Minerals & Mining
Mining is the process of extracting minerals from rocks. Minerals are naturally occuring, non-living, substances found in rocks. There are three categories of minerals: (1) metallic, (2) fossil fuels, and (3) industrial.
Metallic minerals will yield metals when refined (e.g., copper ore, zinc, ore). These are predominantly found in the Western Cordillera, Appalachians, and the Canadian Shield. Fossil fuels relelase energy when burned (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil). These are predominantly found in the Interior Plains, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay Lowlands, and Appalachians. Industrial is a catchall category for everything else - neither metallic or fossil fuel (e.g., salt, gypsum, asbestos, potash, and gravel). Industrial minerals can be found in all of Canada's landform regions. Steps to MiningStep One: High Tech Prospecting
Aerial photography, satellite imagery, electromagnetic surveys, geomagnetic surveys, metallurics. Step Two: Sampling, Drilling, Assaying Sample soils and drill cores into rocks. Chemically test soil and rock samples for mineral make-up. Step Three: Select Mining Method Strip Mining: used to mine oil sand (bitumen), coal and other minerals located in the top layers near the surface. Open Pit Mining: used to mine minerals found near the surface and at great depths. Underground Mining: used to extract minerals from veins deep within the earth. Challenges to Mining in Canada
Here are some interesting links:
The Mining Association of Canada |
Chapters
26 Canada's Mineral Wealth (p. 326-348)
Definitions
Bitumen: in oil sand deposits, each grain of sand is covered by a layer of water and a heavy oil or black tar called bitumen. Processed into synthetic crude oil.
Carat: unit of mass of precious stones, especially diamonds, equal to 200 mg. Carbon Cycle: movement of carbon through plants, animals, water, soil, air and rocks. Carbon Fixation: the process whereby carbon is trapped in fossil fuels or sedimentary rock for millions of years. Fixed carbon does not contribute to global warming if we prevent its release into the atmosphere. Carbon Sink: a reservoir that stores carbon. The build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere is moderated by carbon sinks, which remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it for a period of time. The oceans, growing vegetation, soil, and some sedimentary rock (e.g., limestone) are carbon sinks because more carbon moves into them than out of them. Carbon Source: an activity or location that gives off more CO2 than it absorbs. Examples of carbon sources include volcanoes, decaying organic matter, burning forests, limestone weathering, the burning of fossil fuels, and breathing, all of which release CO2 into the atmosphere. Fossil Fuel: any mineral that can be burned to produce energy (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil). Mineral: Metallic Mineral: Industrial Mineral: Mineral Reserve: Ore: Strip Mining: Open Pit Mining: Underground Mining: Milling: Smelting: |