Mining

Question 1

Example mined mineral resources in South Africa

Answer 1

• Gold
• Platinum
• Chrome
• Coal
• Iron
• Diamonds

Question 2

Benefits of South Africas mining industry

Answer 2

• A sustained economy
• Promoted technical expertise

Question 3

Remove of take out of

Answer 3

Extract

Question 4

Ore

Answer 4

Rock with a high concentration of a valuable mineral

Question 5

Veins in the earth

Answer 5

Lines of solidified lava that have formed in cracks in other rock

Question 6

Mining

Answer 6

The process whereby ore is removed from the earths crust

Question 7

Types of mines

Answer 7

• Surface / opencast mines
• Tunnels / shaft mines

Question 8

Ways of processing ore

Answer 8

• Physical extraction
• Chemical extraction

Question 9

How gold is separated physically from alluvial deposits

Answer 9

• Gold sluicing and gold panning:
• Gold is much more dense than oher sediments
• It is able to be separated in by running water from other sendiments as it settles quicker

Question 10

Alluvial deposits

Answer 10

Material deposited by a river

Question 11

Gold panning

Answer 11

• Sediment is placed in a pan
• Water is added and the pan is swirled around
• The gold drops to the bottom and the swirling water and sediments are tipped out
• The gold dust and flakes can be collected from the bottom of the pan

Question 12

Making a natural product more pure by removong unwanted substances

Answer 12

Refining

Question 13

Chemical extraction of ore using solutions

Answer 13

• Dissolving the ore usimng a suitable chemical
• Removing the mineral from the chemical solution

Question 14

Smelting

Answer 14

Processing ore by heating to extract the mineral in the ore

Question 15

Sa scientist who studies ancient peoples

Answer 15

Archaeologist

Question 16

An alloy

Answer 16

A mixture of metals

Question 17

Steel

Answer 17

An alloy of iron and other minerals e.g. carbon

Question 18

Advantages of alloys

Answer 18

Produce new ‘types’ of metal often with better qualities than any of the components in the alloy alone

Question 19

a fuel made from coal in the same way that charcoal is made from wood

Answer 19

Coke

Question 20

Ancient method of smelting

Answer 20

• A furnace is made with a source of air and a chimney
• Layers of charcoal and crushed iron ore laid inside the furnace
• A fire is lit in the furnace and air is pumped into the furnace to raise the temperature
• The entire process continues for a number of hours

Question 21

The chemistry of smelting

Answer 21

• Iron oxide is mixed with charcoal powder (carbon)
• The oxygen in the iron oxide reacts witht the carbon to make carbon dioxide gas which escapes out the chimney
• The iron is left behind

Question 22

Modern smelting process

Answer 22

• Coke is used instead of charcoal
• Molten iron is blasted with heated air
• The molten iron is then blasted with pure oxygen to burn the leftover carbon to only 1-2.5%
• Steel is formed and additional metals are added e.g. chrome

Question 23

The constructed networks of a country, e.g. roads, electricity and water supply

Answer 23

Infrastructure

Question 24

Something that causes pollution

Answer 24

A pollutant

Question 25

Radioactive

Answer 25

Material that emits radiation energy, particles or rays which damage living tissue

Question 26

Acid mine drainage

Answer 26

Water that is polluted with acidic chemicals draining into natural water systems

Question 27

Example ways that mines directly impact the environment

Answer 27

* Scar the land * Destroy natural habitats * Pollute water and air * Produce large amounts of waste, dust and poisonous chemicals

Question 28

Huge piles of crushed rock and material stored in high piles after mining excavation and extraction.

Answer 28

Mine dumps

Question 29

The pollutant in mine dumps causing locals to be relocated in Krugersdorp.

Answer 29

Radioactive waste

Question 30

An example hazardous chemical used in gold processing that can be left behind in mine dumps and dissolves in water ending up in nearby streams

Answer 30

Cyanide

Question 31

The effect of acid mine drainage on the environment

Answer 31

* Devastates freshwater ecosystems, killing most organisms * Pollutes groundwater that could be used for drinking or irrigation * The groundwater can remain hazardous for thousands of years

Question 32

How mining impacts nature conservation, cultural and heritage sites.

Answer 32

* Mine dumps * water pollution * acid mine drainage * smoke and smells * destruction of natural vegetation * noise pollution