Topic 3: Unit-1&2 Flashcards
MINING OF MINERAL RESOURCES -- Extracting ores (32 cards)
Ore
Rock that contains sufficient amounts of a valuable mineral for mining
Mining
Removal of valuable mineral (ore) from the crust
3 Types of mining?
1) Placer mining
2) Open-cast mining
3) Shaft mining
Where is placer mining commonly used?
In riverbeds, beaches, or other sedimentary environments where valuable minerals accumulate.
What is placer mining?
A method of extracting minerals from river beds or alluvial deposits, using techniques like panning, sluicing, and dredging to separate valuable metals like gold from sand or gravel.
What materials are typically extracted through placer mining?
Gold, gemstones, and other heavy minerals like tin and platinum.
What is opencast mining?
A surface mining technique where layers of soil and rock are removed to access minerals near the surface. It involves creating large open pits.
What are the main components of a shaft mine?
Vertical shafts, elevators, horizontal tunnels (drifts), and ventilation systems.
What is shaft mining?
A type of underground mining where vertical shafts and horizontal tunnels are dug deep into the ground to reach mineral deposits.
What are some materials commonly extracted using opencast mining?
Coal, iron ore, limestone, diamond, copper and other bulk minerals.
What minerals are typically extracted through shaft mining?
Gold, platinum, and other precious metals or gemstones found deep underground.
What is a major safety concern in shaft mining?
The risk of cave-ins, flooding, and poor air quality due to the depth and confined spaces.
What is mineral refining?
The process of purifying and extracting valuable minerals from ore after it has been mined.
What is physical processing?
A method that involves using physical means such as crushing, grinding, and separating to concentrate minerals from the ore.
What are some common physical processing techniques?
Crushing, grinding, filtering, flotation, magnetic separation, and gravity separation.
What are the two main methods of refining minerals?
Chemical processing and physical processing.
What is chemical processing?
A method that uses chemical reactions to dissolve or separate minerals from their ores, resulting in a purified form.
What are some examples of chemical processing techniques?
Leaching, smelting, and electrolysis.
What is crushing in physical processing?
Breaking down large chunks of ore into smaller pieces to prepare for further separation.
What is smelting in chemical processing?
Heating ore to high temperatures in the presence of a reducing agent to extract metal from its mineral.
Why is chemical processing often used for refining precious metals?
Because it can produce high-purity metals through complex reactions, making it ideal for gold, silver, and platinum.
What is electrolysis in chemical processing?
A refining technique that uses an electric current to separate pure metal from its ore.
What is the chemical processing of iron called?
Smelting, specifically the Blast Furnace Process.
What is coke?
Carbon-rich fuel with few impurities made from purified coal and used in modern iron/steel production
