Mining
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Describe the processes that produce hydrothermal metal mineral deposits. (4)
Hot water/steam; dissolved minerals; different solubility(of different metal minerals); movement (of solution along fissure/vent/fault); cooling (of solution); deposition/crystallisation/coming out of solution/precipitation; order (of deposition)/separation;
Outline how an assessment of the viability of a mine requires information about mineral deposits. (3)
Ore purity; chemical form; ore body area; ore body shape; total mass/quantity; effect of feature on viability; [R unqualified economics]
Outline how an assessment of the viability of a mine requires information about associated geological structures. (3)
Overburden hardness (for removal); overburden stability (for landslip risk); depth/overburden thickness; drainage; faulting; shape of structure/anticline/syncline/dome/dip/named example; designated/protected geological feature; effect of feature on viability; [R unqualified economics]
Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using satellite surveying techniques rather than ground-based surveys. (4)
Advantages;; eg large area surveyed rapidly surveys of inaccessible areas cost effective/less labour intensive lower habitat impact Disadvantages;; eg high initial cost less detailed information less sub-surface information clouds obscure surface no physical samples (for analysis)
Describe one method of exploiting minerals from low grade ore deposits. (2)
Named method; detail of how it works; eg leachate/solution electrolysis bacteria/Thiobacillus acid/leaching (large scale) mechanisation reduce unit extraction costs plant absorption/ phytomining/ phytoremediation/ brassicas harvest/incineration streaming waste washed away floatation/oil-water separation density
Use one example to describe how material substitution may be used to conserve the reserves of metal minerals. (2)
Named material and use; named alternative material for that use; eg copper (telecoms) cables plastic copper pipes plastic copper (electricity) cables aluminium steel/aluminium car panels plastic/carbon fibre/composite material
Describe a method that may be used to extend the operation of a mine by exploiting low grade ores. (2)
One suitable method; detail of how it works; eg leachate collection/recyclingelectrolysis Thiobacillus/bacteria oxidise sulfur/produce acid/acidic solution dissolves metal/copper large scale mechanisation/named improvement in technology economies of scale/cheaper per tonne of material phytoremediation/hyperaccumulators/brassicas absorption of metal
Explain why the exploitation of low grade ores is likely to affect the energy required to extract the metal. (2)
Increased energy requirement; more difficult extraction/processing/time consuming/more material mined;
Outline how a change in the economy may cause the cut-off ore grade of a mineral to change. (2)
Named factor; correct direction of change; eg more market demand COOG goes down increased sales price COOG goes down 2 Total
What is a resource? (2)
all material that is theoretically available for exploitation using possible future technology
What is a reserve? (2)
material that can be exploited now using current technology
Outline one way that improved technology may be used to exploit low grade ores. (2)
Technique; descriptive comment/example; eg production of acid solution dissolve metal/copper biorecovery/bacterial action/Thiobacillus metal solubility/ copper/ platinum hyperaccumulators/plant absorption absorb/increase concentration/later extraction/heavy metals electrolysis production of solution/precipitation/deposition/copper [R aluminium] chemical precipitation control of pH/oxidation level/addition of chemical/copper/iron ion absorption named absorber eg ion exchange resin, zeolite sands/uranium increased mechanisation economies of scale/reduced unit costs [R unqualified reference to cheaper] [R reference to exploratory techniques]
environmental impacts of mineral exploitation.
Land uptake habitat loss dust pollution noise pollution turbid drainage water (suspended solid particles) a reduction in stability
Techniques to reduce environmental impacts
Recycling cradle-to-cradle design - designing products so they are able to be reused at the end of their useful life