Question 1

If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable and can conduct heat and electricity, it is a(n) __________________.

Accepted Answer

A) gemstone 
B) radioactive element 
C) crystal 
D) metal 
E) element 
A) gemstone 
B) radioactive element 
C) crystal 
D) metal 
E) element D

Question 2

Sustainable mineral use and longer projected lifetimes for scarce minerals can be achieved with all of the following, except ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) recycling 
B) increasing demand and lowering prices for products using these minerals 
C) researching more efficient and environmentally friendly techniques of extraction 
D) exploring for new reserves 
E) finding more available substitutes for scarce minerals 
A) recycling 
B) increasing demand and lowering prices for products using these minerals 
C) researching more efficient and environmentally friendly techniques of extraction 
D) exploring for new reserves 
E) finding more available substitutes for scarce minerals B

Question 3

Examples of valuable nonmetallic minerals extracted by mining are ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) lead, cadmium, mercury 
B) gold, platinum, copper 
C) radon, radium, sodium 
D) sand, gravel, phosphate 
E) nitrogen, hydrogen, neon 
A) lead, cadmium, mercury 
B) gold, platinum, copper 
C) radon, radium, sodium 
D) sand, gravel, phosphate 
E) nitrogen, hydrogen, neon D

Question 4

In 2010, geologists from the U.S. military discovered nearly $1 trillion worth of minerals in ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) Nevada 
B) Peru 
C) Afghanistan 
D) Iraq 
E) Vietnam 
A) Nevada 
B) Peru 
C) Afghanistan 
D) Iraq 
E) Vietnam

Question 5

Tantalum from African coltan is used primarily for the manufacture of ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) plastics 
B) aerospace engines and aircraft hulls 
C) pesticides, fertilizers, and biodiesel fuel 
D) high- quality steel 
E) electronics such as cell phones, computers, digital cameras 
A) plastics 
B) aerospace engines and aircraft hulls 
C) pesticides, fertilizers, and biodiesel fuel 
D) high- quality steel 
E) electronics such as cell phones, computers, digital cameras

Question 6

Discuss the facets of sustainable mineral use.

Accepted Answer

Minerals are nonrenewable resources and

Question 7

A naturally occurring solid chemical element with a distinct composition and a crystal structure is a(n) ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) horizon 
B) organic nutrient 
C) rock 
D) sediment 
E) mineral 
A) horizon 
B) organic nutrient 
C) rock 
D) sediment 
E) mineral

Question 8

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.
-The top portion of the graph tells us that selenium __________________

Accepted Answer

A) is increasing much more rapidly than the other pollutants 
B) is increasing at the same rate as other pollutants 
C) had a greater initial concentration than the other pollutants 
D) increases with increased sulfate concentration 
E) is increasing linearly, while other pollutants are increasing more exponentially 
A) is increasing much more rapidly than the other pollutants 
B) is increasing at the same rate as other pollutants 
C) had a greater initial concentration than the other pollutants 
D) increases with increased sulfate concentration 
E) is increasing linearly, while other pollutants are increasing more exponentially

Question 9

One drawback of in- situ recovery techniques is ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) the potential for soil compaction from the heavy equipment requires 
B) that the land is often not reclaimable after mining operations cease 
C) that although the techniques are scientifically feasible, they are not economically feasible 
D) the potential for leakage of acids into groundwater 
E) that the technique often results in severe erosion, especially in steep areas 
A) the potential for soil compaction from the heavy equipment requires 
B) that the land is often not reclaimable after mining operations cease 
C) that although the techniques are scientifically feasible, they are not economically feasible 
D) the potential for leakage of acids into groundwater 
E) that the technique often results in severe erosion, especially in steep areas

Question 10

Discuss the major environmental impacts of mining operations.

Accepted Answer

Because mineral resources are solids whi

Question 11

Excavating a giant hole in the landscape to remove widely spread mineral deposits

Accepted Answer

A) mountaintop removal mining 
B) recreation 
C) open pit mining 
D) solution mining 
E) prospecting
F)strip mining
G)placer mining
H)subsurface mining
I)reclamation 
A) mountaintop removal mining 
B) recreation 
C) open pit mining 
D) solution mining 
E) prospecting
F)strip mining
G)placer mining
H)subsurface mining
I)reclamation

Question 12

The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium, tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously __________________

Accepted Answer

A) relax environmental requirements for mining 
B) recycle existing supplies 
C) reduce demands for social and economic justice 
D) increase demand for the products in which they are used 
E) exploit known deposits more efficiently 
A) relax environmental requirements for mining 
B) recycle existing supplies 
C) reduce demands for social and economic justice 
D) increase demand for the products in which they are used 
E) exploit known deposits more efficiently

Question 13

The U.S. General Mining Act of 1872, although encouraging of the domestic mining industry, also __________________

Accepted Answer

A) has pollution and remediation clauses that are too strict 
B) makes mining unprofitable except for the largest corporations 
C) gives away resources located on public land almost for free 
D) opens mining rights to foreign nations which stake claims on U.S. land 
E) has allowed mining in urban centers with dense commercial development 
A) has pollution and remediation clauses that are too strict 
B) makes mining unprofitable except for the largest corporations 
C) gives away resources located on public land almost for free 
D) opens mining rights to foreign nations which stake claims on U.S. land 
E) has allowed mining in urban centers with dense commercial development

Question 14

In Appalachia, many miners are out of work because __________________

Accepted Answer

A) coal extraction has decreased because the region is beginning to run out of coal 
B) they were fired for protesting mountaintop removal 
C) of local protests that shut down mining operations 
D) of a moratorium on mountaintop removal 
E) mountaintop removal is highly mechanized, and thus they are not needed 
A) coal extraction has decreased because the region is beginning to run out of coal 
B) they were fired for protesting mountaintop removal 
C) of local protests that shut down mining operations 
D) of a moratorium on mountaintop removal 
E) mountaintop removal is highly mechanized, and thus they are not needed

Question 15

Many types of mining, such as for coal, produce a specific type of water pollution called ________________.

Accepted Answer

A) chlorinated pesticides 
B) acid drainage 
C) radon gas 
D) eutrophication 
E) suspended limestone particles 
A) chlorinated pesticides 
B) acid drainage 
C) radon gas 
D) eutrophication 
E) suspended limestone particles

Question 16

The newest bonanza for recycling scarce and toxic metals is to recover them from __________________.

Accepted Answer

A) car batteries 
B) compact discs, LPs and 8- track tapes 
C) landfills from the 1960s 
D) construction dump sites 
E) e- wastes such as computers 
A) car batteries 
B) compact discs, LPs and 8- track tapes 
C) landfills from the 1960s 
D) construction dump sites 
E) e- wastes such as computers

Question 17

Restoration of mined areas to premining conditions

Accepted Answer

A) mountaintop removal mining 
B) recreation 
C) open pit mining 
D) solution mining 
E) prospecting
F)strip mining
G)placer mining
H)subsurface mining
I)reclamation 
A) mountaintop removal mining 
B) recreation 
C) open pit mining 
D) solution mining 
E) prospecting
F)strip mining
G)placer mining
H)subsurface mining
I)reclamation

Question 18

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In 2010, geologists working for the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan discovered a literal treasure- trove of mineral deposits with a preliminary estimated value at nearly U.S. $1 trillion. So far, no proposals have been made for extracting these resources, but already parallels have been drawn to the many dimensions of human rights issues that have plagued coltan production in the Congo, oil drilling in Nigeria, and the "blood diamonds" of Sierra Leone.
You have been appointed as a delegate to the U.N.- initiated Afghan Minerals Development Council, which will convene in the next few months. The goals of the council are to oversee the extraction and export of resources and to ensure economic benefits, social and environmental justice, as well as environmental protection for the Afghan people.
-A useful benefit from mining profits could be __________________

Accepted Answer

A) permanent enclaves of foreign scientists and mine managers located near mining sites 
B) creation of improved roads into and around mining sites for corporate transport and mining machinery 
C) establishing high- end tourist hotels for visiting foreign mine executives and their families 
D) using the U.S. military to provide security at mines 
E) training for Afghan mining technicians and establishing Afghan mining institutes 
A) permanent enclaves of foreign scientists and mine managers located near mining sites 
B) creation of improved roads into and around mining sites for corporate transport and mining machinery 
C) establishing high- end tourist hotels for visiting foreign mine executives and their families 
D) using the U.S. military to provide security at mines 
E) training for Afghan mining technicians and establishing Afghan mining institutes

Question 19

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.
-Heavy landscape damage and water pollution have occurred in __________________ as a result of __________________

Accepted Answer

A) Canada; subsurface mining for oil sands 
B) San Francisco; placer mining for gold 
C) Appalachia; mountaintop removal mining for coal 
D) Mississippi; strip mining for uranium 
E) Florida; subsurface mining for limestone 
A) Canada; subsurface mining for oil sands 
B) San Francisco; placer mining for gold 
C) Appalachia; mountaintop removal mining for coal 
D) Mississippi; strip mining for uranium 
E) Florida; subsurface mining for limestone

Question 20

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In 2010, geologists working for the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan discovered a literal treasure- trove of mineral deposits with a preliminary estimated value at nearly U.S. $1 trillion. So far, no proposals have been made for extracting these resources, but already parallels have been drawn to the many dimensions of human rights issues that have plagued coltan production in the Congo, oil drilling in Nigeria, and the "blood diamonds" of Sierra Leone.
You have been appointed as a delegate to the U.N.- initiated Afghan Minerals Development Council, which will convene in the next few months. The goals of the council are to oversee the extraction and export of resources and to ensure economic benefits, social and environmental justice, as well as environmental protection for the Afghan people.
-All of the following could be sensible appointments for the U.N. Council, except perhaps __________________

Accepted Answer

A) representatives of banking, marketing and corporate law from developed nations 
B) mining corporation engineers and university geologists from developed nations 
C) experts in environmental and social justice from the Arab League of Nations 
D) mining engineers from Afghanistan and neighboring nations 
E) regional economists without corporate ties 
A) representatives of banking, marketing and corporate law from developed nations 
B) mining corporation engineers and university geologists from developed nations 
C) experts in environmental and social justice from the Arab League of Nations 
D) mining engineers from Afghanistan and neighboring nations 
E) regional economists without corporate ties

Exam 23: Minerals and Mining

If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable and can conduct heat and electricity, it is a(n) __________________.

Sustainable mineral use and longer projected lifetimes for scarce minerals can be achieved with all of the following, except ________________.

Examples of valuable nonmetallic minerals extracted by mining are ________________.

In 2010, geologists from the U.S. military discovered nearly $1 trillion worth of minerals in ________________.

Tantalum from African coltan is used primarily for the manufacture of ________________.

Discuss the facets of sustainable mineral use.

A naturally occurring solid chemical element with a distinct composition and a crystal structure is a(n) ________________.

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions. -The top portion of the graph tells us that selenium __________________

One drawback of in- situ recovery techniques is ________________.

Discuss the major environmental impacts of mining operations.

Excavating a giant hole in the landscape to remove widely spread mineral deposits

The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium, tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously __________________

The U.S. General Mining Act of 1872, although encouraging of the domestic mining industry, also __________________

In Appalachia, many miners are out of work because __________________

Many types of mining, such as for coal, produce a specific type of water pollution called ________________.

The newest bonanza for recycling scarce and toxic metals is to recover them from __________________.

Restoration of mined areas to premining conditions

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions. -Heavy landscape damage and water pollution have occurred in __________________ as a result of __________________

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Earths Physical Systems: Matter, Energy, and Geology

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology

Ethics, Economics, and Sustainable Development

Environmental Policy: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Human Population

Soil and Agriculture

Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Freshwater Systems and Resources

Marine and Coastal Systems and Resources

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Conventional Energy Alternatives

New Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

Sustainable Solutions

Filters

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions. -Heavy landscape damage and water pollution have occurred in as a result of