Extracting mineral resources techniques. Flashcards
A method for extracting deposits from near the top of the soil profile without the need to drill underground.
Surface mining.
Pros: cheaper than having to drill or excavate underground; easy to access the desired deposit.
Cons: the entire habitat is affected since the area near the surface is completely cleared away to allow for access to the desired resource.
A method for extracting deposits that are found deep underground usually buy drilling underneath layers of rock and soil.
Subsurface mining.
Pros: potential for a decreased environmental impact because the ecosystem near the surface does not necessarily get removed to get to the desire deposit.
Cons: More expensive alternative for extracting a resource; can take longer to access resources; more dangerous for miners.
A surface mining technique of extracting minerals from the earth by their removal from a large and open hole
Open Pit mining.
Pros; is cheap and little concern has to be made for tunneling or burrowing; easy to reach the entire reserve.
Cons: toxic groundwater can accumulate at the bottom; ecosystems are completely removed; a tremendous amount of overburden is removed and must be deposited elsewhere, often in nearby rivers or lakes.
A type of surface mining technique in which an earth mover removes overburden from a large, flat area. Than a power shovel digs a cut to remove the deposit.
Area strip mining.
Pros: cheap, little concern has to be made for tunneling or borrowing; easy to reach the entire reserve.
Cons: often leaves giant piles of overburden next to the mining operations; this overburdened sometimes is deposited into nearby River or Lakes; ecosystem is completely removed to gain access to the deposit.
A type of surface mining technique in which an earthmover removes overburden from an area that follows the curve and terrain of a mountain. Then a power shovel digs a cut to remove the deposit. List pros and cons.
Contour strip.
Pros: cheap, little concern has to be made for tunneling or borrowing; easy to reach the entire reserve.
Cons: often leaves giant piles of overburden next to the mining operations; this overburdened sometimes is deposited into nearby River or Lakes; ecosystem is completely removed to gain access to the deposit.
A type of surface mining that occurs near the summit of mountains. The overburden is removed to gain access to the deposit underneath the surface. Then a power shovel digs a cut to remove the deposit.
Mountaintop removal.
Pros: cheap, little concern has to be made for tunneling or borrowing; easy to reach the entire reserve.
Cons: often leaves giant piles of overburden next to the mining operations; this overburdened sometimes is deposited into nearby River or Lakes; ecosystem is completely removed to gain access to the deposit.
How is most of the minerals extracted in the US?
OPEN PIT
