Extraction Of Rocks, Ores And Minerals
Overview
Almost everything manufactured starts as rock. The copper in wiring, the iron in steel, the limestone in cement and the gold in jewellery are all dug, blasted or pumped out of the ground. But getting them out is never simple. A mining company must first find a worthwhile deposit, then choose between scraping it from the surface, tunnelling deep underground or even using plants and bacteria to harvest the metal, all while counting the cost to the landscape, the climate and the people nearby.
In this lesson you will learn what an ore is, the main methods used to extract rocks, ores and minerals, and the factors that decide whether a deposit is worth mining at all. You will then weigh the environmental, economic and social impacts of extraction and study real strategies for repairing the damaged land afterwards, using the Antamina mine in Peru as a worked example.
Objectives
- 1.2.1 Define an ore as rock containing minerals and metals.
- 1.2.2 Describe the methods of extracting rocks, ores and minerals from mines, limited to: (a) surface extraction: opencast, open-pit, open-cut and strip mining (b) subsurface extraction: deep mining and shaft mining (c) biological extraction: phytomining and bioleaching.
- 1.2.3 Describe the factors that affect the decision to extract rocks, ores and minerals, limited to: (a) exploration (b) geology (c) accessibility and terrain (d) quantity and quality of deposit (ore grade) (e) climate (f) environmental impact assessment (g) supply and demand (h) cost and profit.
- 1.2.4 Describe and explain the environmental, economic and social impacts of extracting rocks, ores and minerals, limited to: (a) loss of habitat and biodiversity (b) air, land, noise, visual and water pollution (c) water usage (d) waste management (e) changes in employment opportunities (f) local and national economies (g) facilities and infrastructure.
- 1.2.5 Describe strategies for managing landscapes damaged by extracting rocks, ores and minerals, limited to: (a) land restoration: replacement of overburden, soil improvement, bioremediation and tree planting (b) repurposing land: landfill, lakes, recreation and nature reserves.
- 1.2.6 Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing landscapes damaged by extracting rocks, ores and minerals.
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Extraction Of Rocks, Ores And Minerals. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- An ore is best defined as: A. Any rock found underground B. Rock containing minerals and metals worth extracting C. The waste rock removed from a mine D. A type of metamorphic rock Answer: B
- Which method would be used to extract a deposit lying 500 metres underground? A. Open-cast mining B. Strip mining C. Deep shaft mining D. Phytomining Answer: C
- The soil and worthless rock lying over a deposit is called the: A. Tailings B. Ore grade C. Overburden D. Leachate Answer: C
- Using metal-absorbing plants that are later harvested and burnt to recover metal is called: A. Bioleaching B. Phytomining C. Bioremediation D. Strip mining Answer: B
- Which of these is an example of repurposing damaged mine land rather than restoring it? A. Replacing the overburden B. Improving the soil with fertiliser C. Planting trees D. Filling the pit with household waste as landfill Answer: D
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