Earth Materials and Natural Resources Flashcards
Define Open Cast Mine
Takes place from quarries of ‘open pits’ at the surface. Overburden is removed
Define Deep Mine
Mining deep within the earth. Drill vertically down with the overburden in place
What are the three types of deep mine?
Longwall, Pillar and stall, Bell pit
What are four geological hazards associated with coal extraction?
Mass movements, Gases, Subsidence, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
What are six environmental issues associated with coal extraction?
Change in water table and water quality, Noise, Loss of habitat, Visual impact, Air quality, Transportation of material out of the mine/quarry
What are five factors affecting the accuracy of estimation in the size of the coal deposit?
Bed geometries, Folds, Erosional features, Faulting, Previous mining
Define Source Rock
Sediment that contained the plankton - where the hydrocarbon is made/comes from
Define Reservoir Rock
Permeable and porous rock which the hydrocarbons collect in e.g. sandstone
Define Cap Rock
Impermeable rock on top of reservoir rock which stops upwards migration of oil and gas
Define Trap
Geological structure which stops the oil from migrating
Define Oil Window
The right conditions for the organism to break down into petroleum
Why is Darcy’s Law useful to oil and gas extraction?
It calculates the flow rate of the hydrocarbons in the reservoir rock
What are the four types of hydrocarbon trap?
Anticline, Fault, Salt dome, Stratigraphic
What are two potential problems associated with fracking?
Linked to low magnitude earthquakes, Ground water pollution
What are four surveys used to prospect for hydrocarbons and coal?
Seismic methods, Magnetic methods, Gravity methods, Fossil identification
What are the two types of microfossil?
Calcareous (foraminifera and coccolithophores) and palynomorphs (pollen, dinoflagellates and spores)
Define Average Crustal Abundance
The amount of metal in ‘average’ continental crust
Define Concentration Factor
The amount by which the metal is concentrated to make an ore deposit
Concentration Factor =
Concentration of metal in ore/Average crustal abundance
Define Grade
The concentration of valuable mineral within an ore
Define Cut-Off Grade
The grade below which it is uneconomical to mine
Define Ore Deposit
An accumulation of metal that may be economic to mine
Define Ore Reserve
The rock containing valuable metal which is economic to mine