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Environmental Science > Mineral Resources > Flashcards

Mineral Resources Flashcards

Module 2: The Physical Environment

1
Q

What three categories shape the importance of resources extracted from the lithosphere on society.

A
  1. Metals and metal ores.
  2. Industrial minerals.
  3. Construction materials.
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2
Q

Name 6 Geological processes that produced localised concentrations of recoverable mineral deposits

A

Igneous Processes
Hydrothermal deposition.
Metamorphic processes.
Proterozoic marine sediments.
Physical sediments.
Biological sediments.

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3
Q

Define Hydrothermal decomposition

A

Igneous intrusions are rocks formed in magma that cools and solidifies within the Earth’s crust.

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4
Q

Describe how igneous processes create mineral deposits

A

Rocks and minerals are created by the cooling and hardening of magma lava known as igneous. Many different igneous processes have produced exploitable minerals deposits.

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5
Q

Describe how Hydrothermal depositions works

A

Igneous intrusions are rocks formed from magma that cools and solidifies within the Earth’s crust.
The intrusions produce pressurised superheated water at high temperatures that dissolve many minerals from the surrounding rocks.
These mineral-rich solutions travel along fissures away from the igneous batholith, cooling as they do so.
As they cool, dissolved minerals crystallise and come out of solution. They do this in order of their solubility (least soluble crystallising first).

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6
Q

Define a batholith

A

A very large mass of intrusive igneous rock that forms and cools deep in the Earth’s crust

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7
Q

Explain metamorphic processes

A

Igneous processes and tectonic movements of crustal plates can alter existing rocks with high temperatures and pressure, without melting them producing metamorphic rocks. E.g. high temperatures and extreme pressure can change limestone to marble.

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8
Q

Explain sedimentary processes

A

Sedimentary processes cause minerals to settle and build up to produce layers of deposited sediment. The deposition and subsequent cementation at the Earth’s surface and within bodies of water creates sedimentary rocks and minerals.

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9
Q

Explain Proterozoic marine sediments.

A

These include iron ore deposits such as haematite and magnetite. They are formed when dissolved iron compounds become oxidised by the oxygen released by photosynthesis, producing insoluble iron oxide deposits. This mainly occurred between 1.8-2.5 billion years ago.

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10
Q

Explain Alluvial Deposits with examples

A

Materials that were carried and separated by flowing water. The ability of water to carry solids depends upon the velocity of the water and the density of the solids. Materials that are exploited from alluvial deposits include gold, diamond, tin ore, gravel, sand, clay.

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11
Q

Explain Evaporites

A

If a bay of an ancient sea became isolated, then the water may have evaporated leaving crystallised minerals such as halite (sodium chloride). Evaporites also form in inland seas in desert areas as the water from inflowing rivers evaporates.

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12
Q

Explain secondary enrichment

A

Many economically important metals can form minerals that are soluble or insoluble depending upon the conditions, especially the availability of oxygen. They may be transported in solution, by moving water, and then deposited as their oxidation state changes.

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13
Q

Explain biological sediments

A

Where living organisms form mineral deposits. These processes often concentrate minerals that can be deposited in sedimentary rocks.

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14
Q

What sedimentary deposits are produced and what were the original materials with Biological Sedimentary Deposits

A
  1. Shells of Marine Organisms –> Limestone & Chalk
  2. Terrestrial Vegetation –> Coal
  3. Marine Organisms –> Crude Oil & Natural gas
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15
Q

What determines Mineral Availability

A
  • Location
  • Chemical Form
  • Purity
  • Availability of suitable technologies
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16
Q

Explain Lasky’s Principle

A

It states that: In general as the purity of a mineral decreases, the amount of the mineral present increases exponentially. So, the major problem with future mineral supplies isn’t the quantity but the need to develop methods to exploit low-grade deposits.

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17
Q

what are the 3 categories on a diagram that determine COOG and technology required for mineral exploitation

A
  1. Reserves
  2. Resource
  3. Stock or resource base
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18
Q

Define the Cut off ore grade

A

the minimum grade required in order for a mineral or metal to be economically mined (or processed)

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19
Q

What are the 3 categories of mineral reserves

A
  1. Inferred reserves
  2. Probable reserve
  3. Proven reserve
20
Q

What is Stock (also called resource base)

A

All of the material that exists in the lithosphere. It includes mineral that can be exploited now, that which will be exploitable when prices rise, or new technologies are developed that which to make reserve viable, or ones which may never be viable.

21
Q

Define the following:
1. Inferred reserves
2. Probable reserve
3. Proven reserve

A
  1. Inferred reserves - The presence of material can be predicted from knowledge of geological structures present, but not enough is known to estimate the amount that can be extracted.
  2. Probable reserve - Sufficient info about the deposit is known, so the amount of the mineral that can be economically extracted can be estimated with sufficient accuracy.
  3. Proven reserve - Sufficient exploration has been carried out e.g. trial drilling to accurate estimate the amount of the mineral that can be economically extracted.
22
Q

List 7 mineral exploitation techniques

A
  1. IR Spectroscopy
  2. Gravimetry
  3. Magnetometry
  4. Seismic Surveys
  5. Resistivity
  6. Trial drilling
  7. Chemical Analysis
23
Q

Explain how the following work:
1. IR Spectroscopy
2. Gravimetry
3. Magnetometry
4. Seismic Surveys
5. Resistivity
6. Trial drilling
7. Chemical Analysis

A
  1. IR Spectroscopy - Different minerals emit infrared radiation at different wavelengths and these can be used to identify them.
  2. Gravimetry - detects variations in gravity caused by variations in density and mass. Igneous rocks are usually more dense than sedimentary ones.
  3. Magnetometry - Detects rocks that are more magnetic such as the iron ore magnetite and ores or tungsten and cobalt.
  4. Seismic Surveys - sound waves produced by controlled explosions, or a seismic vibrator on the surface. The echoes can give information about the depth, density, and shape of rock strata.
  5. Resistivity - Resistivity is the measurement of the difficulty of with which electricity passes through the material. In general, sedimentary rocks have lower resistivities than igneous rocks because they have higher water contents.
  6. Trial drilling - Most expensive technique per sampling site but it is the only method that actually produces samples of the rocks underground
  7. Chemical Analysis - Laboratory tests confirm the chemical composition and purity of the minerals in the rock samples.
24
Q

What 7 factors affect mining viability

A
  1. Ore Purity
  2. Chemical Form
  3. Overburden and hydrology
  4. Depth
  5. Cut-off ore grade
  6. Transport costs
  7. Market economics
25
Q

How will Ore Purity affect mining viability

A

Purity of the ore affects the financial costs of exploitation and the environmental impacts of mining

26
Q

How will Chemical Form affect mining viability

A

The chemical form of the mineral ore affects the ease of chemical extraction of the metal. For example, aluminium can be extracted from bauxite (aluminium oxide) but not from clay (alumino-silicates) which are more abundant

27
Q

How will Overburden and hydrology affect mining viability

A

The overburden is the rock that lies above a mineral deposit. Hard overburden may require blasting which increases costs. Loose overburden may increase landslide risks, so the slides of the mine void may have to be landscaped at a more gentle gradient. This may increase the overall area of the mine.

28
Q

How will depth affect mining viability

A

Costs rise rapidly as the depth increases. Double depth means price increase more than double.

29
Q

How will Cut-off Ore Grade affect mining viability

A

Mining has to be economically viable, so it has to be within the acceptable COOG range to be profitable with the current technology

30
Q

How will Transport Costs affect mining viability

A

The distance to the market, and how easy it is to bulk export material from A to B

31
Q

How will Market Economics affect mining viability

A

Determines the economic viability of the minerals, meaning the demands will affect the profit able to be made comparing to the costs put into extracting the mineral.

32
Q

List 7 environmental impacts from mineral exploitation

A
  1. Land Take
  2. Habitat Loss
  3. Loss of Amenity
  4. Dust
  5. Noise
  6. Turbid drainage water
  7. Soil disposal
33
Q

Name 2 types of mines

A
  1. Deep Mines
  2. Open-Cast
34
Q

Explain how the following impact the environment:
1. Land Take
2. Habitat Loss
3. Loss of Amenity
4. Dust
5. Noise
6. Turbid drainage water
7. Soil disposal

A
  1. Land Take -
  2. Habitat Loss - Loss of species where the mineral is the be extracted is unavoidable as the surface habitat must be removed
  3. Loss of Amenity - Mining changes the landscape and can create aesthetic problems for local communities.
  4. Dust - Dust lifted into the atmosphere. Water sprays can be used to limit the dust by making dust particles heavier…
  5. Noise - Disturbs local communities and ecosystems. May disrupt animal behaviour (migration & breeding).
  6. Turbid drainage water - Suspended solid particles in mine drainage water can be reduced light penetration into rivers and lakes. Sediment can also cover and kill animals & plants.
  7. Soil disposal - Soil left behind can reduce visual aesthetic, stability of the soil, and create toxic leachate solutions
35
Q

How may ex mining sites be restored?

A

Many sand, clay, and gravel pits have been flooded to develop wetland wildlife reserves. Sometimes urban development or agriculture have taken place on these sites if the ground is stable.

36
Q

How will future mineral supplies improve mineral abstraction

A

Reduces COOG with better tech.

37
Q

Name improvements to be made in exploratory methods

A
  1. Better remote sensing image resolution
  2. Portable Field Equipment
38
Q

Name improvements to be made in exploitation methods

A
  1. Mechanisation or deep & open-cast mining
  2. Exploitation of new low grade deposits with bioleaching, and phytomining.
39
Q

Explain how bioleaching works, with examples

A

Using living organisms to extract metal from their ores. Examples include:
1. Acidophilic Bacteria Such as Acidothiobacillus. This can be used to extract metals such as copper, zinc, lead, and gold from low grade sources.
2. Aspergillus fungi can be grown on scrap electronic components, fly ash from incinerators and catalytic converters. This fungi produce acids that dissolve metals such a nickel, lead, copper, and tin.
3. The metals used in the solution by bioleaching can be separated by electrolysis or by using carbon filters.

40
Q

Explain how Phytomining works

A

Some plants absorb metal ions from soil or water and concentrate them in their leaves. Once the plant have absorbed the metals, the vegetation is harvested and incinerated. The concentrated metals in the ash can be dissolved using acids, then separated by electrolysis.

41
Q

Explain Iron displacement

A

Iron is a more reactive metal than copper and will displace copper ions from solution. The solid iron goes into solution as the copper ions are deposited as solid copper metal which can be collected.

42
Q

Explain leachate collection

A

Rainwater percolating through soil heaps dissolve soluble metal ions. The draining leachate can be recirculated through the soil heaps to increase the concentration of metals ions in solution to then extract them via electrolysis.

43
Q

Explain Polymer adsorption

A

Metal ions dissolved in seawater will adsorb onto the surface of some polymers and can be collected later. Synthetic polymers can be used, as can natural polymers such as lignin from wood and chitin from shrimp shells discarded by the fishing and aquaculture industries.

44
Q

Explain Polymetallic nodules

A

Also known as manganese nodules. They are metal-rich nodules found on the seabed of many of the Earth’s oceans. Most are 5-10cm in diameter and are found at depth of 4-5k metres. They have been formed by chemical precipitation of metals around a small solid object such as the shell of a marine organism.

45
Q

Outline 7 issues with recycling schemes

A
  1. Transport
  2. Labour costs
  3. Separation
  4. Identification
  5. Energy Costs
  6. Public cooperation
  7. Waste losses
46
Q

What are the two sources of waste for recycling

A
  1. Pre-consumer wastes
  2. Post-consumer wastes (discarded consumer products)

Environmental Science (11 decks)

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