Which of the following statements about large scale mineral extraction is true?
Explain how surface mining affects plant life.
Surface mining removes vegetation and topsoil, destroying plant habitats and preventing regrowth in the mined area.
What are three ways that minerals are used?
Minerals are used in construction (gypsum, iron), electronics and wiring (copper), and fertilizers or chemicals (phosphate, sulfur).
The long term effects of mining include _______.
Placer mining involves _______ to extract minerals.
Predict what will happen to an abandoned strip mine over time.
Over time the pit may fill with water forming a lake, soil may erode or acidify, and limited vegetation may return but ecosystems recover slowly.
Explain why mining has such a large impact on the environment.
Mining removes large volumes of earth, destroys habitats, pollutes water and air with heavy metals and chemicals, and permanently alters landscapes.
Compare surface, subsurface, and placer mining in terms of damage to the environment.
Surface mining causes the most visible land disturbance and habitat loss. Subsurface mining has less surface impact but risks subsidence and groundwater pollution. Placer mining disrupts riverbeds and increases sedimentation harming aquatic habitats.
Which of the following is not a possible consequence of surface mining?
Which of the following is an example of a nonmetallic mineral?
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