Mineral Resources Flashcards
Name three sedimentary rocks
Mudstone, limestone, sandstone
How are metamorphic rocks formed and name three examples of this rock type?
Formed by intense heat and pressure
Eg limestone to marble or mudstone to slate
Gneiss is also metamorphic
How are igneous rocks formed and name three examples of this rock type
Formed by hydrothermal deposition/solidified lava
Eg basalt granite or obsidian
Describe how deep mining differs from other mining methods
Overburden is not removed
The environmental impacts are lower, mainly because the overburden is not removed
Is only economic for higher value minerals
More labour intensive
Describe how open cast mining differs from other mining methods
Overburden is removed, therefore it has a higher environmental impact
The max depth is a lot more shallow
What minerals are dredging used to extract and where is this commonly practiced?
Shallow sea/large rivers
Used to exploit gravel, sand and diamonds
What kind of minerals are exploited using extraction from saltwater methods?
Bromine for pharmaceuticals
Manganese for aluminium
Name two environmental impacts of mining and how these impacts can be controlled
Turbid drainage water-control-sedimentation lagoons
Spoil heaps-restoration methods-drainage, landscaping etc
Name three different exploratory techniques to find mineral resources
Satellite surveys eg gravimetry, IR spectrometry
Aerial surveys, similar to satellite but more detailed
Trial drilling-collection of rock samples for chemical analysis. (Only method that proves absence/presence)
Name three factors affecting mine viability
Ore purity/cut off ore grade-income from mineral sale must be greater than extraction/processing costs
Lower purity means more expensive exploitation
Cut off ore grade (COOG)
What does COOG mean
Cut off ore grade
Minimum purity that can be exploited economically
