Mining

MiningMining is the process or

industry of obtaining minerals from a mine

Minerals are the valuable substances taken from rocks through the process of mining

MineralsMinerals can be separated into two

categories:

Metallic Minerals: Mineral that yields a metal when processedExamples include Iron, Gold, Uranium &

Silver

Non-Metallic Minerals:Mineral that yields non-metals when

processedExamples include Salt, Potash, Asbestos

Mining in CanadaMining is of great importance to the

Canadian economy ($83 B production)

Forestry and Fishing were $54 and $2 B

Canada ranks 3rd in the world in the production of minerals

Canada ranks 1st in the world in the exporting of minerals (80% exported)

Mining in Manitoba:

Company Mine Location Date Opened

Minerals Mined

Vale Inco Limited

Thompson Mines T1 &

T3Thompson 1958 Nickel, Copper

Vale Inco Limited

Birchtree Mine Thompson 1968 Nickel, Copper

HudBay Minerals Inc.

Trout Lake Mine Flin Flon 1982 Copper, Zinc

HudBay Minerals Inc. 777 Mine Flin Flon 2000 Copper, Zinc

HudBay Minerals Inc. Chisel North Snow Lake 1998 Copper, Zinc

San Gold Corporation

Rice Lake Gold Mine Bissett 2006 Gold

San Gold Corporation

San Gold #1 Mine Bissett 2006 Gold

Tantalum Mining

Corporation of Canada,

Ltd.

Tanco Mine Lac Du Bonnet 1969

Spodumene, Tantalum, Polucite

Methods of Mining

Open Pit Mining

Underground Mining

Strip Mining

Open Pit Mining

Open pit mining is used to extract minerals that are located near the surface but that may extend deep into the earth

The Diavik Diamond Mine

•The Diavik Diamond Mine is located in the

North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. This open pit

diamond mine produces 8 million carats or 1,600

kg of diamonds every year.

•The mine is connected by an ice road to Diavik

Airport.

Underground

MiningUnderground

mining is used to

extract ores located deep in the earth.

Underground Mines

•Underground mines, such as the ones in both

Thompson and Flin Flon are used when ore bodies are well below the earth’s

surface

•This method has a less visible impact on the

environment, but they are a great risk to human

health

Strip MiningStrip mining is

used to extract minerals (such as coal and oil

sands), that are located in horizontal

layers near the surface

Strip Mining

•The most common method of strip mining

in Canada is strip mining the bitumen in the oil sands of Alberta

•This method leaves an enormous footprint on

the earth’s surface

Issues Facing Canada’s Mining Industry

Use textbook pages 327 – 329.

Read each of the seven bullet-pointed issues on these pages and summarize each of them clearly and concisely in your notes. Use a heading for each issue.

Issues Facing Canada’s Mining Industry

While mines may boost the Canadian economy, they have negative impacts on the environment

Also, Canada’s mining industry can be damaged by events in other countries (such as economic slowdown – resulting in a decline in demand)

Issues Facing Canada’s Mining Industry

Resource Towns:

Short life spans

Usually directly related to financial gain

If the mineral drops in value or becomes too expensive to mine (may be cheaper elsewhere in the world), then mines shut down

Issues Facing Canada’s Mining Industry

New mineral deposits are constantly being discovered in other countries, particularly in developing countries, and are able to sell their products cheaper than the Canadian market

If Canada wants to compete with these markets, they are forced to find ways to reduce production costs (more mechanization, less jobs)