Minerals, Metals, and Materials

Question 1

Why are metals needed for a green future?

Answer 1

Metals used to produce electricity
Therefore mining is needed for the increased need for these metals

Question 2

What are the critical metals?

Answer 2

Copper
Cobalt
Nickel
Lithium
REEs
Chromium
Zinc
PGMs
Aluminium
(This list can and will change - it is based on economies and is not to do with abundance)

Question 3

Distribution of critical metals

Answer 3

Not evenly distributed
Gives economic control to the countries who’s land it is in

Question 4

What are the five steps of mining lifecycle?

Answer 4

1. Exploration
2. Assessment and Evaluation
3. Extraction
4. Processing
5. Waste and Remediation

Question 5

How is Exploration carried out?

Answer 5

Online resources
Geological surveys
Books
Maps
Scientific Papers
Company reports
Historical accounts
Archives
Company rock collections
Speaking to people (locals)

Question 6

Exploration: Alteration

Answer 6

Are there effects in the rocks around ore deposits which might tell us about things hidden below.

Question 7

Exploration: Remote Sensing

Answer 7

Visual, IR, Hyperspectral, UV, etc…
Airborne magnetic
Gamma Ray
…

Question 8

Exploration: Geochemistry

Answer 8

Tellus Survey Periodic Table
Stream water, glacial sediments, top and deeper soil, rocks, plants, etc…

Question 9

Evaluation techniques: Assay

Answer 9

Fire assay - melt sample at high heat
Wet chemistry - dissolve the sample
Industrial analysis - this can include techniques such as modal mineralogy (SEM)