Mining Flashcards

1
Q

Example mined mineral resources in South Africa

A
  • Gold
  • Platinum
  • Chrome
  • Coal
  • Iron
  • Diamonds
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2
Q

Benefits of South Africas mining industry

A
  • A sustained economy
  • Promoted technical expertise
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3
Q

Remove of take out of

A

Extract

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4
Q

Ore

A

Rock with a high concentration of a valuable mineral

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5
Q

Veins in the earth

A

Lines of solidified lava that have formed in cracks in other rock

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6
Q

Mining

A

The process whereby ore is removed from the earths crust

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7
Q

Types of mines

A
  • Surface / opencast mines
  • Tunnels / shaft mines
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8
Q

Ways of processing ore

A
  • Physical extraction
  • Chemical extraction
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9
Q

How gold is separated physically from alluvial deposits

A
  • Gold sluicing and gold panning:
  • Gold is much more dense than oher sediments
  • It is able to be separated in by running water from other sendiments as it settles quicker
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10
Q

Alluvial deposits

A

Material deposited by a river

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11
Q

Gold panning

A
  • Sediment is placed in a pan
  • Water is added and the pan is swirled around
  • The gold drops to the bottom and the swirling water and sediments are tipped out
  • The gold dust and flakes can be collected from the bottom of the pan
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12
Q

Making a natural product more pure by removong unwanted substances

A

Refining

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13
Q

Chemical extraction of ore using solutions

A
  • Dissolving the ore usimng a suitable chemical
  • Removing the mineral from the chemical solution
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14
Q

Smelting

A

Processing ore by heating to extract the mineral in the ore

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15
Q

Sa scientist who studies ancient peoples

A

Archaeologist

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16
Q

An alloy

A

A mixture of metals

17
Q

Steel

A

An alloy of iron and other minerals e.g. carbon

18
Q

Advantages of alloys

A

Produce new ‘types’ of metal often with better qualities than any of the components in the alloy alone

19
Q

a fuel made from coal in the same way that charcoal is made from wood

A

Coke

20
Q

Ancient method of smelting

A
  • A furnace is made with a source of air and a chimney
  • Layers of charcoal and crushed iron ore laid inside the furnace
  • A fire is lit in the furnace and air is pumped into the furnace to raise the temperature
  • The entire process continues for a number of hours
21
Q

The chemistry of smelting

A
  • Iron oxide is mixed with charcoal powder (carbon)
  • The oxygen in the iron oxide reacts witht the carbon to make carbon dioxide gas which escapes out the chimney
  • The iron is left behind
22
Q

Modern smelting process

A
  • Coke is used instead of charcoal
  • Molten iron is blasted with heated air
  • The molten iron is then blasted with pure oxygen to burn the leftover carbon to only 1-2.5%
  • Steel is formed and additional metals are added e.g. chrome
23
Q

The constructed networks of a country, e.g. roads, electricity and water supply

A

Infrastructure

24
Q

Something that causes pollution

A

A pollutant

25
Q

Radioactive

A

Material that emits radiation energy, particles or rays which damage living tissue

26
Q

Acid mine drainage

A

Water that is polluted with acidic chemicals draining into natural water systems

27
Q

Example ways that mines directly impact the environment

A
  • Scar the land
  • Destroy natural habitats
  • Pollute water and air
  • Produce large amounts of waste, dust and poisonous chemicals
28
Q

Huge piles of crushed rock and material stored in high piles after mining excavation and extraction.

A

Mine dumps

29
Q

The pollutant in mine dumps causing locals to be relocated in Krugersdorp.

A

Radioactive waste

30
Q

An example hazardous chemical used in gold processing that can be left behind in mine dumps and dissolves in water ending up in nearby streams

A

Cyanide

31
Q

The effect of acid mine drainage on the environment

A
  • Devastates freshwater ecosystems, killing most organisms
  • Pollutes groundwater that could be used for drinking or irrigation
  • The groundwater can remain hazardous for thousands of years
32
Q

How mining impacts nature conservation, cultural and heritage sites.

A
  • Mine dumps
  • water pollution
  • acid mine drainage
  • smoke and smells
  • destruction of natural vegetation
  • noise pollution