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Apes > Impacts of Mining > Flashcards

Impacts of Mining Flashcards

1
Q

Strip Mining

A

The removal of overlying vegetation and strips of soil and rocks (overburden) to expose underlying ore that is relatively close to Earth’s surface.

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2
Q

Strip mining makes soil more susceptible to

A

erosion

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3
Q

Open-pit mining

A

Creates a large visible pit or hole in the ground

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4
Q

Overburden

A

The rock and soil above a desired ore.

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5
Q

What do strip miners do with sedimentary rocks?

A

Remove a large volume of material, extract the resource, and return the unwanted waste material, called mine tailings, to the hole created during mining.

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6
Q

Mine tailings

A

The chemical compounds and rock residues that are left behind after the desired metal or metals are removed from the ore. Often contain trace quantities of the metals or compounds that are the desired resources.

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7
Q

Coal and sand are often deposited…

A

parallel to the ground (sedimentary) and strip mined.

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8
Q

When is open-pit mining used?

A

When the resource is close to the surface but extends beneath the surface both horizontally and horizontally.

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9
Q

Copper mines are usually

A

open-pit mines

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10
Q

Mountain Top Removal

A

Miners remove the entire top of a mountain with explosives. Large earth moving equipment removes the resources and deposits the tailings in nearby streams and rivers.

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11
Q

Impact of mountain top removal

A

Large equipment deposits tailings in lower elevation regions, including nearby streams and rivers.

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12
Q

Placer Mining

A

Process of looking for minerals, metals and precious stones in river sediments.

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13
Q

How does placer Mining work?

A

heavier items, such as diamonds, tantalum and gold are separated from lighter items (sand and mud) in the river water. Used in California during gold rush.

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14
Q

Surface Mining Impacts on Air

A

Large quantities of dust released into atmosphere, and fossil fuels released from machinery. Methan also released from coal mining.

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15
Q

Mountain top removal is primarily in

A

coal mining

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16
Q

Reclamation does not always

A

rectify damage to groundwater and nearby streams from mountaintop removal.

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17
Q

Placer Mining impact

A

Contaminates rivers with sediments and chemicals (including toxic chemicals like mercury).

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18
Q

Surface mining effects on water

A

Mine tailings contaminate any water that percolate through it, and are deposited into nearby waterways.

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19
Q

Surface mining effects on soil

A

Most soil is completely removed above the mining site. Even if put back, very hard to grow new ecosystem.

20
Q

Surface mining effects on biodiversity

A

Destroys and alters habitats over the surfaces being mines

21
Q

Effects on humans

A

Not many direct effects on workers, but pollutants decrease quality of air and water leading to possible health affects near mining operations.

22
Q

Subsurface mining effects on Air

A

Not as much dust and particulate matter directly released into the air, but fossil fuels emmited from mining equipment can be significant.

23
Q

subsurface mining effects on water

A

water that percolates through mine tailings is contaminated, and acid drainage… pumps continuously remove water and create a form of acid drainage. This drainage lowers the PHof nearby soils and streams.

24
Q

When is subsurface mining used?

A

When desired resources is more than 100m (328ft) below surface of the earth.

25
Q

What resources does subsurface mining usually extract?

A

Coal and metal ore, such as gold, and diamonds.

26
Q

Acid mine drainage

A

General term for water that passes through mine tailings. The water reacts chemically with mine tailings and becomes acidic and may contain metals that are leached from the tailings.

27
Q

subsurface mining effects on soil

A

none

28
Q

subsurface mining effects on biodiversity

A

acid drainage can affect habitats nearby. Roads also create habitat fragmentation.

29
Q

Subsurface mining effects on humans

A

Hazards include: Collapse, explosions, and fires. Miners also face respiratory issues, such as black lung disease and chronic diseases.

30
Q

Which mining technique is most expensive?

A

Subsurface mining

31
Q

What specific mineral is dangerous to mine underground?

A

Coal. Methane deposited normally interspersed with coal beds. Released, and causes potential explosions/suffocation from lack of oxygen.

32
Q

Which chemical composition is dangerous when released from mining?

A

Methane. A potent greenhouse gasses.

33
Q
A
34
Q

What is part of reclamation?

A

Revelation/replanting, controlling erosion and sedimentation, and stabilizing slopes.

35
Q

What is spoil?

A

When mine tailings are piled into heaps

36
Q

Which element contributes to acid mine drainage?

A

Sulfur

37
Q

Which metals is most abundant in earths crust?

A

Aluminum! (Then iron)

38
Q

Which metal has the highest US reserve?

A

Cobalt

39
Q

Mining of this material will lost likely release

A

Coal will release methane

40
Q

The resource that the US has the most urgency to recycle and reuse is

A

Aluminum

41
Q

What kind of minerals are in metal target ores?

A

Sulfide minerals

42
Q

Tailings are

A

The waste that remains when the minerals have been removed from the ore.

43
Q

Coal is the

A

Most mined commodity in the Us

44
Q

Current largest mine, or the state that produced most coal currently

A

Wyoming

45
Q

Historically this state produced most coal

A

West Virginia, but reserves are being depleted and abandoned

Apes (5 decks)

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