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Module 25.2 Reading Guide Done

This document summarizes key points about weathering and soil science from an APES textbook chapter: 1) It discusses the major elements in Earth's crust, processes that form ore deposits, common ores like aluminum and methods used to determine reserves. 2) It describes different types of mining operations including strip mining, open-pit mining and mountaintop removal. Placer mining and subsurface mining are also outlined. 3) Environmental issues with mine tailings are addressed, as well as strategies for restoration and working toward more sustainable practices. The connection to the Tragedy of the Commons concept is made regarding Iowa's mining lands.

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91 views

Module 25.2 Reading Guide Done

This document summarizes key points about weathering and soil science from an APES textbook chapter: 1) It discusses the major elements in Earth's crust, processes that form ore deposits, common ores like aluminum and methods used to determine reserves. 2) It describes different types of mining operations including strip mining, open-pit mining and mountaintop removal. Placer mining and subsurface mining are also outlined. 3) Environmental issues with mine tailings are addressed, as well as strategies for restoration and working toward more sustainable practices. The connection to the Tragedy of the Commons concept is made regarding Iowa's mining lands.

Uploaded by

Marvin Hill
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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APES ch. 8 -- Module 25.

2: Weathering and Soil Science continued


Reading Guide for Friedland 3e
Pages 292-296

1. List the four most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust from highest % to lowest %. Answer: oxygen,
silicon, aluminum, and iron.

2. Describe one of the geologic processes that form ores. Answer: Ores are concentrated accumulations
of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted. Ores are typically
characterized by the presence of valuable metals, but accumulations of other valuable materials, such
as salt or sand, can also be considered ores.

3. Name the ore in which aluminum is most commonly found. Answer: Metals are elements with
properties that allow them to conduct electricity and heat energy and to perform other important
functions. Copper, nickel, and aluminum are common examples of metals.

4. What is a reserve and how is it determined? Answer: The known quantity of the resource that can be
economically recovered. A resource is considered economically recoverable (or extractable) if the
concentration in the host rock is high enough for it to be profitably mined.

5. Complete the “Your Turn” in the Do the Math section on p. 293. SHOW YOUR WORK. Answer: 1%
because the total number of automobiles in world, I added the developed and developing world
numbers together and divide the number of automobiles in the developing world by total automobiles in
the world then I multiply the decimal fraction by 100.

6. Describe the following types of mining operations and their uses:

a. Strip mining Answer: Strip mining, or the removal of “strips” of soil and rock to expose the
underlying ore, is used when the ore is relatively close to Earth’s surface and runs parallel to it,
which is often the case for deposits of sedimentary materials such as coal and sand.

b. Open-pit mining Answer: Open-pit mining, a mining technique that creates a large visible pit or
hole in the ground, is used when the resource is close to the surface but extends beneath the
surface both horizontally and vertically.

c. Mountaintop removal Answer: Mountaintop removal, miners remove the entire top of a mountain
with explosives. Large earth-moving equipment removes the resource and deposits the tailings
in lower-elevation regions nearby, often in or near rivers and streams.

d. Placer mining Answer: Placer mining is the process of looking for metals and precious stones in
river sediments. Miners use the river water to separate heavier items, such as diamonds,
tantalum, and gold, from lighter items, such as sand and mud.

e. Subsurface mining Answer: When the desired resource is more than 100 m (328 feet) below
Earth’s surface, miners must turn to subsurface mining, which is mining that occurs below the
surface of Earth.

7. Which of the above are surface mining? Answer: A variety of surface mining techniques can be used
to remove a mineral or ore deposit that is close to the surface of Earth. Strip mining.
8. Which of the above are subsurface mining? Answer: Which is mining that occurs below the surface of
Earth. Typically, a subsurface mine begins with a horizontal tunnel dug into the side of a mountain or
other feature containing the resource.

9. What are mine tailings and what environmental issues do they cause? Answer: Mine tailings are the
mineral and other residues that are left behind after the desired metal or ore is removed. A variety of
strategies can be used to restore the affected area to something close to its original condition.

10. Read “Working Toward Sustainability” and write at least 3 notes. Answer:

 A disturbed ecosystem can return to a state similar to its original condition only if the original
physical, chemical, and biological properties of the land are re-created.
 The land must be replanted. In order to re-create the communities of organisms that inhabited
the area before mining, the vegetation planted on the site must be native to the area and foster
the process of natural succession.
 The materials used in the reclamation must be relatively free of metals, acids, and other
compounds that could potentially leach into nearby bodies of water.

11. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5AJMz67KBg&t=280s

Connections→ Describe how Iowa’s mining lands are related to the Tragedy of the Commons. Answer: In the case of
Iowa’s mining lands, the mining industry’s focus on extracting finite natural resources which led to the
environmental degradation and long-lasting footprints.

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