Ores and Minerals
True or False: Minerals can be organic or inorganic?
False
Minerals are always inorganic
What is the purpose of exploration in mining?
To search for ores and minerals underground
What is the process of extracting valuable materials from the Earth called?
mining
What is the process of clearing land by removing trees and plants called?
deforestation
Which mineral is the main source of iron
hematite
What do we call minerals that contain a high percentage of the element we want to extract?
Ores
Why do mining companies spend time and money on exploration instead of mining straight away
To find out if minerals are present in an area and whether it will be profitable
What type of mining involves removing overlying rock to reach ore close to the surface?
surface mining (or open-cut mining)
Why is topsoil stored during mining operations
to use it later for land rehabilitation, as it contains nutrients for plant regrowth
What instrument is used to detect small changes in the Earth's magnetic field during exploration
a magnetometer
True or False: All minerals are ores
False
All ores are minerals, but not all minerals are ores.
What is one advantage of aerial exploration over on-site methods
It can cover a large area more quickly and safely
What type of mining involves digging shafts and tunnels underground to reach the ore?
underground mining
List two ways a mining site can be rehabilitated after mining is finished.
examples like replanting vegetation, reshaping the land, or filling in mine holes
What is the difference between ores and minerals
ores are minerals with enough valuable metal to be mined profitably
Coal is a mined resource, but not a mineral. Why not?
Because coal is made from organic matter, and minerals are inorganic
Name and describe one type of aerial survey
e.g. Magnetic survey
Uses an aircraft or drone with a magnetometer to detect changes in the Earth's magnetic field
hat is the name of the mining method where a solution is pumped into the ore body to dissolve the minerals, which are then pumped to the surface?
leach mining
Describe two negative environmental impacts that mining can cause.
deforestation, biodiversity loss, landscape change, pollution, erosion, or greenhouse gas emissions
Complete the sentence: “All ores are minerals, but not all minerals are ______.
ores
List four physical properties of minerals
Any 4: Hardness, lustre, colour, streak, cleavage, fracture
Which is NOT an aerial exploration method
a. Magnetic
b. Seismic
c. Gravity
d. Electromagnetic
seismic
What mining method creates a pit that fills with water, then uses a floating dredge to suck up sediments
dredge mining
Why is the storage of tailings considered a safety and environmental risk
because tailings can contain toxic chemicals, cause dust pollution, or lead to structural collapse and erosion
Why is coal not considered a mineral or an ore
because coal is organic, and minerals are inorganic
Galena is an ore. What metal is extracted from it?
Lead
What mining method is most likely to be used if a geochemical survey finds a high concentration of crude oil underground?
petroleum well
A company is mining bauxite from a wide, shallow deposit just beneath the surface. What mining method are they most likely using, and why
open-cut mining, because bauxite is found close to the surface and spread over a wide area
Why do government regulations require mining companies to rehabilitate land after mining is completed
to reduce soil erosion, restore ecosystems, and return the land as close as possible to its original condition
Name the metal extracted from Cinnabar
mercury