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Soil and minery (Layers of the Earth (Mantle (is the center of liquid…

- - - - Rocks are exposed to weathering and erosion.
      - As they erode, they release rock particles.
      - As the lower layers of the earth are exposed to
        pressure they compress and form sedimentary rocks.
      - Example: Coal is a sedimentary rock formed by
        the compression of animal and vegetable remains.
      - Are formed out of SEDIMENT.
    - - Are formed by the action of heat and pressure.
        These elements cause changes in the rock without melting it.
      - The changes can be chemical, physical or both.
      - Sedimentary and igneous rocks can become metamorphic.
    - - Are formed by the cooling of magma.
      - As magma cools down, it crystalizes.
        Depending on how fast it cools down, the size of the crystals.
      - Rocks are exposed to erosion and weathering
- - - - It´s a way to find minerals from the distance.You can take pictures from a satellite or plane and are useful to analyze big pieces of land. As minerals oxide on the surface of the earth, this can be detected by their unique radiation pattern.
    - - It´s the easiest way to find minerals: you look carefully on the surface and see if you can find mineral on the top layers of the earth.
        It´s useful in searching the surface deposits.
    - - The satellites can identify mineral deposits under the ground. Computers process the information from the satellite, experts go to the place to recollect information and minerals are sent to geochemical analysis.
    - - A series of vibrations are sent through the earth´s Surface. Sensors receive the responses that are reflected from what´s underground and (depending on the reception wave) the type of mineral we can find.
  - - - Open pit mining: Are dug out of places called benches. As we dig the pit, we need to leave safe walls to prevent from rock falls. We have to build roads to get to the mineral and to extract it and the overburden.
      - Open cut mining: The mineral is under a layer of worthless material called overburden. The overburden is removed and left aside to be used for land restoration after the explotation.
      - Strip mining: It removes overburden in strips. It´s usually used to extract coal from the surface deposit.
    - - It involves digging tunnels into the ground to get to the deposit. Most of the materials in mines are taken by machines. A miner´s job is to make sure the machines are working properly.
      - Deep mining: Involves digging several tunnels under the ground. In drif mining we can dig a horizontal tunnel directly to the mineral deposit. This is possible in mountains. Sloping tunnels are built to reach deeper deposits.
      - Shaft mining: Vertical tunnels to get to the deepest deposits.
    - - Economic impact
        
        Provides employment in every step of the process.
        
        Taxes for the government.
        
        Machinery allows miners to be safer.
        
        Improvements in technology are promoted.
        
        The economy moves, capital moves.
        
        Exporting.
      - Environmental impact
        
        Loss of habitat.
        
        We break the food chain.
        
        Waste and pollution of soil, water and air.
        
        Even though the overburden is put in it´s place again, the amount of biodiversity will never be the same.
        
        Noise can disturb animals and force them to leave the area.
        
        Chemical reactions in water can provoke the killing of water species and biomagnification.
        
        Dust in the air.
        
        Environmental impact assessment: Every company has to do it in order to have the permits to extract minerals: they have to commit to restoring biodiversity and to destroy as little as possible.
      - Social impact
        
        Noise, water, air, land and visual pollution.
        
        Breathing in dust mixed up with chemicals is very dangerous for health.
        
        Miners still have risks, it´s an unhealthy job.
        
        People living nearby are disturbed.
    - - Efficiency of extraction: It means to remove only as much land as needed to remove. Not to waste energy and destroy biodiversity in places where it´s not needed.
      - Eficient use and recycling: If we recycle minerals, no extraction is needed. We can save the planet from being polluted and destroyed, and companies a lot of money if we recycle.
      - Safe disposal of
        mining waste: The safe management of waste when mining is to avoid extra pollution and destruction of biodiversity for the wrong management of mining waste.
      - Land restoration and
        bioremediation: After mining, companies have the obligation to restore as much as possible the environment they´ve destroyed. Planting trees, cleaning up, filling the holes, adding organic matter to restore the siol, cleaning the water…