1. How are mineral resources accessed?
Bellwork
How are mineral resources accessed?

2. Mining of Minerals

3. Target #20- I can identify what mining involves
Mining involves breaking into the ground to gain access to minerals, fossil fuel, or water, and extracting them.
Used in resources like building materials, wiring, appliances, clothing, fertilizers
One goal: to locate areas of concentrated resources
Materials mined fall into one of three categories
Metallic Minerals
Non-metallic minerals
Fuel and Water

4. Target #21- I can state examples of metallic minerals Target #22- I can define the term ore
Metals are a part of minerals or groups of minerals
Ore: a mineral or group of minerals that is mined so that a metal or metals can be removed from it
Concentration of metal must be a certain level
Ex: copper, iron, lead, gold, silver, aluminum, and tantalite

5. Target #23- I can Identify examples of nonmetallic minerals
May contain mineral as a chemical component, but the material is not mined for metal
Ex: sand and gravel, limestone, salt, gemstones

6. Target #24- I can identify examples of mined fuels
Fuel and Water
Uranium is mined for use in the generation of nuclear power
Coal is mined like other minerals to provide energy
Other materials include petroleum, natural gas, oil sands, and methane hydrates

7. Mining Methods- Background
Mining companies have developed many techniques to access resources close to the surface of Earth, deep underground, and even underwater
Types of Mining Methods
Strip Mining
Subsurface Mining
Open Pit Mining
Mountain Top Removal
Solution Mining
Placer Mining
Undersea Mining

8. Target #25- I can describe different mining methods
Strip Mining
Most effective method
Process
Layers of surface soil and rock are removed from large areas to expose the resource
Heavy machinery removes the soil and rock
The resource is extracted
The soil and rock are replaced
Commonly used to collect coal, sand, and gravel

9. Subsurface Mining Used when a resources occurs in concentrated pockets
Process
Vertical shafts are dug deep into the ground
A network of horizontal tunnels are dug or blasted out to follow deposits of the resource
The resource is removed and transported out of the mine
Used for metals like zinc, lead, nickel, tin, gold, copper, and uranium
Used for non-metals like diamonds and salt

10. Open Pit Mining
Used when a mineral is widely and evenly distributed throughout rock formation, or when the ground is unsuitable for tunneling
Process
A large hole is dug and the ore is removed along with unwanted rock
Used for copper, iron, gold, diamonds, and coal
When used for materials like granite, marble, or slate, method is referred to as a quarry

11. Mountaintop Removal
Used primarily for coal mining in the Appalachian Mountains
Process
1st- the forests are clear-cut and the timber is sold or burned
2nd- Topsoil is removed and rock is blasted away to expose the resource
Continued process of blasting and extraction to remove hundreds of vertical feet of mountaintop
Waste rock is transported to nearby valleys or areas that were previously mined

12. Placer Mining
Can be done when weathering and other geologic processes can cause metals and gems to break free and be carried along by river currents
Process
Miner must sift through material in modern or ancient riverbed deposits
Use of running water to separate light-weight mud and gravel from heavier valuable minerals.
Useful for collecting materials like gold

13. Apply Concepts
A mining geologist locates a horizontal seam of coal close to the surface. What type of method will the mining company most likely use to extract it? Explain your answer.

14. Bellwork
How can we reduce the negative impacts of mining and manage mined resources?

15. Mining Impacts & Regulation

16. Negative Impacts of Mining- Background
Mining is an important industry that provides the areas with an enormous amount of revenue and jobs for many people
Activities associated with mining, such as destroying forests, disrupting soil, and using chemicals to strip materials from rocks, have environmental effects that have not been historically well managed.

17. Erosion- Background
Erosion is a natural process that occurs continuously on Earth’s surface
Examples
Wind
Precipitation
Flowing water
Moves loose soil particles from one area to another

18. Target #26- I can state how mining leads to uncontrolled soil erosion
Plants help keep erosion in check because their roots hold soil together
Plants are removed to do any mining that is done along earth’s surface
When people disturb a large area of land, erosion occurs faster than soil can be replaced
Example
Mountaintop removal leaves areas prone to mudslides & flashfloods

19. Target #27- I can state how excessive erosion impacts ecosystems
Excessive erosion & disturbance of waterways leads to problems for both ecosystems and nearby communities
Placer mining, strip mining, and mountain top removal can lead to clogged waterways due to excessive sediment and debris
Some habitats may become flooded or sunlight can be blocked from reaching aquatic plants

20. Target #28- I can explain how surface mining methods impact natural water sources
Strip, subsurface, and open pit mining expose a large amount of rock to air
If iron sulfide is present in the rocks, it will form sulfuric acid when it interacts with oxygen
Can leak into the ground water, streams, or lakes due to runoff
Known as acid drainage
A natural process that is accelerated due to mining
acids associated can be toxic to wildlife and can make bodies of water unsuitable for drinking or for recreation

21. Target #29- I can explain how surface mining methods impact the atmosphere
Open pit mining and mountaintop removal can cause air pollution as metal particles are released into the atmosphere
Includes removal and extraction process
Miners experience the most pollution
Coal miners usually suffer from a type of illness called “black lung disease”

22. Explain
Describe two ways that mines can continue to cause damage to communities even after mining is complete.

23. Mining is relied upon for jobs and revenue, however, mining can have many negative effects on people living in surrounding communities
Property Damage
Blasts from mountaintop removal crack house foundations and walls
Floods damage properties
Loose rock tumbles into yards and homes
Forests and landscapes are lost
Landowners are pressured to sell their land to mining companies
Collapse of subsurface mines can lead to sinkholes
Target #30- I can summarize the social impacts mining has on the human population

24. Environmental Damage & Conflicts
Can bring job opportunities and a lot of money into poor areas of the world
Rely on land and water resources
Violent conflicts can arise over rights to lands that hold valuable minerals and the wealth they generate
Ex: Trade of coltain in the Congo

25. Essential Concept
The ability to access minerals, extract metals from them, and process the metals allows us to make products that contribute greatly to modern life. But the toll that mining takes on ecosystems and the pollutants produced from processing metals have also contributed to many of the environmental problems we face today.
What are some examples of environmental problems that we face related to mining?