APES 12.10 and 12.11APES 12.10 and 12.11

Please take out your

Mining Lab and FRQ

Log in to a computer for notes!

Please take out your

Mining Lab and FRQ

Log in to a computer for notes!

Mining FRQ ScoringMining FRQ Scoring

Find the “Mining FRQ Key” on my website (labs/hw page)

Score your neighbor’s paper out of 11

Add things they missed

Find the “Mining FRQ Key” on my website (labs/hw page)

Score your neighbor’s paper out of 11

Add things they missed

Mining BasicsMining Basics

How are sites selected?consider env. cost, potential profits, amt.

and stability of overburden (materials that must be removed to reach the mineral)

Types of MiningSurface Mining (strip mining, open-pit

mining, mountaintop removal, placer mining)

Subsurface mining

How are sites selected?consider env. cost, potential profits, amt.

and stability of overburden (materials that must be removed to reach the mineral)

Types of MiningSurface Mining (strip mining, open-pit

mining, mountaintop removal, placer mining)

Subsurface mining

Surface MiningSurface Mining

1.Strip Mining: removal of mineral deposits in horizontal strips

a.Land is clear-cut and overburden is removed by explosives/heavy equipment

b.Mineral deposits removed by huge power shovels

c.Overburden is replaced

Land cannot be returned to original state, and heavy equipment compacts soil. Long-term damage.

1.Strip Mining: removal of mineral deposits in horizontal strips

a.Land is clear-cut and overburden is removed by explosives/heavy equipment

b.Mineral deposits removed by huge power shovels

c.Overburden is replaced

Land cannot be returned to original state, and heavy equipment compacts soil. Long-term damage.

Iron-Ore Mine, LiberiaIron-ore mines like this one have altered the

landscape of Liberia. The Liberian Civil War (1989-1996) and the declining world demand for iron ore led to the complete shutdown of Liberian iron-ore

mining in the early 1990s.

Coal Mine in Appalachia

Surface MiningSurface Mining

2. Mountaintop removal

Entire top of a mountain is removed by explosives, causing it to fall into surrounding valleys

Common in coal mining in Eastern U.S.

Permanently buries streams, alters topography

2. Mountaintop removal

Entire top of a mountain is removed by explosives, causing it to fall into surrounding valleys

Common in coal mining in Eastern U.S.

Permanently buries streams, alters topography

Surface MiningSurface Mining

3. Open-Pit Mining

A huge hole is dug using explosives and heavy equipment; ore is removed

Pit is abandoned and often fills with waterPit becomes acidic and polluted with heavy metals

due to mine waste left behind

Acid Mine Drainage: Sulfur compounds are oxidized by air, dissolve in rain water to form sulfuric acid run-off!

3. Open-Pit Mining

A huge hole is dug using explosives and heavy equipment; ore is removed

Pit is abandoned and often fills with waterPit becomes acidic and polluted with heavy metals

due to mine waste left behind

Acid Mine Drainage: Sulfur compounds are oxidized by air, dissolve in rain water to form sulfuric acid run-off!

One of North America’s largest open-pit copper mines, located in Kennecott, Utah.

Surface MiningSurface Mining

4. Placer MiningSearching for ores in river sediments (i.e. California Gold Rush of mid-1800’s)Rivers are diverted, dammed to make extraction easierMercury is used to chemically remove gold from ores, polluting rivers

4. Placer MiningSearching for ores in river sediments (i.e. California Gold Rush of mid-1800’s)Rivers are diverted, dammed to make extraction easierMercury is used to chemically remove gold from ores, polluting rivers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbI_ZArJ22U

Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining

Deep, vertical shafts are drilled with horizontal branchesLess surface env. degradation, but can cause collapse, explosions (methane and coal dust)Not just for coal!- any ore too far down to remove overburden

Deep, vertical shafts are drilled with horizontal branchesLess surface env. degradation, but can cause collapse, explosions (methane and coal dust)Not just for coal!- any ore too far down to remove overburden

Types of Coal MiningTypes of Coal MiningOften called mountaintop removal

Downsides of Subsurface MiningDownsides of Subsurface Mining

Labor Intensive

Filling in mines after they are empty

Health of workers Black lung disease, high rates of cancer from particulate matters

Danger of accidents

Labor Intensive

Filling in mines after they are empty

Health of workers Black lung disease, high rates of cancer from particulate matters

Danger of accidents

Major Coal Mining AccidentsMajor Coal Mining Accidents

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/us/u-s-mine-disasters-fast-facts/

China is by far the most dangerous!

2010 collapse in Chile

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

Clear-cutting of forests

Destruction of soil horizons

Soil compaction

Stream/river destruction, diversion, pollution

Acidic and metallic waste-water pollution

Solid waste, toxic dust and emissions 75% if all solid waste in U.S. comes from mines!

This waste is called “tailings” or mining spoils- unwanted waste material

Clear-cutting of forests

Destruction of soil horizons

Soil compaction

Stream/river destruction, diversion, pollution

Acidic and metallic waste-water pollution

Solid waste, toxic dust and emissions 75% if all solid waste in U.S. comes from mines!

This waste is called “tailings” or mining spoils- unwanted waste material

Animas River Spill (8/2015)Animas River Spill (8/2015)

https://www.rt.com/usa/319439-epa-caused-colorado-mine-spill/

Important Legislation in U.S.Important Legislation in U.S.

1. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA)

Land must be reclaimed after surface mining

Clean up any pollution

**Various levels of enforcement**

2. General Mining Law of 1872

Encourages exploration of mineral resources

Corporations can buy large tracts of public land for cheap!

Minor modifications, but critics argue companies aren’t paying enough taxes on royalties or cleaning up well.

1. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA)

Land must be reclaimed after surface mining

Clean up any pollution

**Various levels of enforcement**

2. General Mining Law of 1872

Encourages exploration of mineral resources

Corporations can buy large tracts of public land for cheap!

Minor modifications, but critics argue companies aren’t paying enough taxes on royalties or cleaning up well.

Break TimeBreak Time

Soil Degradation #2: Farming!

Soil Degradation #2: Farming!

How have we changed our farming practices to meet the nutritional requirements of our growing population?

How have we changed our farming practices to meet the nutritional requirements of our growing population?

Today, we are producing more food per capita Today, we are producing more food per capita

Food production currently exceeds

population growth We produce food through technology

Fossil fuels, irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, crossbreeding

Predictions of mass starvation in 1960s did not happen (population bomb, Malthus)

Why? Agricultural technology kept pace

Food production currently exceeds

population growth We produce food through technology

Fossil fuels, irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, crossbreeding

Predictions of mass starvation in 1960s did not happen (population bomb, Malthus)

Why? Agricultural technology kept pace

Too little and too much foodToo little and too much food Undernourishment = people receive less than 90%

of their daily caloric needs

Mainly from economic reasons in developing countries

31 million Americans are food insecure

Overnutrition = receiving too many calories

In the U.S., 25% of adults are obese

Worldwide, more than 300 million people are obese

Malnutrition = a shortage of nutrients the body needs

The diet lacks adequate vitamins and minerals

http://goo.gl/F8TZwR

Undernourishment = people receive less than 90% of their daily caloric needs

Mainly from economic reasons in developing countries

31 million Americans are food insecure

Overnutrition = receiving too many calories

In the U.S., 25% of adults are obese

Worldwide, more than 300 million people are obese

Malnutrition = a shortage of nutrients the body needs

The diet lacks adequate vitamins and minerals

http://goo.gl/F8TZwR

What lead to this increase in production?What lead to this increase in production?

The Green Revolution DefinedThe Green Revolution Defined

A significant increase in agricultural productivity beginning in the 1940s and resulting from the introduction of high-yield varieties of grains, the use of pesticides, and improved management techniques.

A significant increase in agricultural productivity beginning in the 1940s and resulting from the introduction of high-yield varieties of grains, the use of pesticides, and improved management techniques.

Norman Borlaug1940’s Mexico •Selective Breeding•Disease resistant crops•High Productivity crops• http://goo.gl/xOtlPg -0:35-7:30

Green Revolution - Increased Agricultural Production

Green Revolution - Increased Agricultural Production

Realization: More people could not be fed simply by cultivating more land.

Spread to the developing world in the 1940s with wheat, rice, corn.

Depended on large amounts of: Synthetic fertilizers Chemical pesticides Irrigation Heavy equipment

Realization: More people could not be fed simply by cultivating more land.

Spread to the developing world in the 1940s with wheat, rice, corn.

Depended on large amounts of: Synthetic fertilizers Chemical pesticides Irrigation Heavy equipment

Pros and Cons of Green Rev.Pros and Cons of Green Rev.

From 1900 to 2000, cultivated area increased 33%, while energy inputs increased 80 times!

Positive effects:

Prevented some deforestation

Preserved biodiversity

Negative effects:

Pollution (water and air)

Erosion

Salinization

Desertification

From 1900 to 2000, cultivated area increased 33%, while energy inputs increased 80 times!

Positive effects:

Prevented some deforestation

Preserved biodiversity

Negative effects:

Pollution (water and air)

Erosion

Salinization

Desertification

Pros/cons of MonoculturesPros/cons of Monocultures Monoculture = a large expanse of a single crop

More efficient, increases outputDevastates biodiversitySusceptible to disease and pests

Narrows human diet: 90% of our food comes from 15 crop species and 8 livestock species

Monoculture = a large expanse of a single cropMore efficient, increases outputDevastates biodiversitySusceptible to disease and pests

Narrows human diet: 90% of our food comes from 15 crop species and 8 livestock species

Armyworms easily defoliate monocultures

Your TurnYour Turn

We will come back to crop and pest management farming strategies next time.

Let’s investigate how we get our non-vegetarian items by visiting the Meatrix!!!

We will come back to crop and pest management farming strategies next time.

Let’s investigate how we get our non-vegetarian items by visiting the Meatrix!!!