MINING

Kalgoolie, Australia

Salt Evaporation Ponds

Sub-Surface Coal Mining

Limestone Quarry

Kimberly Diamond Mine

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/most-incredible-earth-scars/16808

The extraction of mineral

resources from the Earth Includes : metals, coal, oil shale,

gemstones, ‘rock’, potash,

sand, gravel & clay environmental & safety concerns

What is Mining?

Major Types of Mining

Oil & gas extraction Coal mining Metal ore mining Non-metallic mineral mining Quarrying Support activities for mining

Mineral Resources are not evenly distributed

U.S. Canada these five

countries Russia supply most of

the South Africa non-renewable Australia resources

Mineral Resources are not used equally

United States Germany Russia

8 % of world’s population

Use 75% of world’s metal resources

MANGANESE COBALT CHROMIUM PLATINUM

4 Strategic Minerals

MANGANESE- make steel

COBALT- gas turbines, jet engines

CHROMIUM- stainless steel

PLATINUM- catalytic converters

4 Strategic Minerals

Recycle/reuse Waste less Use less Find a substitute Do without

Strategies for dealing with mineral shortages

Explore-planes, satellites; look for

differences in gravity, magnetism, radioactivity

Sample- drill test holes, analyze ore grade

Processing- transport, purify, crush, grind, wash, smelting, manufacture

Use- transportation & distribution

Remediation- restore, clean up

Mineral Exploration & Mining

Types of Mines

SURFACE Coal, metals

(Au,Cu,Fe), sand, gravel, stone, salt

Explosives used Strip ‘overburden’

Sub-Surface Coal, salts,

gemstones, Room and pillar

techniques Long wall mining

techniques Solution mining

Surface mining

advantages Miners have better

safety Easier access to ores

disadvantages Alter landscape Potential damage to

environment Ugliness Air, water, soil

pollution

Open pit mining Quarrying Strip mining Mountaintop removal

Surface Mining Techniques

Bucket- wheel excavator

Sub-Surface mining

advantages Disturbs less land Leaves less waste

disadvantages Danger for miners Underground fires

explosions Noise, cave ins subsidence

Air/Noise Pollution Water contamination- acid mine drainage Displacement of Wildlife- terrestrial & aquatic Erosion & sedimentation Toxic tailings Soil degradation Subsidence Underground fires Human health

Impacts of Mining

One of highest regulated

industries Companies spend huge sums

restoring environment Every surface mine MUST return

land to original condition

Mining Regulations & Reclamation

Clean Water Act Safe Drinking Water Act Comprehensive Response

Compensation & Liability Act Endangered Species Act Surface Mining Control &

Reclamation Act

Federal Laws over Mining

Lake Peigneur- Texaco Diamond Crystal Salt Mine

Chilean Miners-

Mining Accidents

Lake Peigneur

La. Nov 20, 1980

Chile- 2010

Deep Space Industries- mine Ni. Si, Platinum

The Future: Asteroid Mining