Minerals Exploration and Mining

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16.2 Minerals Exploration and Mining
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I. Mineral Exploration

1. Steps to finding mineral deposits

1. Exploration

1. Potential mining areas are monitored for
   differences in gravity, magnetism, radioactivity.
   This info coupled with photos creates a
   geological map

b. Samples are taken from potential areas to be
analyzed
c. If everything checks out, a mine may be
opened
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II. Types of Mining

1. Subsurface mining

1. Longwall Mining

Large machine used to remove large deposits of
coal
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2. Solution Mining
Uses high pressure water to remove mineral
deposits
B. Surface mining

1. Surface Coal Mining

Large machine used to remove large deposits of
coal
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2. Quarrying
Building stonesgranite, limestone, and marble
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3. Solar Evaporation
Recovery of sea salt through the process of
evaporation
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4. Placer Deposits
Deposits of dissolved minerals in streams where
the current is slow. Can be recovered by dredging
5. Smelting
Crushed ore melted and separated