Minerals and Mining

What are three ways that minerals are used?

Student answers will vary. Possible answers include construction, technology, and industry.

Which of the following is not a possible consequence of surface mining?
a.
increased pollution
b.
improved ecosystem health
c.
destruction of flora and fauna
d.
erosion of soil

B

The long term effects of mining include _______.
a.
acid drainage
b.
erosion
c.
dust emissions
d.
all of the above

D.

Placer mining involves _______ to extract minerals.
a.
removing the top layer of earth
b.
tunneling under the earth
c.
dredging sediments from the water bottom
d.
none of the above

C.

Explain how surface mining affects plant life.

Surface mining destroys all plant life in the area the mine occupies. Plants living in the area where the surface mine is to be located are removed. After the surface mine is no longer productive, plants may eventually return to the area, but typically some human efforts at reclamation are required to restore the environment to some level of productivity.

Which of the following is an example of a nonmetallic mineral?
a.
sulfur
b.
lead
c.
aluminum
d.
gold

A.

Compare surface, subsurface, and placer mining in terms of damage to the environment.

All three types of mines cause some damage to the environment. Surface mines are the most damaging to the environment, because they cause the greatest amount of change to the land. Surface mines involve the removal of earth to extract minerals, often leaving a gaping hole behind. Subsurface mines have less permanent damage to the environment, although they still produce many byproducts that are introduced into the environment. Placer mining can be less damaging to the environment than surface mines, as the sediment is returned to the water after the minerals have been extracted.

Which of the following statements about large scale mineral extraction is true?
a.
The economic benefits of large scale mineral extraction outweigh the environmental costs.
b.
Large scale mineral extraction is more destructive than in the past.
c.
Large scale extraction is vital to the economy of mining towns.
d.
Mineral extraction cannot be done in ways that do not completely destroy the environment.

C

Predict what will happen to an abandoned strip mine over time.

Student answers will vary. An abandoned strip mine will partially recover over time. Without human intervention, however, its recovery will be minimal.

Explain why mining has such a large impact on the environment.

Mining has a large impact on the environment because minerals are contained within the Earth. Earth must be removed in order to extract the minerals. When the minerals are close to the surface, the earth is removed, causing destruction to the shape of the land and the flora and fauna living in that area.