. Ore: A rock that contains a mineral
Iron Ore
Copper Ore

5. Open Pit Mining
Machines dig large holes in the ground to remove ore and leave a big hole in the ground.
Also referred to as a quarry
Examples: copper, sand, gravel, limestone, and marble

6. Strip Mining
Machines are used to clear a strip of land where ore is removed the surface.
Waste is used to fill in the hole from the first strip (less damaging).
Example: phosphate and coal
Accounts for ½ of our coal

7. Subsurface Mining Mine shafts are dug underground
Disturbs the land the least, but is more hazardous and expensive
Ex: salt/coal

10. Effects of Mining Can lead to erosion and damage the landscape
2. Toxic substances can be left behind and pollute water and land.
Acid Mine Damage: water flows over minerals containing sulfur and the water then becomes acidic

11. 3. Loss of wildlife, destroys habitats, and the balance of the ecosystem

12. Requires too much energy
5. Waste Production: more waste is produced from mining than what is produced in ALL US cities combined

14. 6. Previously deep mined areas are unstable

15. How to Reduce the Effects of Mining.
1. Reclamation: restoring areas to their original condition
Laws require companies to reclaim mining sites on public land.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977):
All companies must restore mined land
Only applies to coal

16. 2. Reduce: Use less of the resources, which will decrease the demand for mining.
3. Re-use: Use minerals and materials as many times as possible.
This includes finding alternative uses for items.

17. 4. Recycle: convert one object into a different form to be used again.
Examples: paper and cans
Leads to a decrease in the need for mining and decreases pollution caused by mining.
“Leave only footprints,
take only pictures, kill
only time…”

19. Public Land Use 40% of all land in the US is publicly owned
This includes National Parks and Forests
Wilderness: area in which the land and the ecosystems it supports are protected from all development (Wilderness Act 1964)