Download 5.3 - 3 Mining File

5.3 – 3
Mining
Canada is known for its mineral wealth. Three kinds are:
1. metallic mineral – a mineral that is a metal.
(iron, nickel, copper)
2. non-metallic mineral – a mineral that is not a metal.
(potash, salt)
3. Fuel mineral – a fossil fuel mineral.
(coal, oil, natural gas)
Finding the Minerals
All rocks contain minerals – but only a few places have
enough to justify a mine.
Ore – the rock that contains
enough of a mineral that makes
it worthwhile to develop a mine.
How are minerals found?
• Use tools that detect a magnetic field from certain
metallic minerals.
• Search for anomalies – characteristics of rock that are
different from surrounding rock .(staining)
• Know what type of rock certain minerals are found in
and find that type. (sedimentary – fuel; igneous –
metallic)
Mining and the Economy
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Mining supplies raw materials for secondary industry.
It provides jobs in mining communities. (320,000)
Contributes to the local GDP. (NL – 8.6% from mining)
Contributes to Canada’s economy. (about $80 billion)
Helps the balance of trade – difference between imports
and exports. (2010 - $85 B in exports - $67 B in imports)
IMPACT OF MINING ON NATURAL SYSTEMS
Mining occurs on less than 0.03% of land but has a big
ecological footprint.
Figure 6.45 The Panda Ekati
diamond mine is located in
the Northwest Territories.
Six lakes had to be drained
to develop the mine, and
another one was used for
the storage of mine
waste.
Slag – molten waste
material from nickel
smelting.
Tailings – finely groundup rock left over after
the mineral has been
extracted.
Acid rain – precipitation
that is highly acidic due
to pollutants.
Refining – part of the
process that removes
impurities when metal is
separated from rock ore.
Smelting – the heating
and melting of ore to
extract a pure metal.
How does acid rain threaten the natural systems?
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Kills or delays the growth of trees.
Makes soils less fertile.
Results in dead lakes – fish cannot live in them.
Contaminates the food and water people consume.
Mineral Sustainability
Minerals are non-renewable resources, they cannot be
developed sustainably so that they last into the future.
However there are still things we can do:
• Reduce mineral use
• Recycle mineral-based products
• Use technology to waste less minerals
We can also do things to reduce the affects on natural
systems:
• Restore old mines to their natural landscape.
• Reduce pollutants from mining smelters. (less acid rain)
• Reduce slag and tailings from mineral refining.