🌱 • Module 1 : Rocks, Minerals & Resource Extraction Flashcards
This lesson covers fundamental skills in environmental management, the formation of rocks, methods of rock and mineral extraction, their impacts, facts about the earth, and sustainable resource use.
What is the rock cycle?
A continuous process where rocks change forms through melting, cooling, weathering, erosion, and heat/pressure.
How are igneous rocks formed?
They form from the cooling and solidification of molten magma or lava.
Name two types of igneous rocks and their characteristics…
Granite: Coarse-grained, intrusive (forms underground), durable.
Basalt: Fine-grained, extrusive (forms from lava), dark-colored.
Name three types of sedimentary rocks and their characteristics…
Limestone: Contains fossils, reacts with acid.
Sandstone: Made of sand grains, porous.
Shale: Fine-grained, forms from mud/clay.
What are metamorphic rocks, and how do they form?
Rocks that change due to heat and pressure without melting, forming new structures.
Give two examples of metamorphic rocks and their parent rocks.
Marble (from limestone)
Slate (from shale)
Schist (from shale or mudstone)
Gneiss (from granite)
What are the two main types of mining?
1 — Surface mining (open cast, open-pit)
2 — Subsurface mining (shaft mining)
What is surface mining, and what are its types?
Surface mining removes minerals from the Earth’s surface.
Types include:
Open-cast mining — large-scale excavation of rocks layers.
Open-pit mining — deep excavation to access minerals.
What is subsurface mining, and what is one example?
Mining that extracts minerals from deep underground.
Example :
Shaft mining, where vertical tunnels are used to reach deposits.
What are some environmental impacts of rock and minerals extraction?
Habitat destruction,
Air and water pollution,
Soil degradation,
Noise pollution,
Visual impact.
How does mining affect water sources?
It can cause water pollution from toxic runoff, lower groundwater levels, and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
How does mining contribute to air pollution?
It releases dust and harmful gases like sulfur dioxide and methane, which contribute to respiratory issues and climate change.
What are some economic benefits of mining?
It provides jobs and supplies raw materials for industries.
How can mining waste be managed to reduce environmental damage?
Safe disposal methods include:
Land restoration, bioremediation, and using waste in construction or landfill sites.
What is land restoration, and why is it important?
The process of repairing landscapes after mining to restore ecosystems, prevent erosion, and improve biodiversity.
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
Sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation and compaction of sediments (sand, mud, minerals, and organic material), over time.
What is bioremediation, and how does it help restore land after mining?
Bioremediation uses microorganisms or plants to break down pollutants and restore contaminated soil.
How does legislation promote the sustainable use of rocks and minerals?
Legislation regulates mining practices and ensures environmental protection.
What is a mineral?
A naturally occurring inorganic substance with a specific chemical composition.
What is a solution, and precipitation?
A solution is when a solid is dissolved within a liquid,
A precipitate is a substance being removed from solution (turned back into a solid)
What is an Ion?
An atom in which the number of positive protons is different to the number of negative electrons.
Describe the earth’s layers?
Earth has a dense core, a liquid mantle, and a lighter crust made up of rocks and minerals.
How do crystals form in the igneous rock process?
Crystals form when solutions cannot hold any more dissolved material. Minerals precipitate (become solid), and form the centre of a crystal, which more mineral ions then precipitate on to).
Describe what affects the cooling time of crystals
Very small crystals = Rapid cooling (ex. when magma is released from volcanoes).
Larger crystals = Slower cooling (ex. when magma cools below the surface).
