Metal Ore Extraction (Leaving Cert Engineering): Flashcards
📚Flashcards
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11 cards from this deck
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Practise the cards
11 cards from this deck
Open cast mining
Open cast mining
Surface mining technique for ores near ground level
Overburden
Overburden
Unwanted material above ore that must be removed
Heavy plant equipment role in open cast mining
Heavy plant equipment role in open cast mining
Forms backbone of operations
Purpose of terraced benches
Purpose of terraced benches
Prevent landslides & allow controlled extraction at depths
Haul roads
Haul roads
Roads for transporting ore & waste through terraced levels
Main advantage of open cast mining
Main advantage of open cast mining
Cost-effective - ores near surface easy to locate & extract
Main disadvantage of open cast mining
Main disadvantage of open cast mining
Permanently destroys landscapes & disrupts ecosystems
Land reclamation
Land reclamation
Efforts to restore mined areas after extraction
First step in open cast mining process
First step in open cast mining process
Remove topsoil & vegetation (stored for reclamation)
Modern mining operations must balance
Modern mining operations must balance
Economic efficiency with environmental responsibility
Characteristic feature of open cast mines
Characteristic feature of open cast mines
Terraced walls spiraling downward