Transcript Mining

Rubin Pajoohan Fartak International Engineering co.
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Minerals are naturally occurring substances
found in rocks, soils, or sediments.
Minerals deposits that can be mined
profitably are called ores.
They can be either metallic or non-metallic
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Metallic minerals 1.
Associated with intrusive igneous rock
These deposits can consist of valuable metals such as
nickel, copper , zinc , lead, and gold
Metallic minerals must be broken apart and chemically
processed to extract the useful metal from the mineral.
At one time magma containing dispersed minerals was
forced up towards the earth’s surface through fissures.
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Super heated brines 
dissolved metallic
elements, which
flowed into some of
these cracks. As they
cooled they solidified
and formed veins.
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- Found in
sedimentary rock
- formed from the
remains of living
organisms that were
transformed over
time by heat and
pressure into coal, oil,
or natural gas
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Industrial minerals (gypsum, potash, rock salt)
- found mainly in sedimentary rock.
- formed in shallow seas in regions with hot
dry climates.
- as water evaporated, it became more and
more salty
- eventually the salt began ti build up in
layers
- in some cases the seas dried up .
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Structural minerals
- associated with all types of rocks
- are the products of river, wind, and glacial
deposition
- include sand, gravel, and clay
- used mostly as construction materials
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The old fashioned way 
of finding a mine was
your prospector with a
pick and shovel, a gold
pan, and a lot of luck.
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Today, technologies used include, but are not
limited to, exploration geology, geophysics,
geochemistry, and satellite imagery.
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Geology is the study of the planet Earth—the
materials of which our planet is made, the
processes that act on these materials, and
the products formed.
Geologists use ground-mapping techniques
to identify features seen on satellite images
and aerial maps of large tracts of the
continent.
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Ground-based surveys are expensive, and one
can often experience difficulty in mapping
large-scale structures. However, large
geological structures are often readily visible
on satellite imagery.
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Geophysical exploration involves searching
for favorable mineral deposits using the
physical properties of rocks.
Geophysical investigations groundpenetrating radar studies or the use of
seismic waves to show contrasting rock
types.
The selected rock units of interest might then
be mapped and sampled.
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Geochemists can determine the composition
of what lies below the Earth's surface by
sampling soil. Soil at the surface can carry a
chemical signature of what lies below,
because of the movement of chemicals
through the rise and fall of the water table.
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Positive geochemical results from surface
sampling are followed by a drilling program.
Because of the great expense, drilling is only
carried out when the area is very likely to
contain substantial mineral deposits.
Drilling produces either rock fragments, or
'cores' of rock for sampling to determine
whether the mineral deposit contains
worthwhile concentrations of ore minerals.
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Used when ore bodies
lie near the surface
Large hole exposes the
ore body
Waste rock
(overburden) is
removed
2nd cheapest method,
but has the largest
environmental impact.
Why?
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The cheapest and safest method, but can have a 
significant impact environmentally on the surface.
Why?
The ore is close to the surface of the land (30m) but 
has one or more layers of rock and dirt on top of
it. To mine the ore, these layers have to be taken
off.
This mining is done in long, narrow strips. When the 
ore is done in one strip, the miners begin to create
another strip next to it. The waste, dirt, and rock
that they take off of the top of the next strip is put
on top of the last one.
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Very expensive and the most dangerous of
the three methods, but has the least impact
environmentally on the earth’s surface. Why?
Underground mining is done when the rocks,
minerals, or gemstones are too far
underground to get out with surface mining.
Entry into underground mines is by vertical
shafts, or by a sloping tunnel.
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To extract the ore, the components required
to build large pieces of machinery are taken
down the shaft and assembled in the area
where the miners are working.
All underground mines are ventilated
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Sustainable practices
Copper & Molybdenum Mining in Canada
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