Transcript Mining in Canada - Ms Hicks` Classes

Mining in Canada
Non-Metallic Minerals
Metallic Minerals
Fossil Fuels (we’ll get to those in more depth next day)
Types of Mining
 1) Strip Mining
 Cheapest method, most severe
environmental damage
 Sand, gravel, oil sands
 2) Open-Pit Mining
 Diamonds, iron ore
 3) Underground Mining
 Most expensive method
 Potash, gold, nickel, copper
Types of Mines
Slope Mine
Open Pit Mine
Vertical Shaft
Athabasca Oil Sands
 Extracting the
oil sands
Big Machinery
 This is used in
German coal
mining, not in
Canada, but look
at it!
 This is the Bagger
293, one of the
biggest vehicles
on Earth
Environmental Problems of
Mining
 Erosion
 Formation of sinkholes
 Loss of biodiversity
 Contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by
chemicals from mining processes
 Leftover toxic waste (tailings ponds)
Some definitions
 Ore: a special type of rock from
which we can economically
extract valuable elements and
minerals
 Vein: a fissure, fault or crack in a
rock filled by minerals
 Lode: A mineral deposit in solid
rock
 Alloy: a metal made by
combining two or more metallic
elements, especially to give
greater strength or resistance to
corrosion
Example of alloys:
 Brass (copper and zinc)
 Bronze (copper, tin, plus other
trace metals)
 Cast Iron (iron , carbon, silicon)
 Pewter (tin, copper, lead,
antimony)
 Steel (iron, carbon, trace metals)
 Stainless steel (iron, chromium,
plus other trace metals)
 Sterling Silver (silver, copper)
 White Gold (gold, palladium, silver,
copper)
What is a Mineral?
 Naturally occurring non-living substance found in
rocks
 2 Main Types of Minerals
 Non-Mettalic or Industrial minerals e.g. sand, gravel
 Metallic minerals e.g. gold, copper
Canada’s Leading Minerals
Value $
(Millions)
Potash
$ 6,981
Coal
$ 6,389
Gold
$ 5,560
Iron Ore
$ 5,318
Copper
$ 4,478
Nickel
$ 3,418
Diamonds
$ 2,005
Cement
$ 1,702
Zinc
$ 1,181
Uranium
$ 1,040
Non-Metallic (or Industrial)
Minerals
= non-metallic
minerals that provide resources for the
construction, chemical and manufacturing industries
- no new product can be generated if they are melted
Examples:
 sandstone, limestone, marble (for building)
 clays, shale (for brick-making)
 salt (for de-icing roads, human consumption)
 gypsum (for wallboard)
 sand and gravel
 potash (for fertilizer)
 gravel (for concrete)
 gemstones
Metallic Minerals
= minerals
elements
which contain one or more metallic
 Occur in rare, naturally formed concentrations known as
mineral deposits.
 Often must be broken apart and chemically processed to
extract the useful metal from the mineral.
Difference Between Metallic
and Non-Metallic Minerals
Metallic Minerals
Non-Metallic Minerals
 They contain metal
 They don’t contain metal
 Associated with igneous
rocks
 Associated with
sedimentary rocks
 They are ductile (their shape
will deform under stress)
 They can be broken upon
impact
Gold
 Extremely malleable
 Conducts electricity
 Doesn’t tarnish
 Alloys well with other metals
 A small amount is found in almost
all electronic devices, including
cell phones
Gold Mines in Canada
 Ontario and Quebec
account for 82% of
Canada’s gold
production’
 Usually found
alongside quartz veins
Gold Mining
 Gold is usually mined in an open-pit mine
 Cyanide extraction process: may be used in areas where fine
gold-bearing rocks are found.
 Sodium cyanide solution is mixed with finely ground rock that is
proven to contain gold or silver. Then sulfuric acid is used to
remove the gold.
Diamonds
 Canada is currently the
3rd largest diamond
producing country in
the world
 Canadian diamonds
are well known for their
guaranteed “conflictfree” origins
Diavik Mine
 Canada's Diavik
Diamond Mine in NWT,
one of the largest in the
world
Where are Diamonds Found?
Where are the diamonds in
Canada?
Asbestos
 Called ‘white gold’ when first
discovered
 Known for its strength and fireretardant qualities
 Used in fireproof fabrics, yarn, cloth,
coatings and compounds
 Mined in southern Quebec
 Linked to lung disease and cancer
(mesothelioma)
 Last asbestos mines now closing
Copper
 Copper is used in electric cables and
wires, switches, plumbing; heating,
electrical, and roofing materials;
electronic components; industrial
machinery and equipment;
transportation; consumer and general
products; coins; and jewelry.
 B.C. is largest producer; second is
Ontario
 When exposed to the environment,
the surface of the metal oxidizes to
form a light green patina or a black
oxide coating. The copper roofs of
many public buildings, such as the
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS in Ottawa,
display this distinctive green colour.
Uranium
 We’re the 2nd largest exporter
of this in the world
 14.5% of the world production
came from one mine,
McArthur River
 Uranium is a radioactive
material used in nuclear
defense systems and for
nuclear generation of
electricity.
 It also used in nuclearmedicine x-ray machines,
atomic dating, and electronic
instruments.
Potash
 Used in fertilizers
 Potash is a group of watersoluble salts containing the
element potassium
 Potash is used in fertilizer,
medicine, the chemical
industry
Where is the Potash?
Aluminum
 Canada is the world’s third
biggest producer after China
& Russia
 Aluminum is the most
abundant metallic element in
the Earth's crust.
 Bauxite ore is the main source
of aluminum.
 Aluminum is used in
automobiles and airplanes
(36%), bottling and canning
industries (25%), building and
electrical (14%) and in other
applications (25%).
Gemstones
 While lacking deposits of traditional
gemstones besides diamonds (eg,
ruby, emerald, sapphire), Canada
can claim a varied assortment of
lesser known but appealing
gemstones
 Extraction is usually small scale
 Nephrite jade from BC (Canada is
the world’s leading producer)
 Sodalite and rose quartz from
Ontario; labradorite from Labrador;
amazonite from Ont, rhodonite from
BC; opal from BC, amethyst from
Nova Scotia
Challenges to Mining in the
Arctic
 Permafrost about 400 metres deep
 Constant cold means pre-assembling and then shipping in
sections
 Building infrastructure in rugged terrain
 Providing energy for heat and light
 Restricting ships to travel mainly in summer
 Cost of food
 Accommodating caribou migration and other wildlife e.g.
walrus, seals, polar bears, ermines, lemmings & hares
 Respecting local Inuit culture
Ring of Fire
 A giant deposit of
chromium found in
Northern Ontario in 2007
 Chromite, when processed
into an alloy, is used in the
production of stainless
steel.
 Local Native groups are
trying to stop the
development
When the mine closes…
 Tailings: waste material left over from milling process
 Slag: liquid waste from smelting process
 Abandoned quarries and gravel pits
Don Valley BrickWorks
 Quarries can be
reclaimed
Creative Uses of Old Mines
 Wieliczka Salt Mine, Cracow,
Poland has 300km of galleries with
works of arts carved in the salt
 The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
was built in INCO’s Creighton Mine
near Sudbury, Ontario
 Gotland Ring, Sweden, is a worldclass car racing track situated in an
old limestone quarry
 Kőbánya, Budapest, Hungary, is a
limestone quarry which has been
flooded, and is now a popular
scuba diving destination
Canada’s Oil Sands Explained
How Suncor Gets Oil From the
Oil Sands
Canada’s Tar Sands: The Most
Destructive Project on Earth
Tar Sands Oil Extraction: The
Dirty Truth