Fill in the Blank
During the last step of mine Reclamation, you need to plant ____ species instead of invasive species
Native, it's important to plant native species instead of invasive as it guarantees the area still having it's original resources and being able to support the biodiversity of the area
What is Surface Mining?
Removal of overburden to access ore near surface
True or False: pH levels within water decrease as sulfuric acid runs through bodies of water
True; this happens since the toxicity levels of sulfuric acid lowers the chances of the water being closer to an alkaline/basic water level
____ can occur from poor ventilation
Gas exposure; this happens within Subsurface Mining since being so deep underground requires the ability to still breathe properly. And when it doesn't happen, workers can be exposed to the gases the toxic air features
What is Tailing & Slag?
Leftover waste material separated from the valuable metal or mineral within ore
True or False: Surface Mining is more expensive than Subsurface Minig
False, Subsurface Mining is more expensive due to the higher insurance and health care costs for workers
Mountaintop removal; this is especially harmful to the environment as it involves blowing up the area around you to find ore, effectively harming and killing habitats, trees, and animals within a wide range of the TNT, or whatever is being used to blow the surface up
What is overburden?
Soil, vegetation, and rocks that are removed to get to an ore deposit below
Erosion, Asbestos, lung cancer, and fires: Which is not a risk to Subsurface Mining?
Erosion; erosion can't occur since the operations when Subsurface Mining are underground
____ releases due to Acid Drainage
Methane and Particulate Matter; this occurs due to sulfuric acid forming and running off into streams and bodies of water, releasing methane Particulate matter
What is reserve?
The known amount of a resource left that can be mined
How many types of surface Mining is there?
4; open pit, placer, strip, and mountaintop removal
Rainwater will carry ____ into nearby streams and grounndwater
sulfuric acid
What is Acid Mine Drainage?
The process of rainwater leaking into abandoned mine tunnels & mixes with pyrite, forming sulfur acid, and running off into other bodies of water
What is the first step to Mining Reclamation?
Fill empty mines