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Impacts of Mining

Kate Anderson

Kate Anderson

7 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers mining techniques (open-pit, underground, heap leaching, strip mining, and mountain top removal) and their environmental impacts. It also discusses mining waste (overburden, tailings/slag, and waste rock) and its effects on human health and the environment (toxic substances, land degradation, and water contamination). The guide includes practice questions and emphasizes key topics for exam preparation.

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.

    Open-Pit Mining

    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.

    Underground Coal Mine

    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.

  • Imagine peeling off layers of the Earth like a cake.

    Strip Mining Coal

    Image Courtesy of Wikimedia: A view of a strip coal mine.

Key Concept

Mountain Top Removal

- A particularly destructive form of strip mining where entire mountaintops are removed to access coal seams. - Causes massive habitat destruction and water pollution. - Imagine leveling a mountain to get to the coal underneath.
![Mountain Top Removal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Mountaintop_removal_mine_in_Pike_County%2C_Kentucky.jpg/800px-Mountaintop_removal_mine_in_Pike_County%2C_Kentucky.jpg)

*Image Courtesy of Wikimedia: The devastating effects of mountain top removal.*

Mining Waste: The Leftovers 🗑️

Mining doesn't just extract valuable stuff; it also produces a lot of waste. Understanding this waste is crucial for the AP exam.

Types of Mining Waste

  • Overburden: The soil and rock removed to reach the minerals.
  • Tailings/Slag: Leftover materials after mineral extraction.
  • Waste Rock: Rock removed that doesn't contain valuable minerals.

Environmental and Health Impacts

  • Toxic substances: Tailings and waste rock often contain heavy metals (like mercury and arsenic) that can leach into soil and water. ⚠️
  • Land degradation: Storing waste degrades land and destroys natural landscapes.
  • Water contamination: Coal mining contaminates water supplies and produces dust and methane.
  • Worker hazards: Deep mining operations are expensive and dangerous for workers.
Memory Aid

Mnemonic for remembering mining waste: Overburden, Tailings, Waste Rock = OTW (like 'on the way' out of the mine)

Exam Tip

Remember to connect mining techniques with their environmental consequences. Focus on the specific pollutants and habitat destruction associated with each method.

Final Exam Focus 🎯

Alright, let's get down to brass tacks. Here's what you absolutely need to nail for the exam:

  • High-Priority Topics:
    • Environmental impacts of different mining techniques (especially mountain top removal and strip mining).
    • Types of mining waste and their effects on water and soil quality.
    • The connection between mining, resource depletion, and human health.
  • Common Question Types:
    • Multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge of different mining methods and their impacts.
    • Free-response questions that require you to analyze the environmental consequences of mining and propose solutions.
  • Last-Minute Tips:
    • Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back to it later.
    • Common Pitfalls: Be careful not to confuse different mining techniques. Pay attention to the specific details of each method.
    • Strategies for Challenging Questions: Break down complex questions into smaller, more manageable parts. Use diagrams and charts to help you visualize the concepts.
Quick Fact

Remember that mining is a major source of pollution and habitat destruction. Understanding these impacts is key for the exam.

Practice Questions

Here are a few practice questions to test your knowledge:

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Which of the following mining techniques is most likely to cause the greatest habitat destruction? (A) Open-pit mining (B) Underground mining (C) Heap leaching (D) Mountain top removal

  2. Which of the following is a common environmental consequence of mining? (A) Increased biodiversity (B) Reduced soil erosion (C) Water contamination (D) Decreased greenhouse gas emissions

Free Response Question

A mining company is proposing to develop a new open-pit mine in a remote area.

(a) Describe TWO potential environmental impacts of this mining operation. (2 points) (b) Explain ONE way that the mining company could mitigate one of the environmental impacts you described in part (a). (2 points) (c) Discuss ONE economic benefit of mining for the local community. (1 point) (d) Describe ONE potential long-term ecological consequence of the mining operation that might not be immediately apparent. (1 point)

Answer Key and Scoring Breakdown

Multiple Choice Answers:

  1. (D)
  2. (C)

Free Response Answers:

(a) Potential Environmental Impacts (2 points total, 1 point each)

  • Habitat destruction: Open-pit mining removes all vegetation and topsoil, destroying habitats for local species.
  • Water pollution: Runoff from the mine can carry sediments and toxic substances into nearby water bodies.

(b) Mitigation Strategy (2 points total, 1 point for identifying a strategy, 1 point for explaining how it mitigates the impact)

  • Strategy: Implement a water treatment system.
  • Explanation: This can remove pollutants and sediments from the mine runoff before it enters natural water bodies, reducing water contamination.

(c) Economic Benefit (1 point)

  • Job creation: Mining operations can create jobs for local residents, boosting the local economy.

(d) Long-Term Ecological Consequence (1 point)

  • Soil degradation: The removal of topsoil and the disturbance of the land can lead to long-term soil degradation, which can affect plant growth and ecosystem recovery.

You've got this! Remember, you're not just memorizing facts; you're understanding how our actions impact the planet. Go get 'em! 🌟

Question 1 of 12

⛏️ What is the main purpose of mining?

To create new landforms

To extract valuable minerals and materials

To dispose of waste products

To generate energy