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ENSP 2000 Midterm pt2

Terms in this set (23)

Mineral definition
naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure
Which of the following is a mineral?

A. Steel (Made by humans, but contains minerals)
B. Ice (A mineral! Unless...)
C. Wood (Organic)
D. Glass( Amorphous-- no crystalline structure)
E. Granite (A rock that is made of lots of different minerals)
B. Ice
Which of the following properties is one of the defining
properties of a mineral?

A. It must be a liquid.
B. It must contain a metal.
C.It must be able to be synthesized in a lab.
D. It must be organic.
E. It must have a fixed chemical composition.
E. It must have a fixed chemical composition.
Metal
an element that conducts electricity and heat well.
element
a substance that is made entirely from one type of atom.
ores
a rock that contains one or more valuable elements
"Resource curse"
Phenomenon where countries that are rich in resources have worse
economic development than countries that have fewer resources
Give an example of a country who has been affected by the "resource curse"
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Explain how coltan mining has affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
...
what is a conflict resource?
a resources (minerals in this case) mined from an area experiencing corruption and violence. Funds the regime that's creating the violence.
What characteristics would make a resource a conflict resource?
-high demand
-location where it is found
-Rare
Coltan
term for an ore that contains the minerals Columbite and tantalite
tantalum powder
coltan refined in to tantalum powder.

heat-resistant
holds a high electrical charge
List some applications of the metal tantalum.
used in
-capacitors
-many electronic devices
Explain what ore grade is and how it affects the size of a mine.
Ore grade is the percentage of metal in the ore.
Which country is the world's largest producer of
tantalum?
A.
The United States of America
B.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
C.
Canada
D.
China
E.
Nigeria
B. DRC
Describe why and how geologists explore for ore deposits.
...
What is the main difference between strip and
mountaintop removal (MTR) mining?
A.
Strip is used for horizontal ore deposits whereas MTR
is used for vertical ore deposits.
B.
Strip is used for high grade ore deposits whereas MTR
is used for low grade ore deposits.
C.
Strip is used for metal ore deposits whereas MTR is
used for organic deposits (e.g., coal).
D.
Strip is less environmentally damaging than MTR.
E.
Strip can only be used to mine small deposits whereas
MTR can only be used to mine large deposits.
D
surface mining
cheaper and can remove more minerals; less hazardous to workers
subsurface mining
Used to extract a mineral resource that is
too deep to allow for economic surface
extraction
•High grade ore
waste rock
the rock that must be broken and disposed of in order to gain access to and excavate ore; it is valueless rock that must be removed or set aside in mining
acid mine drainage
•
Catastrophic failures releasing large amounts
of mine waters can occur
•
Waters can contain dangerous chemicals such
as arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals
Review: A hypothetical ore deposit begins at 5 ft below the surface
and extends to a depth of 25 ft. The ore is concentrated in several
thin layers (<1 ft each) that are approximately horizontal and
extend laterally for up to 3 miles. Considering all these factors,
which method would you choose to mine this deposit?
A.
Surface - open pit
B.
Surface - strip
C.
Subsurface
D.
All of the above methods are equally appropriate
B
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