1. Note Pack 40 Chapter 16 Mining and Mineral Resources
Section 2: Mineral exploration and Mining

2. Mineral Exploration
1st step in finding an ore deposit is exploring rock for mineralization.
Planes carry instruments that identify patterns in the land
2nd step rock samples are taken from the areas and analyzed to determine ore grade

3. How are planes used to find rich ore deposits?
Knowledge Check
How are planes used to find rich ore deposits?

4. Subsurface Mining
Subsurface mining is how ore deposits beneath Earth’s surface.
Room-and-pillar mining is a common method used to extract coal and salt.
Networks of entries (rooms) are cut into a horizontal layer of coal.
Between each room is a pillar of coal left to support t the roof.
When mining is complete the pillars of coal are removed.

5. Longwall Mining
Longwall mining is a more efficient way to remove coal form a subsurface seam.
A machine (shearer) moves back and forth across the face of a coal seam.
The coal is sheared from the surface and falls on a conveyor then transported out of the mine.

6. Solution Mining
Soluble mineral ores can be removed by solution mining.
Hot water is injected into the oar and dissolves it.
Compressed air is pumped into the dissolved ore and lifts it to the surface.

7. Surface Mining
Surface mining methods used when ore deposits are located close to Earth’s surface.
Open-pit mining is often used to mine large quantities of near-surface
Ore is mined downward, layer by layer.

8. Surface Coal Mining
Overburden is rock that covers near-surface coal seams
1st step is to remove and set aside the soil
2nd overburden is removed by heavy equipments.
3rd loaders enter the pit and remove the exposed coal
4th once coal is removed the pit is filled with overburden, contoured and covered with the soil

9. Quarrying Building stones (granite and marble) are mined in quarries.
Aggregates (sand, gravel, and crushed rock) are the main products of quarrying.

10. Knowledge Check
Describe what happens to the overburden once all the coal has been taken out of a surface coal mine?

11. Solar Evaporation
Solar evaporation is the process of placing sea water into enormous shallow ponds.
Sun evaporates the water and increases the concentration of sodium chloride
This method of salt production is used in areas that receive little rainfall and have high evaporation rates.
Solar evaporation is used largely in developing countries and 30% of worlds salt comes from solar evaporation.

12. Placer Mining
Placer deposits are minerals that are concentrated by wind and water into surface deposits.
Streams transport mineral grains to a point where they fall to the streambed and are concentrated.
Stream placers often occur at bends in rivers where the current slows.
Gold, diamonds and other heavy minerals are mined by dredging.

13. Smelting
Smelting is where crushed ore is melted at high temperatures in furnaces to separate impurities from molten metal.
Flux bonds with impurities and separates them from the molten metal
Molten metal falls to the bottom of the furnace and is recovered.
The Slag (impurities)form a layer on the top
Gases (sulfur dioxide) are captured so they do not enter the environment

14. Undersea Mining Ocean floor contains significant mineral resources
Cost and great waters depths at which minerals are found are two reasons undersea mining has not been successful.