Grade 5 Term 4 Geography: South African Minerals

Grade 5 Term 4 Geography Study Notes

• South Africa's Mineral Resources: South Africa is rich in minerals. All rocks are made of minerals, and many minerals are valuable. Gold, silver, platinum, iron, and copper are examples of minerals found in South African mines.

Minerals as Non-Renewable Resources

• Definition of Resources: Resources are things that aid in meeting human needs and desires. Natural resources include the sun, water, air, soil, fish, and trees. Minerals are also natural resources derived from rocks.
• Limited Supply: Rocks contain only a specific amount of minerals. Once these minerals are used up, they are no longer available. This makes them non-renewable resources.

Main Minerals Mined in South Africa & Their Uses

• Gold: Yellow in color, primarily mined in South Africa and China. Used in jewelry and financial investments.

• Silver: Silver in color, mined in China and South Africa. Used in jewelry.

• Copper: Reddish in color. Mined in Chile and South Africa. Used in electrical cables and other industrial applications.

• Diamonds: Varied colors, mined in South Africa and Russia. Widely used in jewelry manufacturing.

• Platinum: Silver-white to white in color, mined in South Africa and Russia. Used in industrial drills, and automotive parts.

• Chrome: Silver in color, mined in South Africa and Kazakhstan. Used in motor engines, exhaust systems, and stainless steel fabrication.

• Manganese: Black to silver in color, mined in South Africa and Ukraine. Added to iron to make steel.

• Iron Ore: Yellow to red in color, mined in China and South Africa. Used in steel production.

• Locations in South Africa: Specific locations within South Africa are mentioned for the mining of certain minerals (e.g., Kimberly for diamonds, Bushveld Igneous Complex for platinum). These locations relate to geological formations known to have specific mineral deposits.

Coal as a Non-Renewable Resource

• Formation of Coal: Coal is not a rock but formed from ancient plant remains. It took millions of years for plant material to decompose and accumulate under specific conditions (e.g., swamps).

• Energy Source: Coal is burned to generate electricity through producing steam that powers turbines.

• Uses of Coal: Coal provides energy for households, businesses, and manufacturing processes. It is used in the production of various materials like plastics and fertilizers.

Mining and People

• Difficulties with Deep Shaft Mining: Deep shaft mining is challenging because the tunnels are narrow, ventilation is limited, the environment is often wet and hot, making it dangerous and expensive.
• Health and Safety: Miners face risks like dust, rock falls, fire, poisonous gases, and machinery mishaps. Safety measures are in place to protect them (mine health and safety act).

Mining and the Environment

• Pollution: Mining activities lead to air and water pollution, damage to vegetation, and harm to wildlife. Dust from drilling, blasting, and transportation pollutes the air. Mining waste fills up land and poisons water.
• Waste: Large piles of leftover rock and soil from mining (mine dumps). Polluted water (acid water) is kept in dams known as slime dams, which may leak into rivers. Old machinery and equipment can also be considered waste.

Ways to Manage Mining Waste

• Water Treatment: Treating polluted water using chemicals to make it reusable.
• Resource Recycling: Repurposing materials like brick production from old mine rock debris and scrap metal.

Types of Mining

• Open Pit: Used when minerals/coal deposits are close to the surface. Rock and soil are dug up, and the pit gets larger.
• Shaft/Deep Level: Used when minerals/coal are deep underground, involving tunnels, shafts, lift systems, and ventilation systems to extract the minerals.

Explore the essential mineral resources of South Africa in this quiz tailored for Grade 5 students. Learn about important non-renewable resources like gold, silver, and copper, their uses, and why they are vital to the economy. Test your understanding of geology and resource management.