Chapter 7 Renewable And Non Renewable Sources Flashcards
Crust
the outer layer of the Earth, including all landforms, rocks and soil
Minerals
substances that make up rocks. Each mineral has its own chemical make-up
Mineral ore
a substance that contains minerals of values, that can be obtained by mining
Mining
the process of removing mineral ore from the ground
Open cut mining
a method of mining mineral ores that are close to the surface — a large hole is made to expose the rocks, which are then broken up using explosives
Underground mining
a method of mining mineral ores that are deep below the surface, using shafts and tunnels dug deep into the ground to access the mineral ore
Concentration
the process of making a substance stronger or purer by removing or reducing the proportion of what is foreign or inessential; for example, separating mineral ore from unwanted soil, sand and other minerals
Gangue
leftover waste rock and mineral material. It is produced during the processes that extract mineral ores
Reduction
bringing a mineral ore into a metallic state by separating the non-metallic constituents
Smelting
melting mineral ore in order to separate the metal contained
Purification
the removal of impurities from metals to produce a pure metal
Fossil fuels
substance, such as coal, oil and natural gas, that has formed from the remains of ancient organisms. Coal, oil and natural gas are often used as fuels; that is, they are burnt in order to produce heat
Peat
partially decomposed plant matter, buried and compressed over millions of years by layers of other plants in marshy or damp regions
Sedimentary
rocks formed from sediments deposited by water, wind or ice. The sediments are cemented together in layers, under pressure.
Brown coal
a form of coal formed from peat compressed over millions of years, with much of the moisture driven out by the weight and heat of the layers above; also known as lignite
Black coal
a harder, drier form of coal than brown coal, formed from peat compressed over millions of years, with most of the moisture driven out by the weight and heat of the layers above; also known as anthracite
Overburden
rock, soil and vegetation, which are removed before mining can commence