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Sookdeo ES Ch. 13
Mineral Resources and Mining
Term | Definition |
---|---|
mineral | naturally occurring inorganic solid |
precipitation | liquid in a solution evaporates and the remaining solids crystallize |
polymorph | same elements or compounds with different crystal structure due to conditions under which they form |
rock | solid mass of minerals and mineral-like material that occurs naturally |
rock cycle | rocks are heated, melted, cooled, weathered and eroded as they slowly change between the three types of rock- igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic |
ore | a mineral or group of minerals that is mined so that a metal or metals can be removed from |
strip mining | layers of surface soil and rocks are removed |
subsurface mining | vertical shafts are dug deep into the ground |
open pit mining | digging a large hole and removing the ore and unwanted rock that surrounds the ore |
mountaintop removal | forests are clear-cut and the timber is sold or burned |
placer mining | sifting through material in modern or ancient riverbed deposits |
tailings | concentrated mineral and a waster product |
smelting | heating ore beyond its melting point and combining it with other metals and chemicals |
acid draining | occurs as the acid and the metals is leaches from rock seep into groundwater or enter streams and lakes as runoff |