Chapter 16: Mineral
Resources and Mining
Mr. Manskopf
Notes also at
http://www.manskopf.com
MAIN IDEA
Modern societies depend upon
a large number of a variety of
minerals. Mining of those
minerals has a great impact on
our environment.
GOALS for Chapter 16 Notes
• Investigate what minerals are, why they
are important.
• Describe how we find minerals in the
ground and how we mine them.
• Analyze the environmental impact of
mining.
Identifying Mineral Around You
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What are the walls made from?
What are the windows made from?
What is your desk made from?
What is this computer made from?
What is inside all those wires around the
room?
• What is all of my jewelry made from?
Minerals
Mineral: a naturally
occurring solid that has a
fixed chemical make up
and set properties
Nonrenewable!
• Aluminum
• Gold
• Salt
• Lead
• Copper
Average US person in a lifetime
Ore Minerals
Ore Minerals: valuable
and economically
extractable
Gangue: no commercial
value found in mineral
“Waste Product”
Gold Ore
Pure copper
Copper Ore
Copper Mine in
Arizona
Metallic vs. Nonmetallic
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Metallic
Conduct electricity
Shiny
Opaque
Copper, lead, gold,
silver, nickel,
titanium, iron
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Nonmetallic
Good insulators
May be shiny or dull
May allow light to
pass
Salt, clay, gypsum,
silica, quartz,
Sand mine
Coal Mine
How do they form?
• Magma cooling
• Evaporation
• Many other ways
The many ways they form…coal
How are they used? (cooper as
example)
Copper Usage Worldwide
Where in the U.S. are they found?
How are they found?
How are they found?
Subsurface Mining
Ore usually found below
50 meters
• More dangerous
• Some mines 2-3 miles
deep
• Lower impact at surface
Subsurface Mining
Subsurface Mining
Surface Mining
Ore deposits
located close to
surface
• More land
impact
• “safer”
• More water
pollution
Surface Mining
Surface Mining
Environmental Impacts of Surface Mining
Smelting
Process by which ore is
melted at high
temperatures to remove
impurities
Mineral Life Cycle
Environmental Impacts of Mining
Environmental Impacts of Mining: Air
Environmental Impacts of Mining:
Water
Environmental Impacts of Mining:
Wildlife
Environmental Impacts of Mining: Soil
Environmental Impacts of Mining:
Subsidence
Environmental Impacts of Mining:
Underground Fires
Mining Laws
In the U.S. there are
several laws that impact
mining
• Clean Water Act
• Clean Air Act
• Endangered Species Act
• Safe Drinking Water Act
• Superfund (CERCLA)
• Surface Mining Control
Reclamation Act
Reclamation
Process of
restoring land to
it original
condition when
mining is
completed
Review Chapter 16 Mining and
Minerals
• Investigate what minerals are, why they
are important.
• Describe how we find minerals in the
ground and how we mine them.
• Analyze the environmental impact of
mining.
How can our actions lesson impacts like this?