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Mineral Resources: Environmental Studies - Unit 2
Mineral Resources: Environmental Studies - Unit 2
Mineral Resources
• Fossil Fuels
• Metals
• Non Metal Materials
Rock Cycle
Sedimentary Processes
Alluvial /
Placer Deposit
Evaporites
Biological Deposits
• Chalks and limestone
are formed from the
Calcium carbonate
shells of organims
• Fossil fuels are formed
from the build up of
organic matter,
compressed in anerobic
conditions.
Chemical Precipitation
Manganese Nodule
Formed by the precipitation of the
substance from sea water. This is a
very slow process taking millions of
years.
Metamorphic Rock
Intrusive Igneous - Batholiths
2. Mineral Resources
The size of a resource is finite but the quantity included in the reserves can
change.
– eg the reserves will increase if there is an increase in market price or if new extraction
technologies are developed. If market prices drop then reserves may decrease.
Sources and Demand
Factors affecting the viability of exploiting mineral deposits
1. Extraction costs
• Affected by depth, overburden quality, drainage problems, size of deposit.
2. Processing costs
• The cost of extracting a metal depends upon the other elements with which it is
combined.
– eg aluminium is most abundant in clay but can only be economically extracted
from bauxite
3. Purity
4. The financial cost, energy required and quantity of ore-bearing rock
extracted all increase rapidly as ore purity decreases.
Factors affecting the viability of exploiting
mineral deposits
5. Land conflicts
Competing land uses may be considered
more important or valuable than mining.
E.g. urban areas, conservation of
landscape or wildlife.
6. Transport costs
These are affected by the distance to
market, the ease of bulk transport and the
presence of a suitable existing transport
infrastructure.
Factors affecting the viability of
exploiting mineral deposits
7. Market economics
The market demand and sale value of the minerals control the
economic viability of exploiting a particular mineral deposit.
The cut-off ore grade is the lowest ore purity that can be
exploited economically.
Mineral Resources
www.goodquarry.com
Exploration
• Marine seismic surveys
affects whales.
• Exploration on land
causes vegetation loss.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/blue-whales-face-
seismic-upset-when-feeding/2008/01/08/1199554655598.html
Land take
Extraction may
cause conflicts with
existing land uses.
This may be
reduced by
landscaping and
tree planting.
Air Pollution
• Toxic leachate,
reduced by chemical
treatment.
Spoil Disposal
• Spoil instability
can cause
landslides or
erosion.
• It can be
reduced by
drainage,
compaction and
landscaping.
Transport nuisance
• Mineral transportation can produce noise, fumes, dust and
cause traffic accidents.
• These can be reduced by water sprays and careful route
choices.
Flooding can
be caused by
drainage
water
The risk can be
reduced by
containment in
lagoons behind well-
constructed dams with
carefully timed
releases.
Subsidence
• This is caused by poor spoil compaction or
undermining.
• It can be reduced by compaction of spoil and
leaving support pillars in deep mines
Turbid Drainage Water
More exploration
• In previously unexplored areas, e.g. remote areas/areas with
difficult conditions.
eg Antarctic;
Deep ocean floor for manganese nodules
Better Exploratory techniques
Remote sensing
– eg Satellite surveys – allow rapid aerial photography of large areas of
land Geophysical techniques