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Ore Deposits • An ore is a concentrated accumulations of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted. • Characteristics if an ore: • Limited in abundance and distinctly localized in the crust. • Quantity of a given resource is rarely known with accuracy. • Hard to assess the existence of new deposits. • Nonrenewable • Mining has environmental and human impacts. • Surface mining is used when minerals and ore deposits are found just beneath the Earth’s surface. Bauxite Mining Our Resources Name That Surface Mining! Reserves • The known quantity of a resource that can be economically recovered. A mining practice when the tops of mountains are removed to expose the mineral being mined. Mountain Top Removal A mining practice when when a large hole is dug to gather rocks and minerals from the crust. Open-pit Mining A mining practice when the surface is removed in hilly terrain, which leaves a number of level flat areas resembling steps. Contour Strip Mining A mining practice when the top layers of Earth are removed to reach the mineral being mined. Strip Mining Placer Mining •Placer mining is the process of looking for metals and precious stones in river sediments. • Use the water to separate heavier minerals (diamonds and gold) from sand and mud. Open-pit Mountain Top Removal Contour Mining Strip Mining Gold Rush Mining Surface Mining Name That Subsurface Mining! • Subsurface mining is used when minerals and ore deposits are deep underground. A mining practice when rooms are formed in the mineral and pieces of the rock or mineral are used to provide structure for the mine, Room and Pillar A mining practice when a large vertical entry way with smaller tunnels leading into the ore. Shaft Mining Let’s Give It A Try! Impacts of Surface Mining • Surface mining destroys habitats when soil, trees, and plants are cleared for mining. • • • Find the Coal! • Loss of trees and plants leads to soil erosion. Creates habitat fragmentation. Water pollution • Soil washes into local rivers and streams. • Chemicals and heavy metals get into surface and groundwater. • Placer mining uses mercury. Air pollution • Dust gets put into air from the digging and exposure without the plants. Problems remain long after the mine shuts down! Controversial MTR • Mountain Top Removal is currently very controversial. • Impacts of Subsurface Mining • Water Contamination is associated with underground mining. • Spoils are deposited in adjacent valleys, which can block or change the flow of rivers. • Working the mines is dangerous. • • Very difficult to fix the environmental impacts of this type of mining. Mining spoils, which are piles of waste rock collect near the mines. • Also known as tailings. • Water runs through these piles and carries heavy metals and other contaminates to nearby rivers, streams, and groundwater. Mine collapses or explosions can occur. Black lung - disease associated with coal mining. • Shortness of breath and chronic cough. Underground Mining How Can We Improve? • Reduce Demand • • If we use less, then less needs to be mined. Remediation • Clean up the pollution • Remove the toxic soils. • Bioremediation • • • • Mining Law of 1872 • • • Regulates the mining of silver, copper, and gold ore as well as fuels on federal lands. Written to encourage economic development. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 • • Mandates that land be minimally disturbed during the inning process. Full reclamation after mining operations have stopped. Use organisms to clean up the wastes, such as bacteria. Reclamation • Environmental Laws Incinerate the soil at high temperatures so that the chemicals are destroyed. Restore the land to its original topography and replant vegetation. Reclamation