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Mining

Mining for coal is something that is widely known, but did you know that diamonds, uranium, copper, and other non-renewable natural resources are also mined? There are two types of mining; surface and subsurface. Questions about the methods and types of mining, what ores are mined, and related questions should be asked in this category.

4,677 Questions

What is the natural source for calcium carbide miners gas?

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound that reacts with water to produce acetylene gas, which is combustible and is used in mining lamps. The gas also encourages fruit growth in plants such as pineapples. Calcium carbide is used in making steel, PVC, signal flares and some old-fashioned fireworks, in addition to mining.

Calcium carbide is man-made. It is produced in a 2000º electric arc furnace. There is no "natural source" for the substance. You cannot go dig it up somewhere. If you could, it would be a clear or bluish crystal, rather soft, with an unpleasant odor.

I would go into the science of it in more depth, but the foregoing answers the question asked and you don't need to be a chemistry major to understand it. :)

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I'd be very surprised if miners still use acetylene lamps! They were used by miners in gas-free ground (usually metal-ore mines and underground stone quarries) many years ago. They were used by many cavers until electric lamps (usually ex-colliery) became common in the 1960s, then had a brief flurry of popularity again in the 1980s-90s when developments in caving techniques and equipment meant the electric mining lamps were no longer safe to use due to their liquid electrolytes . Now acetylene lamps are pretty well obsolete, displaced in mining and in caving by l.e.d lamps; and suppliers of calcium carbide are becoming hard to find.

Where is potash mined?

Potash (potassium carbonate) is both mined and made.

Potash (potassium carbonate) and soda (sodium carbonate) have been used from the dawn of history in bleaching textiles, making glass, and, from about A.D. 500, in making soap. Soda was principally obtained by leaching the ashes of sea plants, and potash from the ashes of land plants. In their uses, potash and soda were largely but not entirely interchangeable. Indeed, before the mid-eighteenth century, people only vaguely differentiated between the two.

Potash-making became a major industry in British North America. Great Britain was always the most important market. The American potash industry followed the woodsman's ax across the country. After about 1820, New York replaced New England as the most important source; by 1840 the center was in Ohio. Potash production was always a by-product industry, following from the need to clear land for agriculture.

Most of the world reserves of potassium (K) were deposited as sea water from ancient inland oceans evaporated, and the potassium salts crystallized into beds of potash ore. These are the locations where potash is currently being mined today. The deposits are a naturally-occurring mixture of KCl and sodium chloride (NaCl), better known as common table salt. Over time, as the surface of the earth changed, these deposits were covered by thousands of feet of soil. Most potash mines today are deep shaft mines as much as 3,300 feet underground. Others are mined as strip mines, having been laid down in horizontal layers as sedimentary rock. In above-ground processing plants, the KCl is separated from the mixture to produce a high analysis natural K fertilizer. Other naturally occurring K salts can be separated by various procedures, resulting in potassium sulphate and potassium-magnesium sulphate.

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What is the name of silver ore?

The name of silver ore is typically called "silver ore" or "native silver."

What does hardness of a mineral mean?

The hardness of a mineral is a measure of its resistance to scratching. It is quantified using the Mohs scale, which ranges from 1 (softest, such as talc) to 10 (hardest, such as diamond). Hardness can help identify minerals by testing how easily they can be scratched by other substances.

Where does silica sand come from?

Silica sand is typically found in areas with high concentrations of quartz, such as deserts and beach dunes. It is formed by the erosion and weathering of quartz-rich rocks over time, and can also be produced through industrial processes like crushing and washing silica-rich rocks to extract the sand.

How does coal mining work?

Coal mining involves extracting coal deposits from the earth to be used as a source of energy. This is typically done through either surface mining, where coal is excavated from the surface of the earth, or underground mining, which involves digging tunnels and shafts to reach coal seams deeper underground. Once the coal is extracted, it is processed and transported for various uses, such as electricity generation or industrial processes.

How is gas extracted?

Natural gas is extracted from underground reservoirs using drilling techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking). These methods involve drilling a well into the gas-bearing rock formation and using a combination of water, chemicals, and sand to fracture the rock and release the gas. The gas is then brought to the surface through the well and transported via pipelines for distribution.

What two chemicals can reduce iron ore to iron?

Carbon monoxide and hydrogen are typically used in the reduction process of iron ore, where they react with the iron oxide to produce metallic iron. This process is commonly known as the direct reduction process or the Midrex process.

How is quartz different from other silicate minerals?

Quartz is made up of silicon and oxygen (SiO2) and has a distinct crystal structure. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth and has a wide range of colors and varieties. Unlike other silicate minerals, quartz is highly resistant to weathering and is very hard (7 on the Mohs scale).

What is the purest substance?

The purest substance is typically considered to be an element in its natural form, such as gold or diamond, that is not mixed or combined with any other elements or compounds. These substances have a uniform and consistent chemical composition without impurities.

Difference between Metallurgic coke and petroleum coke?

Pet coke is a carbonaceous solid derived from oil refinery cracking processes. Marketable coke is coke that is relatively pure carbon and can be sold for use as fuel, in the manufacture of dry cells, electrodes, etc. Needle coke, also called acicular coke, is a highly crystalline petroleum coke used in the production of electrodes for the steel and aluminum industries. Catalyst coke is coke that has deposited on the catalysts used in oil refining, such as those in a catalytic cracker. This coke is impure and is only used for fuel. Petroleum coke's high heat and low ash make a good fuel for power generation in coal-fired boilers but is high in sulphur and low in volatile content which pose some environmental and technical problems with its combustion.

Metallurgical coke is produced by destructive distillation of coal in coke ovens. Prepared coal is "coked" or heated in an oxygen-free atmosphere until all volatile components in the coal evapoarate. The remaining material is called "coke", sulphur content is low in this form. Most metallurgical coke is used in iron and steel industry processes such as blast furnaces, sinter plants, and foundries to reduce iron ore to iron. Over 90% of the total metallurgical coke production is dedicated to blast furnace operations.

What is the streak of salt?

A streak of salt refers to a line of salt residue left behind after water containing dissolved salts evaporates. This can be seen on surfaces like glass, metal, or dishes that have been in contact with salty water.

What is copper found in?

Copper is commonly found in minerals such as chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, and malachite. It is also present in various ores and can be extracted through mining and processing techniques. Additionally, copper is naturally occurring in the Earth's crust and can be found in rocks, soil, and water.

Does wulfenite form slowly or quickly?

Wulfenite typically forms relatively quickly in hydrothermal conditions when lead-containing fluids interact with oxidized material near the Earth's surface. Rapid cooling and precipitation of lead from the solution leads to the formation of wulfenite crystals.

Where are the largest granite quarries in the US?

The largest granite quarries in the US are located in Barre, Vermont, which is known as the "Granite Capital of the World." These quarries have been producing granite for over a century and are known for their high-quality stone used in monuments, buildings, and sculptures.

Were is the deepest mine in the world?

South Africa is where it's at for deep mines. And what are they digging for? Gold! AngloGold Ashanti's Savuka mine near Carletonville is currently the world's deepest mine at just less than 3.8km below the surface. Gold Fields mines Driefontein will be the world's deepest mine at 4.1km below the surface and Kloof will be the second deepest mine at 4km underground when their extensions are complete. They're digging them now. At this stage AngloGold Mponeng mine is official the deepest mine in the world and the current project will take it another 300 meters deeper.

Density of 25 mm size broken stone metal?

Crushed stone density is variable ranging from 2.4 - 2.7 Metric Tons per cubic Meter depending on the type of stone, the stone crushing machinery, and how the crushed stone is sorted after crushing.

What is the specific gravity of galena?

the specific gravity of galena is 7.4-7.6, so the average is 7.5

Most valuable metal in the world?

As of 2021, the most valuable metal in the world is usually considered to be rhodium. Rhodium is a rare precious metal that is even more valuable than gold. It is commonly used in catalytic converters and in the jewelry industry.

How does copper ore mining affect the environment?

Mining Copper Ore affects the environment, in many negative ways. Firstly, it uses land, so animals and plants are usually moved or plowed over. This usually means that there are less trees, as most Copper reserves are in dense Rainforrests; resulting in an increase in the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the air, and a lower composition of Oxygen. Also, there is a higher chance that animals and plants indigenous to these areas, will become endangered or extinct.

Furthermore, refining Copper uses a lot of energy, usually coming from the burning of Fossil Fuels, meaning that a lot of Carbon Dioxide will be given off, as well as other dangerous pollutants. These chemicals can often cause Acid Rain; damaging crops, animals (including livestock), and humans.

On the other hand, if Recycled Copper is cleaned and refined, this has less of an effect on the environment. This is because the Copper has already been mined, so less land needs to be used to retrieve it, and there don't need to be any extra emissions to mine it either. Also, as the Copper is purer already than an ore from the ground; the electrolysis process takes much less time, meaning less energy is needed; so less emissions are given off, and there is less of a threat to animals, plants, and humans.

Similarly, mining Copper has negative effects economically, as the miners have to be paid, as well as the people who transport it to the refineries, along with the fuel needed. And, it takes a long time- several days in fact- to purify the copper; at extreme temperatures. This means that a lot of energy is required, resulting in a lot of money spent, as well as a use of precious Fossil Fuels. This means that companies are not making as much profit, as these expenses keep on increasing.

Contrastingly though, if companies were to recycle Scrap Copper, they would have less of an expenditure. This is because, as the copper is purer, it takes less to purify, meaning more can be extracted from Scrap, than Ore, in the same time; resulting in more to sell. Also, as it takes less time, less energy is needed, meaning the cost to refine a tonne of Copper would reduce. Therefore meaning, that the company will have a larger profit, as it has cost less to purify.

How do you tell flint from other rocks?

Flint is a type of sedimentary rock that is chemically composed of silica. It is known for its smooth, glossy surface and conchoidal fracturing properties. One way to identify flint is through its characteristic color range of grey to black with a glassy luster. Additionally, flint is harder than most other types of rocks and can produce sparks when struck against steel.

Can heat and carbon can be used to release iron from a ore?

Yes, heating the ore in the presence of carbon can be used to extract iron from the ore through a process called reduction. The carbon reduces the iron oxide in the ore to elemental iron, leaving behind carbon dioxide gas. This process is commonly used in the production of iron and steel.

17 What might cause a mineral deposit that had not been considered an ore become reclassified as an ore?

the classification of iron ore has been stepped up to 135 from the earlier 125 for wagon loading and to 130 from 120 for rake loading, entailing higher tariff for rail movement of the mineral. This will probably benefit some of the zonal railways such as South Eastern, East Coast, South-East Central and South Central than the others such as Northern or Eastern or Southern which do not handle any iron ore traffic.

Is hydrometallurgy used in mining copper?

Hydrometallurgy is used for the processing of copper.

Example: Leaching of copper oxide ores using a solution containing sulphuric acid. The Copper can then be recovered from solution using solvent extraction and electrowinning.