Earth and Space Science: Mining In Australia

This project-based learning assignment addresses Western Australian Curriculum Objectives as follows:
Learning Objectives
 Recognise that some rocks, minerals, and ores, provide valuable resources in our everyday lives.
 Explain and compare the different types of mining: open cut, strip, dredge, underground and in situ leaching.
 Explore gold mining in Australia.
 List mining considerations and rehabilitation efforts.

Aspects of Differentiation (G&T and SBAE)

 History of Australia’s mining and the gold rush
 Mineral research report.
 Stages of mining process and rehabilitation consideration.
 Gold prospecting, panning and STAR extractive metallurgy program.

Working in groups of 4, choose one mines site. Then each person chooses one mining role and complete the task description for that
role.
Argyle Diamond Mine Boddington Gold Mine Olympic Dam Metal Mine

 Argyle (riotinto.com)
 Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberley -
Mining Technology (mining-
technology.com)
 Argyle diamond mine - Wikipedia
 Complete the glossary in appendix 3.
 Newmont Corporation - Operations &
Projects - Global Presence - Australia -
Boddington – AU
 Boddington Gold Mine (BGM), Western
Australia (WA) (mining-technology.com)
 Boddington Gold Mine - Wikipedia
 Complete the glossary in appendix 3.
 South Australia Olympic dam | BHP
 Olympic Dam | Energy & Mining
(energymining.sa.gov.au)
 Olympic Dam Copper-Uranium Mine,
Adelaide, Australia - (mining-
technology.com)
 Complete the glossary in appendix 3.
Role
Mining Engineer (Bridget)
A Mining Engineer
evaluates, plans, and
oversees the construction of
mines and specifies the
processes, labour usage, and
equipment that will be
required to extract minerals
and ores from the earth.
Geologist (Hayley)
Mining geologists work in
all aspects of the mining
industry, from exploration
to mine design, to
evaluating ore quality, and
to assisting in minimizing
the impact of mining on the
local environment.
Task Description Presentation
Explain the type of mine site that has been constructed to extract the Present this information as a
minerals/ores from your mine. What relevance does this have due to other model/poster of mine site layout
factors in the surrounding environment such as, water bodies, mountains,  Compare ‘types of mines’
towns etc. See appendix 1. using tables or tabs, diagrams.
o State the 3 main factors a type of mining is chosen.  Identify & describe
o Identify and describe the mechanical/physical aspects of the sections/parts/areas of your
ore/mineral extraction methods and how this relates to the type of mine site using notes, tabs,
mine used. labels.
o Refer to golds formation underground.  Include relevant abiotic
o Compare and contrast this mine site to other types, such as open cut, (towns, water bodies) and
strip, dredging, underground and in situ leaching. See appendix 2. biotic (national parks) factors.
o Complete the glossary in appendix 3
Define rocks, minerals, and ores. How are they formed? Give a few Present this information in
examples of each and how they play a vital part in our everyday lives a PowerPoint format which
o Identify and refer to the rocks, minerals, ores extracted from your mine would be presented to a
site mining boardroom.
o Identify and refer to the properties of gold and its everyday use in our
lives.  Use pictures, diagrams, and
o Identify the properties of your mine sites mineral/s (lustre, cleavage, graphs to represent your
colour, streak, and hardness. information.
o Describe the extraction process of the rocks, minerals, and ores at your
mine site. Include mechanical and chemical methods.
o Provide some statistical information on the minerals/ores extracted at
your mine site. Amounts extracted, future projections, global and
domestic economic value, compare amounts extracted domestically

Public Relations and
Marketing (Julia)
In the mining industry, PR
is paramount
to communicating and
maintaining relationships
with the local and general
public and major
stakeholders. The PR arm of
a mining company is
responsible for ensuring
strong brand equity and
buoyancy throughout
operations. It’s a vital
ingredient in the marketing
mix for a mining company
Environmental
Scientist/Engineer
(Jordan)
Look at what the
environmental impacts of
mining are the subject of
and globally etc.
o Complete the glossary in appendix 3
Mineral Resources: Mines, Minerals, Rocks and Ores - Chemistry
Hive
Rocks and Minerals: Everyday Uses | Museum of Natural and Cultural
History (uoregon.edu)
Explain the importance of the mining industry to Australia’s history, Present this information in a
economy, and global significance. pamphlet which is designed to
o Refer to the importance of Australia’s gold industry to its economy. educate the public on the
o Refer to the gold rush as a link to the historical importance of mining in importance of mining in Australia,
Australia. it’s historical links and prospects
o Identify and refer to the history and importance of your mine site to domestically and globally. This is
Australia’s ore productions and economy. to encourage investment, and
o Refer to the importance of rocks and minerals to the aboriginal people, interest, publicly and politically in
how did they use them?
the industry for the future.
o Complete the glossary in appendix 3
Free Pamphlet Maker - Create
Pamphlet Designs Online | Canva
Australian Mining History - Australasian Mining History
Australian mining industry (ausimm.com)
Explain the impact mining has on the local environment and on humans. Present this information in a written
What measure are being implemented to reduce impact and rehabilitate report format.
the area after operations. Including aboriginal communities.  Use appropriate headings and
o Identify and refer to some of the environmental impacts your mine subheadings.
site is having on the area and ways in which it’s being managed.  Include diagrams, picture,
o Identify the use of a tailings dam in mining and how they manage this
increased community
scrutiny. In response to
crucial environmental and
community concerns we
have invested over two
decades of R&D developing
science and technologies
that help minimise
environmental impacts prior
to, during and post-mining,
to support a sustainable
future for the industry and
society
during and after operations. maps etc.
o Refer to mining erosion and reforestation.
o Complete the glossary in appendix 3
Mining considerations:
o biodiversity, water and air contamination, deforestation, human
occupational health, and safety (disease), aboriginal artifacts and
history, employment etc.
Rehabilitation:
o breeding and release programs, reforestation, excavation, removal of
mine site buildings, water bodies and purification, agriculture
Life Cycle of a Mine: From Planning to Rehabilitation
(visualcapitalist.com)
APPENDIX 1.
Example of a Mine Site Map/Model

APPENDIX 2.
Comparing and Contrasting Types of Mine Sites.
Types of Mining Methods Explained (experteasy.com.au)
Type of Mine Description Above or Ores/Minerals Examples
(Identify Advantages and Disadvantages) below ground mined

Open Cut Advantages Above ground Copper Super Pit Gold Mine –
High productivity, low operating costs, safe mining Gold WA
operations Iron Ore Boddington Gold Mine -
Disadvantages
It damages the environment because all of the topsoil
Lead WA
and vegetation is removed. Zinc
Uranium
Strip Advantages Above Ground Coal Mount Whaleback Mine –
Low cost. Lignite WA
Disadvantages
Yandicoogina Mine - WA
It is bad for human health and the environment.
Dredging Advantages Above ground. Gold Nettle Creek – QLD
Can clear ocean rubbish. Tin Eldorado Dredge - VIC
Disadvantages Platinum
Can disrupt ecosystems.
Underground Advantages Under ground Gold Gwalia Gold Mine - WA
Low environmental impact, increased safety. Iron
Disadvantages Copper
Possibly hazardous conditions, water Zinc
contamination. Nickel
Tin
Lead
Situ leaching (leaching) Advantages Above ground. copper carbonate Beverley Uranium
Reduced risk to operators. Uranium Mine – SA
Disadvantages Honeymoon Uranium
Groundwater contamination, unpredictability. Mine – SA

APPENDIX 3.
Glossary
Mineral Properties:
Mineral Properties:
Lustre: How a mineral's surface
reflects light
Cleavage: The tendency of a
mineral to break along certain
planes to make smooth surfaces
Hardness: How hard a rock is to
scratch. Defined on the Moh’s
scale
Colour: the hue, brightness,
chromaticity, and saturation of a
mineral
Streak: The color of a mineral's
powder
In Mining:
Explore: The process of
searching areas where mineral
resources may be present
Enrich: When valuable metals
are separated in a processing
plant
Froth Flotation: A method where
minerals are separated from
impurities and other minerals by
collecting them on a froth layer.
Extract: The removal of minerals
such as sand, soil, coal and clay
from an excavation in the earth
Smelting: When a metal is
obtained from its ore by heating
beyond the melting point
Tailings
Tailings: The waste materials left
after the target mineral is
extracted from ore
Erosion: When materials are
worn away and transported by
natural forces such as wind or
water
Weathering: The breaking down
of rocks and minerals on the
surface of the Earth
Hydrothermal fluids: Heated
water solutions where elements,
compounds and gases may be
dissolved
Mineral: A naturally occurring
element or compound with a
defined chemical composition
Ore: The rock from which a
valuable substance is extracted
Rock: A naturally occurring solid
material made of one or more
minerals
Leaching
Leaching: When chemicals
dissolve the desired metals from
an ore for recovery
Rehabilitation: The process used
to repair the impacts that mining
had on the environment
Gold: A yellow metallic element
that occurs naturally in pure
form
Bauxite mining: Where bauxite
(the main source of aluminium)
is mined
Gold panning: When particles
are extracted from gravels by
washing in a pan with water
Gold prospecting: The act of
searching for new gold deposits
STAR extractive metallurgy
program: Extractive metallurgists
extract and purify products from
ores obtained through mining
operations
 Mine: A pit or excavation in the
earth from which mineral
substances are taken

APPENDIX 4.
Student Group and Role Allocation
Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Minesite
Engineer
Geologist
PR
Marketing
Enviro Sci

APPENDIX 5.
Project-based Learning Progress Check
Group Mine Progress to date Goals to achieve
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

APPENDIX 6.
Collect Group Members Work
Role Study Notes
Engineer

Geologist

PR

Enviro Sci