APES
Chapter 14: Geology and Mining
Name______________________________
Period 2 4 8 Date________ Score_____
Mining
There are hundreds of minerals and rock that are mined for our benefit. Where do these rock and minerals
come from and how are they obtained for us to live comfortably? Using the attached handout (Friedland and
Relyea, Chapter 8 Earth Systems, pp. 226-229), complete the guided reading regarding the ores and metals,
types of mining and its legislation.
1. What factors influence the distribution of rocks and minerals on Earth?
2. Crustal abundance?
3. a. Define Ores:
b.
How are they formed? Give 2 examples:
c.
Name an ore in which we depend upon?
4. a. Define metals.
b. Examples:
c.
What are the metals bonded with?
5.
Define reserve:
6.
Types of mining:
a.
Strip mining
b.
Mining spoils or tailings
c.
Open-pit miing
d.
Mountain top removal
e.
Placer mining
f.
7.
Subsurface mining
Mining, Safety and the Environment
a. General effects on the environment from mining:
b. State the general effects of mountain top removal:
c.
State the general effects of placer mining:
d.
Using Table 8.2, review the effects of mining on various sectors of the environment and give a
short synopsis below:
Sectors
Effected
Air
Surface mining
Sub-surface mining
Water
Soil
Biodiversity
Humans
8.
Mining Legislation: Describe the legislation parameters for the following laws:
a. Mining Law of 1872
b.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA)
9. Working toward Sustainability: Mine Reclamation and Biodiversity
Describe how the Trapper Mine in Craig, Colorado rehabs the environment after mining operations are
complete. Use a separate sheet of paper (attached)
Soil Contamination Lab:
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of arsenic on soils.
Background: Soil degradation and water contamination occurs from mining. Toxic substances like
arsenic seep into streams where they can kill aquatic life or end up in our groundwater reservoir for
drinking. Other contaminants such as sulfur reacts with oxygen and can for sulfuric acid. This is
called acid mine drainage.
Directions:
1. Moisten the filter paper and place in the green pot.
2. Add 5 cm of soil to the green pot.
3. Place green pot on top of glass 250 ml beaker.
4. Measure 50 ml of water in graduated cylinder.
5. Take the pH of the soil and water. Record in the data table below.
6. Pour the 50 ml of water over the soil.
7. Record the time it takes for the 50 ml to drain through the soil and into the bottom of the beaker.
8. Measure 25 ml of the “Arsenic” into the graduated cylinder.
9. Pour over the soil.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Record the time it takes to flow through the soil.
Record the pH of the soil and the water after the arsenic has been added.
Add 2 drops of phentothalein to the water solution. Record the color change.
Add 50 ml of water and pour over the soil again.
Record ph of soil and water.
Data Table:
Soil
Soil and water
Soil and arsenic
2nd water flow
pH water / arsenic
pH soil
Color change
1. How does a pollutant from arsenic affect the water flow?
2. How does a pollutant affect the soil?
3. What inference can you make about pollutants in soil?
4. Does the addition of the second water flow change the pH of the water or soil? Why or why not?