Quiz 3 mining vocab

Question 1

crustal abundance

Answer 1

average concentration of an element in Earth’s crust

Question 2

ores

Answer 2

concentrated accumulations of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted

Question 3

metals

Answer 3

elements with properties that allow them to conduct electricity and heat energy and to perform other important functions

Question 4

reserve

Answer 4

the known quantity of the resource that can be economically recovered

Question 5

strip mining

Answer 5

the removal of overlying vegetation and “strips” of soil and rock to expose underlying ore

Question 6

mine tailings

Answer 6

unwanted waste material created during mining including mineral and other rock residues that are left behind after the desired metals are removed from the ore

Question 7

open-pit mining

Answer 7

a technique that creates a large visible pit or hole in the ground

Question 8

mountaintop removal

Answer 8

a mining technique in which the entire top of a mountain is removed with explosives

Question 9

placer mining

Answer 9

the process of looking for minerals, metals, and precious stones in river sediments

Question 10

subsurface mining

Answer 10

mining techniques used when the desired resource is more than 100 m (328 ft) below the surface of the Earth.