The Lithosphere

Question 1

Survey techniques for mineral exploration

Answer 1

Seismic surveys- sound waves send to the area, tells us into about depth density and shape of rock strata

Trail drilling-expensive but you get samples of rock

Chemical analysis-chemicals to confirm purity

IR spectroscopy-diffrent minerals emit IR at diffrent wavelengths

Question 2

How does COOG change when
Market value increases
Market value decreases
Improved extraction tech
Higher energy costs

Answer 2

1) decreases
2) increases
3) decreases
4) increases

Question 3

Environmental impacts of mineral exploration

Answer 3

Land take
Habitat loss
Loss of amenity(aesthetics)
Dust
Noise

Question 4

Exploration of low grade deposits

Answer 4

Bioleaching-living organisms extract the metals, acidophillic bacteria extract copper, zinc and lead and gold. The bacteria produce a leachate containing the ions

Photomining:plants absorb metal ions and concentrate them in the leaves, plant is then burnt and metals dissolved by acids and separated by electrolysis

Iron displacement: iron is more reactive than copper so iron will replace the copper in a solution and copper will be collected

Leachate collection: rainwater runs through spoil heaps dissolving metal ions - extracted via electrolysis

Question 5

What are magneese nodules?

Answer 5

Metal rich module found on earths seabeds - most are 5-10cm in diameter
Contains 30% magnese with small amounts of other ions which as iron and copper

Question 7

Hydrothermal deposition

Answer 7

Igneous intrusions are rock formed from magma that cools and solidifies witching earths crust.
They produces superheat water at high temp that dissolves many minerals. They travel and cool forming crystals
This is called fractional crystallisation

Question 8

Metamorphic processes

Answer 8

Igneous processes and tectonic movements of crustal plates can alter existing rock is with high temp and pressure. High temp and pressure can change limestone to marble

Question 9

Sedimentary processes

Answer 9

Minerals settle and build up to produce layers of deposited sediment. This creates sedimentary rocks

Question 10

How to get
1) igneous from sediments
2) sediments from metamorphic/igneous

Answer 10

1) sediments compact and cement to form sediment rocks
Under heat and peruse they turn into metamorphic rocks and melt into magma, once cooled this is igneous
2) igneous/metamorphic is weathered and turns into regolith, via erosion and deposition they turn into sediments. Under compaction and cementation turns into sedimentary rocks.

Question 11

What is laskys principle

Answer 11

In general- as purity of mineral decreased the amount of mineral increases.

Question 12

Define Stock, resource and reserve

Answer 12

Stock: all of the materials that exists within the lithosphere

Resource: all materials that is theoretically available for exploration and materials available now

Reserve: amount of resources that can be exploited now