Download Chapter 16—Mining and Mineral Resources

Chapter 16—Mining and Mineral Resources
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Evaporites most commonly form in
a. arid regions where rates of evaporation are high.
b. rain forests where rates of evaporation are low.
c. cold regions that receive significant snowfall.
d. an area with frequent volcanic activity.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
2. Which of the following are minerals that contain valuable substances?
a. native minerals
c. gangue minerals
b. ore minerals
d. longwalls
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
3. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral?
a. naturally occurring
c. usually an inorganic solid
b. atoms in random geometric patterns
d. orderly internal structure
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
4. Which of the following is not one of the ways that ore minerals may form?
a. cooling of magma
b. circulation of hydrothermal solutions through rocks
c. flooding of empty streambeds and rivers
d. evaporation of water that contains salts
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
5. What is one property that may be used to distinguish metallic from nonmetallic minerals?
a. cost to extract
c. carbon content
b. value
d. electrical conductivity
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
6. What must hot subsurface waters contain in order to be considered hydrothermal solutions?
a. crystallized minerals
c. gangue minerals
b. dissolved minerals
d. inorganic solids
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
7. Gangue minerals
a. are valued for their rarity and durability.
b. have no commercial value.
c. are the most difficult to mine.
d. are native elements.
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 1
1
OBJ: 2
8. The first step in surface coal mining is
a. to remove and set aside the soil that covers the area to be mined.
b. to use heavy equipment to take core samples.
c. to test to see if quarrying would be more effective.
d. to make cuts in the coal for easier removal.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
9. Dredging streambeds may be an effective technique for mining
a. salt.
c. gold.
b. coal.
d. sulfur.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 2
10. Acid mine drainage
a. harms or kills aquatic life.
b. purifies streams.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
c.
d.
OBJ: 4
causes acid rain.
is unregulated in the United States.
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
11. Which of the following is not a method of subsurface mining?
a. room-and-pillar mining
c. solution mining
b. longwall mining
d. open-pit mining
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
12. Through _____, mining companies can identify areas where there may be valuable mineral
resources.
a. mineral exploration
c. mineral excavation
b. smelting
d. dredging
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
13. Placer deposits are surface mineral deposits that have been concentrated by
a. surface mining.
c. movement of wind and water.
b. subsurface mining.
d. evaporation and condensation.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 4
14. Which of the following would not likely be mined using solution mining?
a. gypsum
c. salt
b. potash
d. sulfur
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
15. The layer of impurities on top of molten metal that forms during smelting is called
a. smelt.
c. slag.
b. dredge.
d. flux.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 2
2
OBJ: 5
16. A quarry also could be called
a. an open pit.
b. the overburden.
ANS: A
DIF: 1
c.
d.
a longwall.
a pillar.
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
17. Which of the following is a water contaminant that can cause acid mine drainage?
a. flux
c. methane
b. carbon dioxide
d. sulfuric acid
ANS: D
DIF: 1
REF: 3
18. Collapse of _____ can lead to subsidence.
a. solar evaporation ponds
b. pillars in abandoned mines
ANS: B
DIF: 1
c.
d.
OBJ: 1
open-pit mines
placer deposits
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
19. Which of the following is not a regulation mining companies must follow?
a. the Clean Water Act
c. the Safe Drinking Water Act
b. the Hazardous Products Act
d. the Endangered Species Act
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 3
OBJ: 2
20. From whom must mining companies obtain permits before mining a site?
a. state and federal agencies
c. local government only
b. federal agencies only
d. a bonding company
ANS: A
DIF: 1
REF: 3
OBJ: 4
21. Reclamation is the process of
a. removing coal from a subsurface seam.
b. extracting ore minerals from gangue minerals.
c. returning land to its original or better condition after mining.
d. protecting the habitats of local wildlife.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 3
22. Surface mining can cause
a. only air pollution.
b. only noise pollution.
ANS: C
DIF: 1
c.
d.
ANS: D
DIF: 1
both air and noise pollution.
neither air nor noise pollution.
REF: 3
23. What can contaminate a river during dredging?
a. potash
c.
b. sea water
d.
OBJ: 1
placer deposits
muddy sediments
REF: 3
3
OBJ: 3
OBJ: 1
24. The _____ regulates the release of hazardous substances into the air, soil, and water by mining.
a. Clean Water Act
b. Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act
c. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
d. Safe Drinking Water Act
ANS: B
DIF: 1
REF: 3
OBJ: 2
25. The _____ sets standards to minimize the surface effects of coal mining on the environment.
a. Clean Water Act
b. Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act
c. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
d. Safe Drinking Water Act
ANS: C
DIF: 1
REF: 3
OBJ: 2
COMPLETION
1. Nonmetallic minerals prized mainly for their beauty, rarity, or durability are called
____________________.
ANS: gemstones
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
2. Minerals are made up of ____________________ that are arranged in a regular, repeating
geometric pattern.
ANS: atoms
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
3. The minerals that conduct electricity well are called _________________________.
ANS: metallic minerals
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
4. Ore deposits formed in cracks in rocks are called ____________________.
ANS: veins
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
5. Gold, silver, and copper that occur in elemental form are called _________________________.
ANS: native elements
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
4
6. Metallic minerals conduct ____________________.
ANS: electricity
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
7. Two or more atoms chemically bonded together form a(n) ____________________.
ANS: compound
DIF: 2
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
8. A material that bonds with impurities and separates them from molten metal during smelting is
called a(n) ____________________.
ANS: flux
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 5
9. A floating barge on which buckets fixed onto a conveyor excavate sediments is called a(n)
____________________.
ANS: dredge
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 4
10. The first step in finding a(n) ____________________ is exploring rock for mineralization.
ANS: ore deposit
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
11. Rocks that cover coal seams near the surface are called ____________________.
ANS: overburden
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
12. An open pit used to mine minerals near the surface is called a(n) ____________________.
ANS: quarry
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
13. Networks of entries in subsurface coal mines are called ____________________.
ANS: rooms
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
5
14. Solution mining is an economical mining method if mineral ores are ____________________ in
water.
ANS: soluble
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
15. Bends in rivers often have _________________________.
ANS: stream placers
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 4
16. The process where crushed ore is melted at high temperatures to separate impurities from molten
metal is called ____________________.
ANS: smelting
DIF: 2
REF: 2
OBJ: 5
17. Large piles of excess rock from mines are called ____________________.
ANS: dumps
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
18. The sinking of regions of the ground with little or no horizontal movement is called
____________________.
ANS: subsidence
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
19. Wildlife ____________________ are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
ANS: habitats
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 2
20. A serious hazard of coal mining that can ignite and possibly burn for years is/are
______________________________.
ANS: underground mine fires
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
6
21. Acid mine drainage is contaminated ____________________ that results when acid dissolves
toxic minerals that exist in mine waste.
ANS: water
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
22. The land recovery process required of mine operators is called ____________________.
ANS: reclamation
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 3
23. State ____________________ issue violations to mining companies that do not comply with
regulations.
ANS: agencies
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 4
24. The Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act ensure that ____________________
from mines do not threaten water quality.
ANS: contaminants
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 2
25. In a(n) ______________________________, a mining company is required to post funds before
beginning a mining project.
ANS: bond forfeiture program
DIF: 2
REF: 3
OBJ: 4
SHORT ANSWER
1. What distinguishes native elements from most minerals? Give two examples of minerals that exist
in nature as native elements.
ANS:
Native elements are found in nature as elemental substances, not compounds. Gold, silver, and
copper exist as native elements.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
7
2. How are ore deposits known as veins formed?
ANS:
Veins of minerals are formed when the minerals crystallize out of hydrothermal solutions that
have worked into rock fractures.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 3
3. What data about an area can be collected from airborne observations and combined to indicate the
best locations to look for ore deposits?
ANS:
Aerial photographs combined with airborne measurements of gravity, magnetism, and
radioactivity are helpful when exploring for ore deposits.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
4. How must soil be handled during surface coal mining to minimize environmental damage?
ANS:
Soil must be removed from the uppermost layer downward. Care must be taken to make sure that
the upper, nutrient-rich layers are not buried beneath lower soil layers.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
5. What potential environmental problem caused by the smelting process must be controlled? How
can this be done?
ANS:
The smelting process produces gases such as sulfur dioxide. Sulfur-rich gases become a serious
environmental problem if they are allowed to escape into the environment. Therefore, they
should be captured within the plant.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 5
6. How can surface mining completely transform ecosystems, even after reclamation?
ANS:
During surface mining, when soil is removed from a site, all plant life is stripped away. Therefore,
an entirely new ecosystem may develop after the soil is put back.
DIF: 3
REF: 3
OBJ: 3
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7. What usually must be separated from ore minerals after they are mined in order to obtain the
valuable substances they contain?
ANS:
Gangue minerals, or minerals with no commercial value, must be separated in order to recover the
valuable substances ore minerals contain.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
8. Compare the properties of metals and nonmetals.
ANS:
Metals conduct electricity, have shiny surfaces, and are opaque. Nonmetals tend to be good
electrical insulators, may have shiny or dull surfaces, and may allow light to pass through them.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 2
9. What is the purpose of drilling test holes around an ore deposit during mineral exploration if a
deposit is found to have ore of a high enough grade?
ANS:
The test holes are used to determine the three-dimensional extent of the ore so that an estimate
of the total value of the deposit can be made.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 1
10. How is a mine roof supported when mining coal using the room-and-pillar method?
ANS:
Pillars are left throughout rooms in a mine to ensure support for the roof. These are removed last
starting from the point farthest back in the mine as coal removal is completed.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
11. What are some materials that are produced by quarrying?
ANS:
Building stone such as granite, limestone, and marble, as well as aggregates such as sand, gravel, and
crushed rock, are mined by quarrying. Quarries also produce clay, gypsum, and talc.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 3
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12. What is the purpose of smelting? Describe the steps that take place in smelting ore.
ANS:
Smelting is a method for removing impurities from metal ore and producing pure metals. Ore is
crushed and melted at a very high temperature in a furnace. The molten mass is mixed with a flux
that binds with impurities to form a slag atop the molten metal. The refined metal sinks to the
bottom of the mixture.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 5
13. Why is acid mine drainage dangerous?
ANS:
The reaction of oxygen with sulfur in water that seeps through mine waste can dissolve metals and
other toxic substances and carry them into the watershed, where they harm aquatic life and
contaminate drinking water.
DIF: 3
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
14. What is reclamation?
ANS:
Reclamation is the process by which mine operators must return mined land to its original or
better condition after mining is complete.
DIF: 3
REF: 3
OBJ: 3
PROBLEM
1. This problem illustrates how growth in the rate of mineral resource extraction affects the lifetime
of those resources. Assume that a coal deposit is located and estimated to contain 100,000 tons of
extractable and marketable coal. During the first year of mining, 1,000 tons of coal are removed
from the mine. The next year, and every following year, the number of tons removed doubles so
that 2,000 tons are removed in the second year, 4,000 in the third, and so on. In how many years
will the entire 100,000 tons be removed?
ANS:
A good approach to solving this problem is to write down the amount extracted each year along
with the running total: first year, 1,000 tons, 1,000 tons total; second year, 2,000 tons, 3,000
tons total; third year, 4,000 tons, 7,000 tons total; fourth year, 8,000 tons, 15,000 tons total;
fifth year, 16,000 tons, 31,000 tons total; sixth year, 32,000 tons, 63,000 tons total; seventh
year, 64,000 tons, more than 100,000 tons total. The resource would be depleted before the end
of the seventh year.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 2
10
2. The presence of sulfur in finely ground waste material from the ore enrichment process is a
serious environmental problem. These waste materials are often referred to as mine tailings. Why
do mine tailings pose a risk to the environment? Propose a method for controlling pollution from
mine tailings.
ANS:
Exposed mine tailings containing sulfur can react with oxygen in the presence of water to produce
acid. Harmful metals can be dissolved and enter the watershed as water seeps through the tailings.
Covering the entire pile of tailings with soil or rock that does not contain sulfur in order to keep
oxygen out will slow the production of acid.
DIF: 3
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
3. The mining of uranium presents unique environmental problems. Some formations contain rocks
that have naturally occurring radioactivity, including radioactive radon that enters the air as a gas.
These rocks are extracted and crushed into fine sands for processing and uranium extraction. What
measures should be taken to protect the public from the special hazards presented by these
materials?
ANS:
The wastes from uranium extraction must be kept far from populated areas so that airborne
radioactivity can disburse. The materials must not be used for building or any other purpose that
would expose the public to radiation.
DIF: 3
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
ESSAY
1. The process of gold panning involves submerging a pan into the sandy bed of a stream or river and
then lifting it out and swirling it repeatedly until sand and gold remain in the pan. Explain why
small deposits of gold can sometimes be found in streambeds by panning.
ANS:
Gold sometimes occurs in streambeds because of the process that creates placer deposits.
Weathering of rocks containing gold leads to small pieces being carried by moving water. These
pieces can be deposited where the current slows. When small amounts of streambed material are
panned, the denser gold can be separated from other materials.
DIF: 3
REF: 2
OBJ: 4
2. Name three products you use that are derived from minerals. Briefly explain the minerals needed
to make each product and how those minerals are obtained.
ANS:
Many answers are possible. Sample answer: Automobiles contain many metals, especially steel.
Steel is produced from iron ore mined underground or in open pits. Electrical wiring is often made
of copper. Sometimes found as a native element, copper is also processed from ores. Aluminum
foil is made from aluminum that is derived from aluminum-bearing ores like bauxite.
DIF: 3
REF: 1
OBJ: 1
11
3. International organizations concerned with the environment and mining have suggested that the
mining industry be concerned with more sustainable processes that extract minerals and other
materials for consumers. What do you think sustainability means and why is it important for the
long-term benefit to society?
ANS:
Sustainability refers to the long-term availability of resources obtained without destroying the
environment. As demand for finished products grows, the long-term health of the economy and
the planet requires that efficient methods for using mineral resources be developed and that
environmental protection be made a permanent condition of mining.
DIF: 3
REF: 3
OBJ: 1
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