Quiz 3 mining vocab Flashcards
crustal abundance
average concentration of an element in Earth’s crust
ores
concentrated accumulations of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted
metals
elements with properties that allow them to conduct electricity and heat energy and to perform other important functions
reserve
the known quantity of the resource that can be economically recovered
strip mining
the removal of overlying vegetation and “strips” of soil and rock to expose underlying ore
mine tailings
unwanted waste material created during mining including mineral and other rock residues that are left behind after the desired metals are removed from the ore
open-pit mining
a technique that creates a large visible pit or hole in the ground
mountaintop removal
a mining technique in which the entire top of a mountain is removed with explosives
placer mining
the process of looking for minerals, metals, and precious stones in river sediments
subsurface mining
mining techniques used when the desired resource is more than 100 m (328 ft) below the surface of the Earth.