What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.
-
Upload
mitchell-weathersbee -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
Transcript of What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.
![Page 1: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
•What is it?•Why do we do it?
•What does it do to the Earth?•How can we be more sustainable?
Mining
![Page 2: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Naturally occurring in earth’s crustMust be extracted, processedExamples
Energy (oil, coal, natural gas, uranium)Metallic minerals (aluminum, iron, copper,
gold)Nonmetallic minerals -
Aggregate: sand, gravelFertilizers: potash, phosphorousEvaporites: gypsum, halite (salt)Building Materials: limestone, marble
Nonrenewable!
Mineral Resources
![Page 3: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
A rock that contains a mineral.Must contain profitable amount
High grade = large amount of desired mineralLow grade = smaller amount of desired
mineral
Ores
![Page 4: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Mineral Resources1. Magma (Igneous):
Cooling process causes mineral containing rocks to formGold, silver, lead, mercury, copper (found in veins of
quartz)Hydrothermal
Copper, lead, zinc, silver, gold, sulfurManganese nodules (sea floor deposits)
Steel processing
2. Sedimentary ProcessesPlacer Deposits (river gravels)
goldEvaporites
Halite, gypsum, borax (soap)
3. Weathering1. Bauxite (aluminum), Fe oxides (pigments)
![Page 5: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Mineral ResourcesIdentified
Known location, quantity and quality based on direct evidence
ReservesIdentified resources
that can be extracted profitably
UndiscoveredPotential supplies that
are assumed to exist
![Page 7: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
![Page 8: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
![Page 9: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
GoldElectronics, jewelry
AluminumPackaging, cars, airplanes
Steel (alloy containing iron)Buildings, vehicles
SandGlass, bricks, concrete
Limestone Cement, concrete, road rock, building
materials
How do we use minerals?
![Page 10: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
![Page 11: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
The life cycle of a metal resource
Key terms:1. Overburden: the soil & rock that lies above the
economically important rock. 2. Gangue: worthless minerals/material that surrounds ore3. Smelting: using heat & chemicals to turn ore into useable
mineral4. Tailings: piles of waste left behind after extraction,
contains gangue
![Page 12: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
AdvantagesIncome!Revenues for cities,
states and countriesEmploymentProgress – buildings,
cars, electronics
Uses lots of energyDisturbs landErodes soilProduces a lot of
wastePollutes air, water,
soil
Mining: the good and the bad
Disadvantages
![Page 13: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Surface miningRemoval of shallow
depositsOverburden removed
Rock/soil on top of deposit
Discarded as “spoils”Used in 90% of non-fuel
mineral/rock resourcesUsed in 60% of coal
mined in U.S.
Removal of deep deposits
Often used for coal and metal ores
Deep vertical shaft is dug
Tunnels must be blasted
Machinery used to reach deposits
Mining Methods
Subsurface mining
![Page 14: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Surface
DriftSlopeShaftHard RockBoreholeFracking
Examples of Mining Methods
Subsurface
Open PitStripMountaintop
RemovalPlacerHydraulicDredging
![Page 15: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Open-pit miningHoles are dugOres are removedIron, copper, gold,
sand, gravel, stone
Used for horizontal beds of minerals
Area strip mining: flat landContour strip mining: hillsCoal (70%)
Specific kinds of surface mining
Strip mining
![Page 18: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Contour Strip Mining
Used on hilly or mountainous terrain.
Unless the land is restored, a wall of dirt is left in front of a highly erodible bank called a highwall.
Figure 15-13
![Page 19: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Mountain top removedExposes depositsProminent in Appalachian mountainsEx. Coal
Surface mining method: mountain-top removal
![Page 20: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Eureka!Gold MiningPlacer Deposits (gravity
separation)Panning SluicingDredging
Hard Rock DepositsOpen pitHydraulic mining
(sometimes with Hg)Subsurface - S. Africa 12,
800 feet undergroundCyanide is used to extract
gold
![Page 21: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Harmful Environmental Effects of Mining
1. Scarring/disruption of landOverburden/Spoils left behind, vegetation can’t
grow wellH2SO4 – acid runoffSediment, erosion, loss of topsoil
Subsidence, cave-ins (sink holes), explosions
![Page 22: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
2. Processing involves many chemicals (sulfuric acid, mercury, cyanide)
Creates toxic waste during processing Tailings: Often stored in valleys – As, Hg, CN,
H2SO4Can collapse and get into ecosystem
Streams/Groundwater polluted with waste materialTailings: H2SO4, Hg, CN (Cyanide)Overburden: SedimentOverburden: H2SO4 – leaches heavy metals such
as As, Cd, Pb, ZnAir pollution from processing
Highest industrial air polluter of toxic emissions!
Harmful environmental effects of mining
![Page 23: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
![Page 24: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
3. Forests removedLoss of Biodiversity Increased Erosion
4. Disease (subsurface)COPD – chronic bronchitis, emphysemaBlack lung disease
Harmful effects, cont’d
![Page 25: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Tailings:
![Page 26: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Clean up and restore mining sites500,000 surface sites in U.S.$70 billion to clean up
Subsurface disturbs <1/10 the land that surface mining disturbsProduces less wasteBut…causes cave ins, explosions, fires,
diseases, deaths
How do we fix this?
![Page 27: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Designed to encourage mineral exploration on U.S. public lands and populate the WestIndividuals could “claim” land Must spend $500 to improve landCould pay $6-12 for land owned by all U.S. citizens
Could build, sell, lease, use it for whatever
Frozen in 1995Some land still being transferred at 1872 prices!1992 modification: must post bonds to cover
clean up cost in case of bankruptcyMining companies trying to weaken
1872 U.S. General Mining Law
![Page 28: What is it? Why do we do it? What does it do to the Earth? How can we be more sustainable? Mining.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062620/551a3151550346cb358b5061/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Established a program for regulating surface coal mining and reclamation activities
Established mandatory uniform standards for these activities on state and federal landsrequirement that adverse impacts on fish,
wildlife and related environmental values be minimized
reclamation of land after mining was completed
Created an Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund for use in reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining practices.
SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1977
SMCRA