MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA

LITHOSPHERE

Precious as well as base metals are mined in

SA.

Precious metals: metals with a high monetary value; relatively rare e.g. gold, silver and platinum.

Base metals: not as expensive or rare e.g. copper, lead, iron, zinc and tin.

Non-metals e.g. coal and asbestos are also mined.

South Africa is rich in minerals

Mining in SA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FHIsa550plM

Scientists think that the Late Bombardment

took place about 3 900 millions of years ago. Many huge bodies (meteorites etc.) hit the earth.

Meteorites contain metals such as gold and platinum, and therefore increased the amounts of these metals on earth.

Diamonds were formed under great pressure during the formation of the continents.

Why does SA have so many different types of minerals in

abundance?

Mineral ores

Minerals are mined as ore, rock containing enough of a certain mineral to make it commercially valuable.

Gold – reef gold

Copper oreIron ore

Mining methods

Some mines are open mines e.g. some coal mines in SA. The Big Hole at Kimberley was an open pit diamond mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gzt-45ePI7w

Open copper mine at Palaborwa

Kimberley

The history of mining in South Africa is closely bound to the diamond mines at Kimberley.

Did you know that Kimberley was the first town in SA to have electric street lamps?

Underground mining

If the mineral is buried deep underground, then miners have to go underground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk-jrbCi7Sc&feature=player_detailpage

Iron ore and mining for iron

Iron ore is blasted from open mine and

then brought to surface by huge trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAa979cdiT0&feature=player_detailpage

Sishen is one of our biggest iron ore mines. Crushed ore is taken by train to Saldanha to be exported and then turned to steel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6BIyQJZdTg&feature=player_detailpage

Extracting iron from iron ore

Diamonds are forever!

Diamond mining

Diamonds are pure carbon with a crystal structure.

Diamonds are found in rock known as Kimberlite pipes.

Diamonds can have colours, due to other elements found inside.

Diamonds are also made artificially to be used in industrial processes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=M8gE40tmhG8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-y35seGFVqA