Professional Documents
Culture Documents
10 Mining
10 Mining
➢ The rock type in an area influences the mineral that can be found in that area since some
minerals are found in certain types of rocks
➢ Most of Botswana’s mineral resources are found in the Eastern part in areas of old
basement rock (ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks)
➢ Diamonds are found in kimberlite pipes and in Jwaneng they are found under Sand and
calcretes rock types.
➢ Coal is found under young sedimentary rocks.
➢ Soda ash is found in pans under salt deposits rock type.
➢ Copper and nickel are found in basement rocks.
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FACTORS INFLUENCING MINING/ THE EXPLOITATION OF MINERALS
➢ Quality of mineral
➢ Quantity of mineral
➢ Geological occurrence of mineral
➢ Market/ price at market/value
➢ Water
➢ Power/ electricity
➢ Labour
➢ Transport/ communication
➢ Government policy
➢ Capital
MINING METHODS
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(b) Method used to extract minerals deep underground
- Used when the mineral is deep underground e.g copper nickel mine in Selibe Phikwe
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FORMATION/ OCCURRENCE OF COPPER
➢ Occur in Basement rocks/ancient igneous rocks
➢ Has 1% mineral content
➢ Combined with nickel and cobalt
- A vertical shaft is dug using heavy machinery (highly mechanized eg, drill bits, lifts,
cranes etc.)
- Horizontal tunnels/ galleries are made to the ore body
- Drilling
- Blasting with explosives
- OCCURS WITH NICKEL
- FROM UNDERGROUND
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ADVANTAGES
-Less affected by weather conditions
-
DISADVANTAGE
-The mine may collapse
- Pollution of underground water
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-Risk of suffocation as it is very duaty, hot no enough air
-High temperature
-Expensive to operate
-it is very dark
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IMPORTANCE OF MINING TO THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY
- Excavation pits/holes/trenches
- Deforestation/loss of vegetation
- Pollution
- Mine dumps/waste heaps/artificial hills
- Slimes
- Reservoirs/dams/railway and roads/power lines
- Subsidence
- Development of mining towns/ creation of settlements
➢ Mineral led economies are economies that are completely dependent upon the
exploitation/extraction of minerals i.e not engaging in other sectors of the economy such
as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
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➢ Refers to were economy where a country that mainly depend on mining
- Inaccessible mineral ore eg. Too deep, folded/ faulted, below water table/flooding
- Small quantities/ depletion of mineral
- Government policy/politics
- Lack of market/ low demand/ economic recession
- Political instability in the area
- Mineral not being profitable/ low prices/ price fluctuations
- Lack of capital to sustain the mine/ bankruptcy
- Political instability
- Alternative products
STRATEGIC MINERALS
EXAMPLES
(a) COAL – for the production of cheap thermal energy and promoting industrialisation.
(b) OIL – for fuel production. This has affected the world’s politics e.g Middle East in the case of
the Gulf war when Iraq invaded Kuwait which supplied most of Europe and America with cheap
oil.
There has been a rapid increase in oil consumption because of:
➢ Increased industrial development
➢ Increased population
➢ Improved lifestyles/ increased vehicles
➢ Technological advancement
➢ Increased mobility
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(c) URANIUM – for the production nuclear energy and weapons. Nuclear energy is
least used because:
➢ It occurs in very few areas
➢ Expensive/ difficult to develop
➢ Highly toxic/ dangerous
➢ It is not easy to dispose its waste
➢ International restrictions by U.N.
(e) IRON ORE – Essential raw material for making steel products.
Many industries depend on steel and so it can lead to rapid industrialisation.
(d) DIAMOND – for wealth, jewellery, making cutting tools and development.