Cookie Mining - Lab 3 Stephen Herr page 1

Stephen Herr AP Environmental Science

Section 1 stephen_herr@verizon.net

Lab 3 Cookie Mining January 30, 2005

Idarado Mine Superfund Site,

Red Mountain Pass, CO August 2004

California Gulch Superfund Cleanup Site,

Leadville, CO August 2004

Old Hundred Mine,

Leadville CO August 2004

Marble Mine, Marble, CO August 2004

California Gulch Mine,

Leadville, CO August 2004

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LAB REPORT / ANALYSIS QUESTIONS 1. Were your ore materials evenly distributed throughout the cookie mine? Do you think this is a realistic simulation? Yes, the chocolate chips were fairly evenly distributed throughout the cookie. This is not a realistic simulation because ore is not typically distributed in real life. It is often found in veins or in pockets. 2. Were you able to restore the mined cookie to exactly its original size and topography? No, I was not able to completely restore the cookie to it original condition. It would be impossible to do so because I could not fill in the holes where the ore was removed. Also part of the cookie was damaged and crumbled in the process of removing the ore from this cookie. I was unable to put the crumbles back together to form a solid cookie. 3. Discuss the results of an actual mining reclamation operation. Be sure to consider the internal integrity of the land. How does a reclamation operation impact the plant populations, animal populations, water cycle and soil? When a mine is reclaimed, the area affected by the mining operations is restored to as close to original condition as possible. The reclamation process facilitates the return of plant and animal populations that were adversely affected by the mining operations by returning the area to its previous condition. Manmade items are removed from the location, soil is moved to match the original topography, and vegetation is replanted. The new vegetation helps improve the quality of run off from the area by preventing erosion. Animal populations return to the area in response to the vegetation. The reclamation process does not happen overnight. It may take decades before the area begins to resemble the previous state it was in before the mining took place, and even then, the area is not the same as it once was. 4. According to your Cookie Mining Worksheet, was the total value of your mining location positive or negative? What does this mean? The total value of my mining location was $13.90. That means that it was a profitable venture to attempt to mine the ore.

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5. Is the additional expense of mine reclamation necessary? Why or why not? Yes, the additional expense of mine reclamation is necessary. Without reclaiming the area surrounding the mine, this area would remain in an unnatural, disturbed, and damaged state. 6. Identify and describe a federal law that regulates mining. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977): Is intended to ensure that coal mining activity is conducted with sufficient protections of the public and the environment, and provides for the restoration of abandoned mining areas to beneficial use. 7. Discuss some ways you can reduce your need for mined resources? One easy way to reduce the consumption of aluminum is to not buy cans of soda and drink water from a reusable container. Another way to indirectly reduce the need of mined resources is to sell old cars instead of letting them sit unused. This will prevent the potential buyer from having to purchase a new car made from metal that did not need to be mined. 8. Write a comprehensive summary and conclusion of your lab results.

My mining company was marginally successful because the value of the ore was slightly greater than the sum of the property, operational, and land reclamation costs and fines for violating environmental regulations. If I didn’t not have to pay fines, or reclaim land, I would have had a much larger profit.