mining and other extraction methods

Mining and other extraction methodsMining and other

extraction methods

Topic 17Topic 17

Important TermsImportant Terms Mineral Ore Reserve Surface mining Subsurface mining

Mineral Ore Reserve Surface mining Subsurface mining

Examples of commercially important minerals

Examples of commercially important minerals

Gold Tantalum (coltan) Diamonds Iron Lead Silicon Aluminum Coal*

Gold Tantalum (coltan) Diamonds Iron Lead Silicon Aluminum Coal*

Metal Global Years remaining

US years remaining

Iron 120 40

Aluminum 330 2

Lead 20 40

Gold 30 20

Nickel 75 0

Manganese 70 0

* Not technically a mineral, but mined like one

Surface mining: generalSurface mining: general Existing vegetation is cleared over burden Extraction Spoils

Surface mining is used to extract @90% of the nonfuel mineral resources and @60% of coal resources in the U.S.

Existing vegetation is cleared over burden Extraction Spoils

Surface mining is used to extract @90% of the nonfuel mineral resources and @60% of coal resources in the U.S.

Open-pit MiningOpen-pit Mining

Area Strip MiningArea Strip Mining

Contour Strip MiningContour Strip Mining

Mountaintop RemovalMountaintop Removal

Subsurface MiningSubsurface Mining

Advantages Only way to access

some resources Disturbs less than

1/10th as much land as surface mining

Usually produces less waste material

Advantages Only way to access

some resources Disturbs less than

1/10th 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

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

SubsidenceSubsidence

US Mining lawsUS Mining laws

US General Mining Law of 1872

US Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

US General Mining Law of 1872

US Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

Fig. 15-10, 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 methodsOther extraction methods

Oil drilling Oil drilling

Hydraulic fracturingHydraulic fracturing

Traditional New

Traditional New

Associated water issues

•Groundwater contamination

•Surface water contamination

•Excessive water use

Other environmental issuesOther 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 StudyANWR Case Study

Arctic tundraArctic tundra

What will happen if ANWR is developed by the oil industry?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 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?

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.

http://www.anwr.org/flash.htm

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.

http://www.anwr.org/flash.htm

Other extraction controversiesOther 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.