Getting At Our Wanted Getting At Our Wanted MineralsMinerals

MININGMINING

Steps to MiningSteps to Mining

• 1. Prospecting For Minerals

• 2. Developing the Mine

Prospecting for mineralsProspecting for minerals

• Study rock samples

• They have found some minerals are found in areas with specific rock types

• Some methods of prospecting: digging wholes, or using magnetic and helicopters

The MineThe Mine• 1. Obtain the rights• 2. Protecting the environment• 3. Build the mine • A) underground• B) open-pit mining• 4. Refining the Ore• 5. Dealing with waste• 6. Reclamation

Developing the MineDeveloping the Mine

• Obtaining the Rights

• - must buy and own the land before you can mine

• Get permission or legally buy it from owner

Developing the MineDeveloping the Mine

• Protecting the Environment

• - many countries require proof that miners will not destroy the environment BEFORE they allow them to mine

• Must complete an Environmental Assessment – a study of what the mine will do to the : land, air, wildlife, people and the ecosystem

• Study must show mining will be safe and environmentally friendly

Developing the MineDeveloping the Mine

• Building the Mine

Two main ways:1. Underground Mining- Dig vertical shaft down into earth- Broken ore carried out on elevators- Used when ore is far below the surface2. Open-pit Mining- Used when ore is near top of earth- The rock that covers the ore is removed- Heavy equipment is then used to dig out the ore- Even mountains have disappeared from this form of mining

Refining The OreRefining The Ore

• - useful materials must be separated from waste rock

• This process is called beneficiation

• Some minerals are separated by melting, others by chemical reactions

Dealing with wasteDealing with waste

• Lots of left over material called tailings

• Valuable or can take up as little as 2%, leaving 98% of useless rock leftovers

• Some ways of dealing with this: put dirt back in mines, or in giant piles nearby

• One danger is dangerous chemicals that could leak into ground

ReclamationReclamation

• Mining scars the earth

• After mining it is important to return the earth back to a useable piece of earth

• Some ways: planting trees, making into parks, used for grazing for animals, or for recreation