#Mining and Resource Extraction ⛏️

Hey there, future AP Environmental Science superstar! Let's dive into the world of mining, a crucial topic that connects resource extraction, environmental impact, and human health. This guide is designed to make sure you're not just memorizing facts, but truly understanding the big picture.

#Mining Techniques: Digging Deeper 🕳️

Mining is all about extracting valuable minerals and materials from the Earth. It's essential for our modern lives, but it comes with significant environmental costs. Let's explore the different ways we dig in:

#Open-Pit Mining

• Removes the surface layer (overburden) to access minerals like gold and copper.

• Relatively less invasive and less expensive than underground mining.

• Think of it like digging a giant hole in the ground.

  

  Image Courtesy of Wikimedia: A classic example of an open-pit mine.

#Underground Mining

• Accesses minerals deep below the surface.

• More complex and expensive than open-pit mining.

• Imagine a network of tunnels and shafts going deep into the Earth.

  

  Image Courtesy of Wikimedia: An example of a tunnel in an underground coal mine.

#Heap Leaching

• Extracts minerals like gold and copper from piles of ore.
• Uses chemical solutions to dissolve and collect the minerals.
• Think of it like a giant coffee filter, but for rocks.

#Strip Mining

• Removes overburden to extract minerals (like coal) in strips.
• Similar to open-pit mining but for shallower deposits.
• Ima...