Geography of Canada Mining The extraction of naturally occurring minerals from the Earth.

Geography of Canada

MiningThe extraction of naturally

occurring minerals from the Earth

Mining

1.What do we Mine?

2.Open Pit Mining

3.Underground (Shaft) Mining

4.Issues Facing Mining in Canada

5.Improving Canada’s Mining Industry

What Do we Mine in Canada?

What: Potash

Where: Sask.

For: Salt, Fertilizer

What: Copper

Where: Ontario

For: Pipes

What: Zinc Where: New Br.For: Brass

What Do We Mine in Canada?

What: Diamonds

Where: NWT

For: “bling” & industrial cutters

What: Gold

Where: NWT

For: “bling” What: CoalWhere:MaritimeFor: Fuel

What do we mine in Canada?

Source: http://www.planete-energies.com/Frontoffice/Players/PopupPlayerImage.aspx?directory=img_2_4_2_extract02&pageFrom=encyclo

Oil pumped from under the ocean…….. Hibernia Drilling Rig platform off the coast of NFL

oil

Off Shore Oil Rigs

What do we mine in Canada?

Oil pumped from the land…Oil derrick on land, oil rig on the sea….

Open Pit Mining

This method is used when the deposit is close enough to the surface for mass removal of ore to be economically viable.Its simply a big hole in the ground

where the mineral is removed

Open Pit Mining

Open Pit Mining Impacts

• Destruction of Vegetation

• Large volume of unused waste-rock must be stored.

• Disruption of ground water

• Production of dust and radon gas during blasting.

Open Pit Mining

A simple layered open pit mine.

Open Pit Mining

A digging wheel at work. Coal is can be mined this way as well as oil sands.

Open Pit Mining

A digging wheel close-up.

Bigger size = greater efficiency, right?!

big bucket

Mining Truck

big truck

Open Pit Mining

Mining Equiptment

Underground (Shaft) Mining

Underground Mining:

-Mining that is done completely underground.

-Tunnels (shafts) are blasted deep into the earth to reach minerals.

-This type of mining is much more dangerous due to cave-ins.

- Coal, salt, silver, diamonds, gold….

Underground (Shaft) Mining

Wire mesh to prevent loose rocks from falling.

Underground (Shaft) Mining

Temporary support beams

Underground (Shaft) Mining

A scooptram at work.

Underground Mining Impacts

• Destruction of Vegetation.

• Disrupts the water table

• Needs to be excavated before mining.

• Danger of collapse

• Dust and noise

video

Potash mining..\..\..\..\Downloads\RMR- Rick with Potash.mp4

Issues Facing the Mining Industry

• Negative Impact on the Environment

• Abandoned Mines

• Loss of Jobs

• Echo Effect

• Exhausting the Supply

• Staying Competitive

• Boom-Bust Towns

Acid Rain:

Kills Forests

Abandoned Mines:

Leave scars on the Earth’s surface and can be dangerous

Exhausting the Supply:

When mines run out ,

So do the jobs!

Mining Centres in Canada