Science Minerals and Mining Quiz

Question	Answer
mineral	- solid, inorganic (may contain something that was living), chemical formula - valuable and useful
physical and chemical properties	distinguish minerals - differences in chemical composition + crystal structure - hardness, luster, color, streak, breakage, magnetism, effervesence
nonrenewable resource	- a resource that exists in a fixed amount - only replaced by physical and chemical processes that take millions of years
deposits	high concentration of minerals in the earths surface
ores	rocks that contain a concentration of mineral that can be mined for profit
geologic processes	create and concentrate minerals
surface mining	- relatively safe, inexpensive - blast or dug hole (creates tailing) - mountaintop removal, open-pit, strip mining - transport trucks and blasting can disrupt ecosystems that purify water
tailing	- ore processed to remove minerals - dumped in tailing ponds which can be toxic - clay and vegetation is put over
overburden	- rock and soil found above minera deposits - must be replaced after mining
underground mining	- explosives in boreholes, rubble removed - ground support and equipment to provide ventilation, light, oxygen, and ground transport - air/water pollution, water-flow changes,
reclamation	- law stating that land must be restored to its natural state after mining - minimizes environmental impacts

Resource summary

	Created by Natalie Minor almost 3 years ago