Chapter 14- Mineral Resources Flashcards
(30 cards)
Philippine Total Land Area:
has High Mineral Potential:
Area Covered by Mining Tenements:
Philippine Total Land Area: 30 Million
has High Mineral Potential: 9 Million
Area Covered by Mining Tenements: 755,960.10 or only 2.52% of the Philippine total land area
MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
● Metallic Mines -
● Non-Metallic Mines -
● LGU Issued Permits -
● Declared Minahang Bayan -
● Metallic Mines - 59
● Non-Metallic Mines - 61
● LGU Issued Permits - 5,691
● Declared Minahang Bayan - 58
Concentration of a naturally occurring material (solid, liquid, or gas) in or on the crust of Earth to form that can now or potentially be extracted at a profit.
Mineral Resources
Portion of a resource that is identified and is currently available to be legally extracted at a profit.
Mineral Reserves
The availability of reserves changes over time due to technological advancements, market demand, and environmental regulations. For example, although Earth’s crust contains vast amounts of silver, only high concentration deposits are considered economically viable for mining.
True
classifies natural resources based on how well they are known and their economic viability.
It divides resources into identified (confirmed) and undiscovered (suspected) categories. Identified resources
range from measured (well-known) to inferred (less certain), while undiscovered resources are either hypothetical
(likely in known areas) or speculative (possible in unexplored regions). The diagram also distinguishes economic
(profitable today) from subeconomic (not currently viable) resources, helping guide exploration and investment
decisions.
McKelvey Diagram
The fundamental problem associated with the availability of mineral resources is not actual exhaustion or extinction; rather, it is the cost of maintaining an adequate reserve, or stock, within an economy through mining and recycling.
True
At some point, the costs of mining exceed the worth of the material. When the availability of a particular mineral becomes a limitation, several solutions are possible:
● Find a substitute
● Recycle what has already been obtained
● Use less and make more efficient use
● Do without
If we use resources without control,
consumption rises quickly and peaks early. However, the
resource runs out faster, leading to a steep decline
Rapid Consumption
If we use resources wisely (by reducing
waste and using them efficiently), the peak consumption happens later, and the resource lasts longer
Conservation
If we not only conserve but
also recycle materials, resource consumption stays more
stable over time, avoiding a sharp decline and extending
resource availability
Conservation And Recycling
metallic minerals that can be mined profitably
Ore
determines how much a metal’s natural abundance must be increased to be mined at a profit
Concentration Factor
mineral deposits are linked to hydrothermal activity. Cold ocean water seeps into fractures in oceanic ridges, where it is heated by magma. This hot water, enriched with dissolved metals,
rises to the surface and deposits metal sulfides at __________
Divergent Plate Boundaries
black smokers
seawater-saturated oceanic lithosphere is subjected to high heat and
pressure as it sinks into the mantle. This causes partial melting, releasing metal-rich fluids that migrate upward
and become concentrated in host rocks.
Convergent Plate Boundaries
- prime example of a mineral resource associated with volcanic systems at convergent boundaries.
- originally present in oceanic sediments is thought to be distilled from the descending plate and deposited at shallower levels above the subduction zone.
Mercury
Certain fragile ecosystems, such as _______, _______, and _________ regions, are highly sensitive to even light exploration activity.
deserts, marshlands, and permafrost
Mining alters the landscape, often causing permanent topographical changes. _____________, a common method in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Laos, leaves behind massive scars on the land.
Open-pit Mining
is a well-known example where mine tailings contamination the Boac River in Marinduque, devastating local ecosystems.
Marcopper Mining Disaster (Philippines, 1996)
➔ Runoff from mining sites can leach toxic elements (e.g., cadmium, lead, and zinc) into water bodies, harming aquatic life. Groundwater contamination occurs when pollutants seep through waste piles.
➔ In the Philippines, mines in Surigao del Norte and Zambales have been linked to siltation and pollution of river systems.
Water Pollution
➔ Smelting releases sulfur dioxide and other pollutants, contributing to acid rain. Dust from mining operations
can degrade air quality, affecting nearby communities and wildlife.
➔ In Thailand, coal mining in Mae Moh was linked to severe air pollution, causing health issues among local
communities.
Air Pollution
➔ Physical changes to land and water can kill plant and animal life, disrupt ecosystems, and alter nutrient
cycles.
➔ The Palawan Mining Controversy in the Philippines highlights how nickel and chromite mining threaten
biodiversity hotspots.
Biological Impact
➔ Mining towns experience rapid population growth, straining local infrastructure and services. When mines
close, communities dependent on mining suffer economic collapse.
➔ In the Philippines, large mining firms have been accused of displacing local communities, as seen in Mindanao and Cordillera
Social Impact
A severe chronic illness that caused extreme bone pain and fractures. It occurred in Japan’s Jinzu River basin due to contamination from mining operations. Studies confirmed high concentrations of heavy metals in soil, rice, and human tissues, proving the link between mining pollution and the disease.
Itai-Itai Disease
