Mining:

From Exploration to Rehabilitation

Mining – From Exploration to Rehabilitation

During the Program

Chapter 1 – History of mining

1. What did the earliest mining involve?

Using sticks and tools to dig up the ground.

2. Why did humans develop more intensive systems of mining?

The demand for the minerals went up and once they took the minerals from the
surface they needed a way to get the ones stuck underground.

3. The mining of rare metals, ores in low concentrations or hard to mine ores, although time
consuming and expensive can be justified commercially. What does this mean?
Even though mining rare minerals can be expensive, they are under high demand
and give a larger pay-off, so the expenses are covered.

4. Since early man, humans have altered their mining techniques. Why?
Humans have always improved their mining techniques because they wanted to be
more effective with their resources.

Chapter 2 – Ores and minerals

1. What is an ore? Give an example of an ore mined today.

An ore is a metallic mineral that as it is justified economically.
 Mining:
From Exploration to Rehabilitation

2. Minerals are generally classified as inorganic. Explain what this means. Why are the
resources of coal and oil not classified as inorganic ores?
Inorganic means they are natural occurring minerals that don’t include past living
organisms. Therefore oil and coal wouldn’t be inorganic as they are made from
organic matter.

3. Mineral deposits are formed over time. List the three main processes involved in forming
mineral deposits.

4. How long does it take to form a mineral?

5. Explain what a non renewable resource is.

6. Rare minerals such as rubies or diamonds are called .

7. Identify at least 3 examples of valuable ores needed in today’s world.

Chapter 3 – Mineral exploration

1. Outline three major steps involved in the search for new mineral deposits.
 Mining:
From Exploration to Rehabilitation

2. If a geologist says an area is prospective what does that mean?

3. To do assay work the geologist performs tests to evaluate what about a mineral/ore?

4. What do the letters EIS stand for?

5. EIS are carried out to determine what factors about a prospective mine?

6. The first stage of a geological survey involves 4 steps: They are:

 Mining:
From Exploration to Rehabilitation

Chapter 4 – The mining process

1. Complete the following table on the four processes of mining.

Mining Process Example of Mineral Mined Reason for Process

Underground mining Gold, diamond, nickel, silver

Strip mining Coal, bauxite, sand, gravel

Coal, gold, marble, Ore close to surface.

Open pit mining
sandstone

Ore needs to be dissolved

Leeching into an easily removable
substance

2. Leaching involves the use of a solvent. What function does the solvent perform?

It makes bubbles that attach to the minerals and brings it to the surface.

3. Fill in the blanks:

Froth involves grinding up an very fine, then

attaching the desired mineral to which float to the

. It requires making the mineral so it is repelled by

water.
 Mining:
From Exploration to Rehabilitation

Chapter 5 – Rehabilitation

1. Explain what happens to a mine site when mining a mineral is no longer feasible.
The mine is shut down and rehabilitated.

2. Rehabilitation of a mine involves many processes. List and explain three.

To be made into farmland, they can be flattened and can be covered in clay to keep
it safe. They are generally filled in.