Mining and the Mining and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Questions for TodayQuestions for Today

►What is ore and what are examples of What is ore and what are examples of useful ores extracted from the crust?useful ores extracted from the crust?

►What are the different ways we extract What are the different ways we extract ore?ore?

►How does mining harm the How does mining harm the environment?environment?

►What are some laws that regulate What are some laws that regulate mining and reclamation?mining and reclamation?

Nonrenewable mineral Nonrenewable mineral resourcesresources

►Mineral Resources:Mineral Resources: A concentration of naturally occurring A concentration of naturally occurring

material from the earth’s crust that can material from the earth’s crust that can be extracted and processed into useful be extracted and processed into useful products.products.►Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels►Metallic MineralsMetallic Minerals►Nonmetallic MineralsNonmetallic Minerals

Nonrenewable Mineral Nonrenewable Mineral ResourcesResources

►Ores:Ores: A rock that contains a large enough A rock that contains a large enough

concentration of a particular mineral to be concentration of a particular mineral to be profitableprofitable

Two types:Two types:►High-GradeHigh-Grade►Low-GradeLow-Grade

Valuable Minerals and OreValuable Minerals and Ore

►Metallic MineralsMetallic Minerals AluminumAluminum SteelSteel

►An alloy of Iron with concentrations of Manganese, An alloy of Iron with concentrations of Manganese, Cobalt, Molybdenum, and ChromiumCobalt, Molybdenum, and Chromium

CopperCopper PlatinumPlatinum GoldGold

►Nonmetallic MineralsNonmetallic Minerals SandSand LimestoneLimestone Phosphate saltsPhosphate salts

Methods of Mineral RemovalMethods of Mineral Removal

►Two types of Methods:Two types of Methods: Surface MiningSurface Mining

►When gigantic mechanized equipment When gigantic mechanized equipment separate the overburden, rocks and soil separate the overburden, rocks and soil covering the ore, from the ore.covering the ore, from the ore.

Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining►When machines and workers mine When machines and workers mine

underground for seams of ore or other underground for seams of ore or other nonrenewable resource.nonrenewable resource.

Surface MiningSurface Mining

►Four types of Surface Mining:Four types of Surface Mining: Open-pit miningOpen-pit mining Strip MiningStrip Mining Contour MiningContour Mining Mountain-top removalMountain-top removal

Open Pit MiningOpen Pit Mining

► In Open Pit Mining, machines dig holes In Open Pit Mining, machines dig holes and remove ores, sand, gravel, and and remove ores, sand, gravel, and stone.stone.

Strip MiningStrip Mining

►When mineral deposit lie close to When mineral deposit lie close to earth’s surface, the most economical earth’s surface, the most economical and useful extraction method is Strip and useful extraction method is Strip Mining.Mining.

►Two Types:Two Types: Area Strip MiningArea Strip Mining Contour Strip MiningContour Strip Mining

Strip MiningStrip Mining

►Area Strip MiningArea Strip Mining Used when the terrain is flatUsed when the terrain is flat Each new cut is parallel to the previous Each new cut is parallel to the previous

one.one.

►Contour Strip MiningContour Strip Mining Use on hilly or mountainous terrain.Use on hilly or mountainous terrain. Overburden from each new terrace is Overburden from each new terrace is

dumped onto the one below.dumped onto the one below.

Mountaintop RemovalMountaintop Removal

►The most drastic type of extraction The most drastic type of extraction method.method.

►Uses dynamite to break apart hard Uses dynamite to break apart hard rock to expose the valuable ore rock to expose the valuable ore beneath.beneath.

►Used primarily in the Appalachian Used primarily in the Appalachian Mountains.Mountains.

Mining environmental Mining environmental HazardsHazards

► Scarring the LandScarring the Land Mining destroys land virtually permanently.Mining destroys land virtually permanently.

►Leaves topsoil degraded and the area wastedLeaves topsoil degraded and the area wasted

► Land subsidingLand subsiding Usually found where subsurface mining takes Usually found where subsurface mining takes

placeplace Wear the land literally caves inWear the land literally caves in

► Cause Water and Air pollutionCause Water and Air pollution Release acids into the water supply and Release acids into the water supply and

groundwatergroundwater

Mining ImpactsMining Impacts

►Metal ores are Metal ores are smelted or treated smelted or treated with (potentially with (potentially toxic) chemicals to toxic) chemicals to extract the desired extract the desired metal.metal.

Figure 15-Figure 15-1515

Fig. 15-10, p. 344

Natural Capital Degradation

Extracting, Processing, and Using Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources

StepStepss

Environmental effectsEnvironmental effects

Mining Disturbed land; mining accidents; health hazards, mine waste dumping, oil spills and blowouts; noise; ugliness; heat

Exploration, extraction

Processing Solid wastes;

radioactive material; air, water, and soil pollution; noise; safety and health hazards; ugliness; heat

Transportation, purification, manufacturing

Use

Noise; ugliness; thermal water pollution; pollution of air, water, and soil; solid and radioactive wastes; safety and health hazards; heat

Transportation or transmission to individual user, eventual use, and discarding

Mining LawsMining Laws

►U.S. General Mining Law of 1872U.S. General Mining Law of 1872 Encourages mineral exploration and the Encourages mineral exploration and the

mining of hard rock minerals on US public mining of hard rock minerals on US public lands.lands.

►Surface Mining Control and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977Reclamation Act of 1977 Required Mining Companies to reclaim Required Mining Companies to reclaim

lands destroyed by mining. lands destroyed by mining.