Mining Flashcards
Describe the processes that produce hydrothermal metal mineral deposits. (4)
Hot water/steam;
dissolved minerals;
different solubility(of different metal minerals); movement (of solution along fissure/vent/fault); cooling (of solution);
deposition/crystallisation/coming out of solution/precipitation;
order (of deposition)/separation;
Outline how an assessment of the viability of a mine requires information about mineral deposits. (3)
Ore purity; chemical form;
ore body area;
ore body shape;
total mass/quantity;
effect of feature on viability;
[R unqualified economics]
Outline how an assessment of the viability of a mine requires information about associated geological structures. (3)
Overburden hardness (for removal);
overburden stability (for landslip risk); depth/overburden thickness;
drainage;
faulting;
shape of structure/anticline/syncline/dome/dip/named example;
designated/protected geological feature;
effect of feature on viability;
[R unqualified economics]
Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using satellite surveying techniques rather than ground-based surveys. (4)
Advantages;;
eg
large area surveyed rapidly
surveys of inaccessible areas
cost effective/less labour intensive
lower habitat impact
Disadvantages;;
eg
high initial cost
less detailed information
less sub-surface information
clouds obscure surface
no physical samples (for analysis)
Describe one method of exploiting minerals from low grade ore deposits. (2)
Named method;
detail of how it works;
eg
leachate/solution
electrolysis
bacteria/Thiobacillus
acid/leaching
(large scale) mechanisation
reduce unit extraction costs
plant absorption/ phytomining/ phytoremediation/ brassicas
harvest/incineration
streaming
waste washed away
floatation/oil-water separation
density
Use one example to describe how material substitution may be used to conserve the reserves of metal minerals. (2)
Named material and use;
named alternative material for that use;
eg
copper (telecoms) cables
plastic
copper pipes
plastic
copper (electricity) cables
aluminium
steel/aluminium car panels
plastic/carbon fibre/composite material
Describe a method that may be used to extend the operation of a mine by exploiting low grade ores. (2)
One suitable method;
detail of how it works;
eg
leachate collection/recyclingelectrolysis
Thiobacillus/bacteria
oxidise sulfur/produce acid/acidic solution dissolves metal/copper
large scale mechanisation/named improvement in technology
economies of scale/cheaper per tonne of material
phytoremediation/hyperaccumulators/brassicas
absorption of metal
Explain why the exploitation of low grade ores is likely to affect the energy required to extract the metal. (2)
Increased energy requirement;
more difficult extraction/processing/time consuming/more material mined;
Outline how a change in the economy may cause the cut-off ore grade of a mineral to change. (2)
Named factor;
correct direction of change;
eg
more market demand
COOG goes down
increased sales price
COOG goes down 2 Total
What is a resource? (2)
all material that is theoretically available for exploitation using possible future technology
What is a reserve? (2)
material that can be exploited now using current technology
Outline one way that improved technology may be used to exploit low grade ores. (2)
Technique;
descriptive comment/example;
eg
production of acid solution
dissolve metal/copper
biorecovery/bacterial action/Thiobacillus
metal solubility/ copper/ platinum
hyperaccumulators/plant absorption
absorb/increase concentration/later extraction/heavy metals
electrolysis
production of solution/precipitation/deposition/copper [R aluminium]
chemical precipitation
control of pH/oxidation level/addition of chemical/copper/iron
ion absorption
named absorber eg ion exchange resin, zeolite sands/uranium
increased mechanisation
economies of scale/reduced unit costs
[R unqualified reference to cheaper]
[R reference to exploratory techniques]
environmental impacts of mineral exploitation.
Land uptake
habitat loss
dust pollution
noise pollution
turbid drainage water (suspended solid particles)
a reduction in stability
Techniques to reduce environmental impacts
Recycling
cradle-to-cradle design - designing products so they are able to be reused at the end of their useful life
