Mining for metals Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Minerals containing metals of value are?

A

Mineral Ores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the two methods of mining?

A

Underground mining, open-cut mining

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When do you use open cut mining?

A

When the mineral ore is close to the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

When do you use underground mining?

A

When the mineral ore is far beneath the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How is open cut mining implemented?

A

First the vegetation and topsoil are removed
Then waste rock from beneath the topsoil, called overburden, is removed.
Removed topsoil and overburden are used to fill areas that have already been mined or are left in a pile to restore the newly mined area when mining is completed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is underground mining implemented?

A

This mining method is more dangerous and expensive than open-cut mining.
Shafts and tunnels are dug up to four kilometers into the ground to reach the rocks containing the mineral ore.
The development of open-cut and underground mining is overseen by mining engineers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the steps of mineral extraction?

A

Separates the mineral ore from the rock taken from the ground
This involves crushing, grinding and washing the rock to separate the minerals from the unwanted rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the steps of metal extraction?

A

Separates the desired metal element from the mineral
This always involves chemical reactions
The nature of these reactions depends on a number of factors, including the chemical composition of the mineral ore
Chemical engineers are involved in the design of this process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is EIS?

A

An EIS stands for Environmental Impact Statement and outlines how the mining company intends to manage all environmental aspects of the proposed mine. It also outlines how the land will be rehabilitated or reconstructed, so that it can be used again after the mining is completed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How are mining sites located?

A

Geologists use satellite equipment to locate large deposits of minerals below the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of open cut mining

A

Advantages: Cheaper, easier to get equipment down, safer, higher gain of minerals
Disadvantages: Floods, overburden

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of underground mining

A

Advantages: No overburden, no weather
Disadvantages: Dangerous, not all mineral can be mined, expensive, harder to get machines down

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of underground mining

A

Advantages: No overburden, no weather
Disadvantages: Dangerous, not all mineral can be mined, expensive, harder to get machines down

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly