Types of Mining and Fracking
Lindsay McCoy, Ashton Theriault, Kira Thrower
Types of mining
Subsurface mining- the separation of minerals and metals from underground
Surface- a method of separating minerals near the surface of the Earth
Differences between the two types of mining
Surface:
- Safer and easier
- Creates more damage to the surface ecosystems
- Creates a mess
Subsurface:
- Not as much of widespread damage
- Difficult to dig and expensive as well
- Very dangerous conditions that includes collapses, released gases, particulates in the air, low oxygen and heat
Fracking
Fracking is the drilling and interject chemicals and hot water into the earth. We drill down far trying to drill into rocks trying to get natural gas (fossil fuel) out of them. The effects on the environment 1-8 Million gallons of water to complete one job of fracking. 40,000 gallons of chemicals are used to complete one job of fracking also. Methane also are 17 times higher in drinking water wells near fracking sites.
Strip Mining
Strip mining is when you mine a seam of minerals.
Effects-Its destroys our lands,When it rains it takes the loose soil and puts in rivers and it hurts fish, There is a risk of increase of chemical contamination,cause noise pollution and dust pollution.
Open Pit
Taking out rock or minerals from earth form a open pit
Effects-Open pit mining exposed radioactive elements and metallic dust.
Mountain top remove
Its a new type of mining it began sometime in the 1970
Effects Flooding,Blasting,sludge dam
Slope
A shaft travels down towards the material to get it
effects-pollution
Drafting
means a near-horizontal passageway
Effects-removing a whole layer