Deck 12: Mineral Resources

Question 1

A mineral deposit that can be recovered with existing technology and is concentrated enough to be economically developed is called:

A) igneous.
B) ore.
C) low-grade deposit.
D) open pit.
E) prospect.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Open pit mining is done because:

A) the ores are leached.
B) the ores were formed due to volcanic processes.
C) the mineral deposits are low-grade.
D) the mineral deposits are shaped as veins, pods, and lenses.
E) the ore deposits are either exposed or close to the land surface.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Ore deposits mined underground tend to be smaller in scale than those mined in open pits.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Ores that arise because rocks experience pressure and temperature changes represent a(n) ________ process.

A) metamorphic
B) igneous
C) sedimentary
D) weathering
E) erosive

Question 5

Ores that arise because minerals crystallize from magma represent a(n) ________ process.

A) metamorphic
B) igneous
C) sedimentary
D) weathering
E) erosive

Question 6

Parts of the infrastructure of a mine may include:

A) an airstrip.
B) developing roads for trucks and other vehicles used in the mine.
C) constructing housing for the miners.
D) constructing structures of handling the ore.
E) all of the above.

Question 7

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-metallurgy

A) process in which rocks are separated and valuable minerals are concentrated
B) tubes of rock
C) rocks that surround the ore that are not used for profit
D) process in which minerals are separated and valuable elements are concentrated
E) mineral deposit that may be valuable, but still more work needs to be done to confirm

Question 8

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-prospect

A) process in which rocks are separated and valuable minerals are concentrated
B) tubes of rock
C) rocks that surround the ore that are not used for profit
D) process in which minerals are separated and valuable elements are concentrated
E) mineral deposit that may be valuable, but still more work needs to be done to confirm

Question 9

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-cores

A) process in which rocks are separated and valuable minerals are concentrated
B) tubes of rock
C) rocks that surround the ore that are not used for profit
D) process in which minerals are separated and valuable elements are concentrated
E) mineral deposit that may be valuable, but still more work needs to be done to confirm

Question 10

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-waste rock

A) process in which rocks are separated and valuable minerals are concentrated
B) tubes of rock
C) rocks that surround the ore that are not used for profit
D) process in which minerals are separated and valuable elements are concentrated
E) mineral deposit that may be valuable, but still more work needs to be done to confirm

Question 11

benefication

A) process in which rocks are separated and valuable minerals are concentrated
B) tubes of rock
C) rocks that surround the ore that are not used for profit
D) process in which minerals are separated and valuable elements are concentrated
E) mineral deposit that may be valuable, but still more work needs to be done to confirm

Question 12

What is NOT true about tailings?

A) They commonly contain large amounts of Pb.
B) They contain large amounts of valuable minerals.
C) They are a principle cause of environmental concerns around mines.
D) They are considered the waste after milling and flotation.
E) They can degrade air and water quality around mines.

Question 13

What do we call waste from smelting?

A) ores
B) adits
C) alloys
D) prospects
E) slag

Question 14

Which of the following is part of mine reclamation?

A) drainage control
B) returning the coal mined land to use
C) ongoing environmental monitoring
D) revegetation of previously mined areas
E) All are part of coal mine reclamation.

Question 15

Which of the following leads to acid rock drainage?

A) mining of high sulfur minerals
B) mining of igneous rocks
C) mining of diamonds
D) metamorphic processes
E) drilling in mines

Question 16

Open-pit mining is the lowest cost mining operation.

Question 17

The largest mines in the world are open-pit mines.

Question 18

Miners in the U.S. are not required to consider reclamation during their operations.

Question 19

What is acid rock drainage?

A) the draining of slag from a smelter
B) underground water in a mine
C) acidic water from mine sites produced by the oxidation of pyrite
D) a type of open-pit mine
E) beneficial water that drains from a mine

Question 20

How do mining and mineral-processing operations affect air quality?

A) Dust from drilling and blasting can get into the atmosphere.
B) Hauling rocks from the mine site creates dust in the atmosphere.
C) Tailings ponds dry up, allowing dust to enter the atmosphere.
D) Erosion of open-pit mines during windy days stirs up dust.
E) All of the above.

Question 21

How do mining and mineral-processing operations control dust that may be produced during operations?

A) They develop more smelters and slag.
B) They are not required to control dust in the U.S.
C) They use water and vacuum systems to control the dust.
D) They add pyrite to the soil.
E) All of the above.

Question 22

What is an environmentally damaging gas that can be emitted from smelters?

A) hydrogen
B) sulfur dioxide
C) water vapor
D) argon
E) oxygen

Question 23

Recycling is not a major source of any significant mineral commodities.

Question 24

Lead can be recycled.

Question 25

What is an example of the dissipative use of a mineral commodity?

A) aluminum cans
B) lead in batteries
C) lead in paint and gasoline
D) zinc in metal alloys like brass
E) all of the above

Question 26

Mineral commodities play a significant role in the U.S. economy.

Question 27

Ore deposits are common throughout the U.S.

Question 28

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-leaching

A) a method in which rock is crushed and ground into a paste
B) a method for the separation of mixtures involving buoyancy
C) entrance into an underground mine
D) a process that uses heat and fuel to extract metal from an ore
E) a method to extract materials from a rock into a liquid

Question 29

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-flotation

A) a method in which rock is crushed and ground into a paste
B) a method for the separation of mixtures involving buoyancy
C) entrance into an underground mine
D) a process that uses heat and fuel to extract metal from an ore
E) a method to extract materials from a rock into a liquid

Question 30

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-smelting

A) a method in which rock is crushed and ground into a paste
B) a method for the separation of mixtures involving buoyancy
C) entrance into an underground mine
D) a process that uses heat and fuel to extract metal from an ore
E) a method to extract materials from a rock into a liquid

Question 31

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-milling

A) a method in which rock is crushed and ground into a paste
B) a method for the separation of mixtures involving buoyancy
C) entrance into an underground mine
D) a process that uses heat and fuel to extract metal from an ore
E) a method to extract materials from a rock into a liquid

Question 32

Match the following options to its correct definition.
-adit

A) a method in which rock is crushed and ground into a paste
B) a method for the separation of mixtures involving buoyancy
C) entrance into an underground mine
D) a process that uses heat and fuel to extract metal from an ore
E) a method to extract materials from a rock into a liquid

Question 33

Sustaining mineral resources for the future can be achieved by:

A) smelting.
B) recycling.
C) environmental degradation.
D) milling.
E) all of the above

Question 34

Every mineral deposit is considered an ore.

Question 35

Only igneous processes can create ores.

Question 36

If an ore deposit is high-grade, it has high concentrations of valuable minerals.

Question 37

Every step of finding, mining, and processing minerals physically disturbs the landscape.

Question 38

Describe how ores form in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments.

Question 39

How are ores found? What information about the rocks is necessary before an area is to be mined profitably?

Question 40

What is meant by reclamation? What processes are involved in mine reclamation?

Question 41

Mines in a desert environment will differ from those in a humid environment. What environmental concerns need to be addressed in both environments?

Question 42

What goes into developing and creating a mine? What structures and infrastructure needs to be developed?

Question 43

What is acid rock drainage? Is it harmful? What effects can it have on the environment near a mine? How do miners prevent acid rock drainage from occurring?

Question 44

What are some benefits of mines?