Mining and other extraction methods Topic 17

Important Terms  Mineral  Ore  Reserve  Surface mining  Subsurface mining

Examples of commercially important minerals  Gold  Tantalum (coltan)  Diamonds  Iron  Lead  Silicon  Aluminum  Coal* MetalGlobal Years remaining US years remaining Iron12040 Aluminum3302 Lead2040 Gold3020 Nickel750 Manganese700 * Not technically a mineral, but mined like one

Surface mining: general  Existing vegetation is cleared  over burden  Extraction  Spoils  Surface mining is used to of the nonfuel mineral resources of coal resources in the U.S.

Open-pit Mining

Area Strip Mining

Contour Strip Mining

Mountaintop Removal

Subsurface Mining  Advantages  Only way to access some resources  Disturbs less than 1/10 th as much land as surface mining  Usually produces less waste material  Disadvantages  Dangerous  Collapse of roofs & walls  Explosions of dust & natural gas  Lung diseases from mining dust  Leaves much of the resource in the ground  Acid Mine Drainage  Subsidence

Subsidence

US Mining laws  US General Mining Law of 1872  US Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

Fig , p. 344 Natural Capital Degradation Extracting, Processing, and Using Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources Steps Environmental effects Mining Disturbed land; mining accidents; health hazards, mine waste dumping, oil spills and blowouts; noise; ugliness; heat Exploration, extraction Processing Solid wastes; radioactive material; air, water, and soil pollution; noise; safety and health hazards; ugliness; heat Transportation, purification, manufacturing Use Noise; ugliness; thermal water pollution; pollution of air, water, and soil; solid and radioactive wastes; safety and health hazards; heat Transportation or transmission to individual user, eventual use, and discarding

Other extraction methods  Oil drilling

Hydraulic fracturing  Traditional  New  Traditional  New Associated water issues Groundwater contamination Surface water contamination Excessive water use

Other environmental issues  Habitat destruction  Earthquakes  Methane leakage  Subsidence of land  Soil salinization or heavy metal build-up  Habitat destruction  Earthquakes  Methane leakage  Subsidence of land  Soil salinization or heavy metal build-up

ANWR Case Study

Arctic tundra

What will happen if ANWR is developed by the oil industry?  Construction and use of:  drilling sites,  airstrips,  Housing  Pipelines and storage facilities  Increased air traffic  Seismic surveying  Construction and use of:  drilling sites,  airstrips,  Housing  Pipelines and storage facilities  Increased air traffic  Seismic surveying

Who has a stake in the future of ANWR? Who would benefit from opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling? Who might be harmed by it? Who would benefit from opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling? Who might be harmed by it?

What is another side to the story?  Arctic Power, an organization that says opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling would provide jobs and energy, and would not harm the caribou herds, promotes drilling in the Refuge.  The following clip is narrated by an Inupiak man who lives in the small town of Kaktovik in the coastal area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Arctic Power, an organization that says opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling would provide jobs and energy, and would not harm the caribou herds, promotes drilling in the Refuge.  The following clip is narrated by an Inupiak man who lives in the small town of Kaktovik in the coastal area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Other extraction controversies  Pebble Mine  Keystone Pipeline  In your group of four, decide which partner pair will learn about Pebble Mine and which will learn about the Keystone Pipeline.  Then you and your partner should read both sides. Summarize the goal of the project and the arguments for and against. One paragraph per argument.  Pebble Mine  Keystone Pipeline  In your group of four, decide which partner pair will learn about Pebble Mine and which will learn about the Keystone Pipeline.  Then you and your partner should read both sides. Summarize the goal of the project and the arguments for and against. One paragraph per argument.