Chapter 16: Mineral Resources and Mining

Chapter 16: Mineral Resources and MiningMr. ManskopfNotes also at

http://www.manskopf.com

MAIN IDEA

Modern societies depend upon a large number of a variety of

minerals. Mining of those minerals has a great impact on

our environment.

GOALS for Chapter 16 Notes

• Investigate what minerals are, why they are important.

• Describe how we find minerals in the ground and how we mine them.

• Analyze the environmental impact of mining.

Identifying Mineral Around You

• What are the walls made from?• What are the windows made from?• What is your desk made from?• What is this computer made from?• What is inside all those wires around the

room?• What is all of my jewelry made from?

MineralsMineral: a naturally occurring solid that has a fixed chemical make up and set propertiesNonrenewable!• Aluminum• Gold• Salt• Lead• Copper

Average US person in a lifetime

Ore Minerals

Ore Minerals: valuable and economically extractable

Gangue: no commercial value found in mineral “Waste Product”

Gold Ore

Copper Ore

Copper Mine in Arizona

Pure copper

Metallic vs. Nonmetallic

Metallic• Conduct electricity• Shiny• Opaque• Copper, lead, gold,

silver, nickel, titanium, iron

Nonmetallic• Good insulators• May be shiny or dull• May allow light to

pass• Salt, clay, gypsum,

silica, quartz,

Sand mine

Coal Mine

How do they form?• Magma cooling• Evaporation• Many other ways

The many ways they form…coal

How are they used? (cooper as example)

Copper Usage Worldwide

Where in the U.S. are they found?

How are they found?

How are they found?

Subsurface Mining

Ore usually found below 50 meters• More dangerous• Some mines 2-3 miles

deep• Lower impact at surface

Subsurface Mining

Subsurface Mining

Surface Mining

Ore deposits located close to surface• More land

impact• “safer”• More water

pollution

Surface Mining

Surface Mining

Environmental Impacts of Surface Mining

Smelting

Process by which ore is melted at high temperatures to remove impurities

Mineral Life Cycle

Environmental Impacts of Mining

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Air

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Water

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Wildlife

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Soil

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Subsidence

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Underground Fires

Mining LawsIn the U.S. there are several laws that impact mining• Clean Water Act• Clean Air Act• Endangered Species Act• Safe Drinking Water Act• Superfund (CERCLA)• Surface Mining Control

Reclamation Act

Reclamation

Process of restoring land to it original condition when mining is completed

Review Chapter 16 Mining and Minerals

• Investigate what minerals are, why they are important.

• Describe how we find minerals in the ground and how we mine them.

• Analyze the environmental impact of mining.

How can our actions lesson impacts like this?