Show:
What Are Minerals
Mineral Formation
Mineral Uses
Subsurface Mining
Surface Mining
100

a mineral is a __________ occurring, usually inorganic solid

naturally

100

True or false, minerals can only form far below land

false

100

Name 2 characteristics of nonmetals

- lack of luster

- bad conductors

- good insulators

100

_______ mining is the most efficient method to extract coal

Longwall mining

100

Placer mining relies on ________ differences

Density

200

What is an ore mineral?

one with economic value


200

Types of minerals that form depends on what 3 parameters?

temperature, pressure, chemical environment
200

Are all natural gemstones minerals?

Yes

200

A key tradeoff with room-and-pillar mining is

Safety vs efficiency
200

Flux in smelting is used to

Bind to impurities

300
Minerals can be made up of... 

metals and nonmetals


300

What is a hydrothermal solution?

A hot, subsurface water that contains dissolved minerals

300

What is a native elemental mineral?

A pure element
300

_______ mining relies on using hot water to remove salts far underground

solution mining

300

What are 3 difficulties with undersea mining

unknown impact to ecosystem, new technologies, water pressure

400

Minerals are arranged in (on a molecular level)

repeating, geometric structure

400

Where do evaporites form? What is an example of one?

Arid regions

Gypsum, halite

400

What is an alloy?

A blend of multiple metals


400

What type of minerals can be harvested via solution mining (a specific characteristic)

Soluble

400

What is used to harvest minerals from placer mining? Where do they harvest this (what types of bodies of water)

Dredge, riverbed/streambed

500

What are 3 characteristics of minerals?

- characteristic chemical composition


- orderly internal structure

- characteristic set of physical properties

500

How do hydrothermal solutions form new minerals?

Hot, subsurface waters seep into cracks under the earth and cool down, allowing minerals to crystallize/form. These are called veins
500

_____ is a nonmetal mineral that is used in building stone and construction material

Gypsum

500

Describe the process of longwall mining that makes it so efficient

A shearer machine moves along the seam, which removes large amounts of mineral. That mineral is transported out of the mine via belts

500

Describe the differences between quarrying and open-pit mining

Quarrying: everything removed is mineral (minimal waste)

Open-pit: Most of what is removed is waste with little ore