Podcast
Questions and Answers
What mining method involves the removal of the entire top of a mountain with explosives?
What mining method involves the removal of the entire top of a mountain with explosives?
Which mining method is used when the desired resource is more than 100m below Earth’s surface?
Which mining method is used when the desired resource is more than 100m below Earth’s surface?
Which mining method involves the use of water to separate heavier items from lighter items in river sediments?
Which mining method involves the use of water to separate heavier items from lighter items in river sediments?
Which mining method is common for deposits of sedimentary materials such as coal and sand?
Which mining method is common for deposits of sedimentary materials such as coal and sand?
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Which mining method leads to excess runoff with a lot of sediment due to the creation of a large visible pit/hole in the ground?
Which mining method leads to excess runoff with a lot of sediment due to the creation of a large visible pit/hole in the ground?
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Which mining activity can lead to the contamination of large portions of rivers and adjacent areas with sediment and chemicals?
Which mining activity can lead to the contamination of large portions of rivers and adjacent areas with sediment and chemicals?
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What is the term for water that passes through mine tailings and becomes acidic, potentially containing leached metals?
What is the term for water that passes through mine tailings and becomes acidic, potentially containing leached metals?
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Which mining method involves the separation of metals from minerals through heating, leading to the settling of the desired mineral at the bottom of the melt?
Which mining method involves the separation of metals from minerals through heating, leading to the settling of the desired mineral at the bottom of the melt?
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What is the waste material produced from all types of mining when ore is being melted and contains unwanted materials?
What is the waste material produced from all types of mining when ore is being melted and contains unwanted materials?
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Which mining method involves the use of pumps to prevent flooding and leads to a lower pH in nearby soils and streams, causing damage to ecosystems?
Which mining method involves the use of pumps to prevent flooding and leads to a lower pH in nearby soils and streams, causing damage to ecosystems?
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Study Notes
Mining Methods and Their Environmental Impact
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Mountaintop Removal Mining: Involves blasting away the entire top of a mountain to access resources like coal; significant environmental degradation.
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Underground Mining: Utilized when resources are located more than 100 meters underground; involves accessing veins of minerals through tunnels.
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Placer Mining: Uses water to separate heavier materials (like gold) from lighter sediments in riverbeds; effective in sifting through alluvial deposits.
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Surface Mining: Common for extracting sedimentary materials such as coal and sand; involves removing layers of soil and rock to access deposits.
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Open-Pit Mining: Results in a visible pit in the ground, leading to excessive runoff and sedimentation; creates major alterations to the landscape.
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Mining Contamination: Mining activities can contaminate rivers and surrounding areas with sediment and chemicals, affecting water quality and ecosystems.
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Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): Describes water that has come into contact with mine tailings, resulting in acidity; often contains leached metals, posing environmental risks.
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Smelting: The process of separating metals from ore using high temperatures; desired minerals settle at the bottom after melting, but creates waste byproducts.
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Tailings: Waste material generated from mining operations, often containing unwanted minerals; poses disposal challenges and potential contamination risks.
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Dewatering: Involves the use of pumps to remove water from mine sites, preventing flooding; can lower pH in surrounding soils and waterways, harming local ecosystems.
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Description
Test your knowledge of mining methods with this quiz! Learn about strip mining, open-pit mining, and their environmental impacts. Explore how these methods are used for extracting resources such as coal and other sedimentary materials.
