LESSON #9: MINING

Question 1

Finding and discovering economically viable mineral resources.

Answer 1

MINERAL EXPLORATION

Question 2

Stage of discovering economically viable mineral resources.

Answer 2

PROGRAM DESIGN

Question 3

What are all of the stages involved in Field Exploration?

Answer 3

a. REGIONAL RECONNAISANCE
b. DETAILED EXPLORATION
c. PROSPECT EXPLORATION

Question 4

This stage involves large-scale surveying of resources and zones.

Answer 4

REGIONAL RECONNAISANCE

Question 5

This stage involves detailed (sub)surface activity to find and delineate target zones.

Answer 5

DETAILED EXPLORATION

Question 6

This stage involves assessing marketability by amount, metallurgical use, and cost assessment.

Answer 6

PROSPECT EXPLORATION

Question 7

This determines data accuracy and how much it can satisfy the investors.

Answer 7

PRE-PRODUCTION FEASIBILITY

Question 8

STEPS OF DELINEATING

Answer 8

1. Search for surface clues
2. Conduct geophysical surveys
3. Perform geochemical Testing
4. Drilling

Question 9

• Actual process of mineral extraction
• Can be surface or underground.

Answer 9

MINING

Question 10

This can be done by mining, quarrying, placer mining, and strip mining.

Answer 10

SURFACE MINING

Question 11

METHODS OF REMOVING MINERALS

Answer 11

1. Removing vegetation (plants)
2. Removing overburden (soil cover)
3. Removing spoils (waste piles)
4. Mountaintop Removal (via explosions)
5. Subsurface Mining (via tunnels)

Question 12

• The refining step of the entire process.
• Often done by pulverizing the ore, then separating the minerals away.

Answer 12

MILLING

Question 13

This is where crushed ore is submerged in liquid to separate the minerals by density.

Answer 13

HEAVY MEDIA SEPARATION

Question 14

This uses magnets to separate the metals from non-metals.

Answer 14

MAGNETIC SEPARATION

Question 15

This is where powdered ore is stirred into a frothy slurry where minerals either sink or stick to the bubbles.

Answer 15

FLOTATION SEPARATION

Question 16

This is where low-grade gold ore is crushed and sprayed with cyanide to dissolve and separate them from the ore.

Answer 16

CYANIDE HEAP LEACHING

Question 17

Supply of nonrenewable materials depend on its:

Answer 17

1. Actual supply of the mineral
2. Usage rate in daily life

Question 18

Rainwater carries sulfuric acid from mines into nearby rivers and streams.

Answer 18

ACID MINE DRAINAGE

Question 19

When land above a mine sinks down.

Answer 19

SUBSIDENCE

Question 20

Miners can get diseases like [BLANK] due to a respiratory condition caused by inhaling coal dust over a long period.

Answer 20

BLACK LUNG

Question 21

What are some of the Negative Effects that come from Mining?

Answer 21

• Environmental degradation (loss of forests, ecosystems, habitats)
• Water pollution (toxic chemicals, acid mine drainage)
• Air pollution (dust, emissions from machinery)
• Soil erosion & land degradation
• Loss of biodiversity
• Contribution to climate change (greenhouse gases)
• Health hazards (respiratory diseases, poisoning)
• Noise pollution (blasting, heavy machinery)
• Social issues (displacement, loss of livelihood)
• Economic dependency on mining
• Abandoned mine sites left unsafe