1-ROCKS AND MINERALS

Rock is classified into three main types.

Complete the table by identifying each type of rock.

MARBLE

Explain how igneous rock is formed.

magma / molten rock (from mantle);
magma / molten rock, moves into the crust / pushes the crust up;
(magma / molten rock) cools.
(magma / molten rock) solidifies / turns to rock;
slow cooling gives large crystals / fast cooling gives small crystals.

Describe how metamorphic rocks are formed./ Marble and slate are
metamorphic rocks. Describe the formation of metamorphic rocks.

created from existing rocks; existing rock.

heat;
pressure. (is subjected to) high temperature AND
rock changes structure. pressure.

to change (physical / chemical)

structure / rock crystals.
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 O/N -20

(a) Use the diagram to describe how sedimentary rocks are formed.
(weathering / erosion of) existing / surface rocks ;

accumulation / transportation of, (mineral) particles / fragments (by water / rivers /

streams);

burial / deposition / sedimentation, of particles in layers (in lakes / seas);

heat and pressure causes, compaction / cementation, of layers (of minerals /

particles / sediment) into rocks.

The geology of Senegal is mostly sedimentary rocks. These include

large deposits of phosphate. rock.
(a) Describe the formation of sedimentary rock.

weathered rock particles.

deposited in water / seas / riverbed in layers.
compacted under pressure, to form rock; 2
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Describe one other method of exploration for finding new mineral
deposits.
geological / local surveys;

taking soil or rock samples / drilling test boreholes / prospecting /

re-working old deposits;

geophysics / seismic waves / satellites /

sensors, e.g. gravity sensors, magnatronic sensors;

locate mineral deposits

Many minerals are in short supply and new mineral deposits need to be
found.
(a) One method of exploration for finding new mineral deposits is using
photographs taken from the air.
Suggest how photographs taken from the air might help to locate mineral
deposits.
maps a large area; will show, topography / relief;
reaches inaccessible areas; shows types of vegetation.
geological characteristics / colour of,
rocks / soils.

A new mine is proposed near a town.

Suggest reasons why some people do not want a mine near to where
they live.

loss of farmland. noise pollution. increased traffic.

loss of industry. visual pollution. may need to relocate.
loss of tourism. air pollution / dust.
land contamination. water pollution.
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The coal mine provides employment for local people.
Describe other benefits a coal mine can have for local people.

development of improved, internet / increased commerce,

infrastructure; communications e.g. services, shops,
improved, transport links services; hotels;
/ roads; improved local economy;
increased tax revenue
improved, standard of which could be spent
living / quality of life / locally;
income;
greater access to coal;

State two advantages and two disadvantages of surface mining

compared with subsurface mining.
Advantages OF surface mining disadvantages
quicker; noisy;/dusty;

cheaper to extract; larger waste heaps;

less risk of injury; visual pollution;

easier to access; uses a lot of (farming) land / destroys

habitats / reduces biodiversity;

cost of remedial work after completion;

Suggest reasons why the total number of people employed in the coal
mining industry in the USA decreased after 2013.
any two from:
fewer mines / mines closed / low coal more mechanization;
price / poor profitability;
cheaper imports available.
less demand for coal;
non-renewable resource / finite
switched to other forms of energy reserves / running out;
resources;
named environmental concern, e.g.
concern over danger of working in climate change, acid rain;
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mines; government policy;

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State two ways the land can be used after the coal mine closes.

nature reserve / public space / park. landfill site;

flood to make a, lake / reservoir;
land restoration;
visitor attraction / museum / science
centre;
other recreational area, e.g. race track,
dry ski slope, zip wire;

(d) Some countries are burning less coal to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions. These countries are using other energy resources such as
nuclear, wind and solar power.
Suggest reasons why some countries continue to use coal as an
energy resource.
have large reserves (of infrastructure / mines, industry employs a large
coal); already in place; number of people in the
country;

cheap imports of coal lack of finance for,

available; investment / research in
alternatives;
lack of other energy
resources, e.g. nuclear,
wind, solar;
Describe how the copper ore has been mined.

soil and / or overburden, removed.

explosives / blasting of ore.
mining down a series of (open), levels / layers.
machines / draglines / diggers, remove ore.
loaded onto trucks / transported away.

+ve and -ve effects of surface mining / opencast / open-pit / open-cut / strip
mining / quarrying;

+ve effects -ve effects

employment opportunities; loss of habitat;
improvements in local or national noise / water / land / air / dust / visual
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economy; improvement in facilities or pollution; production of waste;

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infrastructure;

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(b) Describe the environmental impacts of copper mine.

any three from:

natural vegetation destroyed / deforestation;
causing, loss of habitats / reduces biodiversity / impact on food chain;
dust in air causing air pollution;
water courses polluted from mining run-off;
machines cause noise pollution so animals migrate;
soil movement causes visual pollution.
Some rocks and minerals are in short supply.
State two strategies for the sustainable use of rocks and minerals.
any two from:
increase efficiency in extraction. (increased) legislation.
increase efficiency in processing. (increased) recycling;
increase efficiency in use; use alternatives;

Suggest three benefits of mineral extraction for the economy of a

country.

improvements in facilities more employment / less increased, export

and infrastructure, e.g. unemployment; opportunities / trade
roads; opportunities /
raw materials can be international
used by industry; relationships;
improvement to, balance increased wealth means
of payments / country higher standard of living;
wealth / GDP;
reliable supply of the raw
material;

Describe how the land can be restored after the quarry closes.
bioremediation; tree planting;
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soil improvement; filling the hole (with soil or water);

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Describe the environmental damage that can be caused by this type
of mining.
destruction of vegetation mining causes visual emissions from
causes loss of animal pollution. machinery / vehicles.
habitats; (causing) loss of machinery causes noise
biodiversity. pollution. leaching heavy metals
into water causes, water
dust causes air pollution; pollution / changes to
water table / groundwater
contamination.

Suggest reasons why the government wants more phosphoric acid to

be made from phosphate rock in Senegal.
increased tax revenue; price per tonne higher so locals learn new skills
than phosphate rock; / upskill;
more exports;
so increase value of to make fertiliser (to use /
exports / increase GDP; more jobs (in processing sell);
rock, transport);

Suggest one way the government could encourage the production of

phosphoric acid in Senegal.

subsidies / tax breaks / cheap loans / grant more mining licences;

Intensive agriculture uses large quantities of fertiliser on many

different crops. Some of the fertiliser is not absorbed by the crops.
Describe the environmental damage caused when fertilisers are
overused.
eutrophication; leaching / washed into
groundwater / rivers;

algal blooms; light blocked;

bacterial blooms;
oxygen used up / high
BOD;
fish / aquatic animals die;
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respiration increases; plants die;

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Suggest one reason why mixing phosphate rock with manure is
unlikely to cause any environmental damage.
manure only breaks down slowly; only a small amount of rock phosphate
added;
e.g. slow release of phosphate;

Describe how a mine can be managed after rock extraction comes to

an end.
bioremediation; tree planting;
land restoration;
soil improvement;/ covered by soil;
use as landfill; seeds planted;
use as a lake for fishing; idea of final end use, e.g. farming /
other use of water body; wildlife reserve / recreation;
hole filled in / reshaped;
making lakes and nature reserves;

22/O/N/19

2. Identify the type of mine shown in the drawing.

surface mining / open-pit / opencast / open-cut;

Suggest two benefits of mining in this way.

more efficient / fast(er extraction); so cheap(er) to do;

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less dangerous;
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Suggest one reason why the ore is processed at the mine.
to reduce (transport) to reduce, mass / volume
costs / to transport.

make more profit; increase the value of the

ore;

Describe the environmental impacts of starting a new mine.

loss of vegetation / water / visual / noise / air, reduction of biodiversity.
deforestation / land pollution;;
clearance. organisms, move away /
loss of habitat (of many migrate.
species);

Describe two economic impacts of mining.

any two from:
more jobs;
loss of, farmland / cost of control of
more, tax revenue for agriculture; pollution;
government / exports / cost of control of waste;
improves economy; cost of restoration;

Suggest two reasons why the world price of chromite decreased.

any two from:
supply increased; new deposits found; less steel needed / more
demand decreased; cost (of, extraction / recycled
processing) decreased;

Describe ways chromite can be used sustainably.

recycle / reuse; increase efficiency of the increase efficiency of the
reprocess old mine use, e.g. use less extraction / new
waste; chromite in steel; technologies for
extraction;
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Suggest why there is a high risk of toxic chemicals being washed out
of the mining waste.

high rainfall (in most leaching / run-off / water, annual rainfall 3485 mm /
months); dissolves chemicals; average monthly rainfall
ground saturated; 290 mm;

Some toxic chemicals can bioaccumulate in the environment.

Describe the process of bioaccumulation.
organism ingests, increase in concentration pollutant not excreted /
pollutant / toxin; of pollutant in an ingestion rate more than
organisms absorb organism / toxin metabolism or excretion
contaminants directly accumulates in body; rate;
from the water /
bioconcentration;

(d) Two students were talking about the extraction of minerals.

How far do you agree with these views? Give reasons for your answer.
The extraction of minerals is necessary I disagree.
as it will help the Preserving the environment
economy of the country. This is is far more important than
more important than preserving the obtaining minerals.
environment.
Level of response indicative content:
Candidates may agree that the extraction of minerals is necessary for the economy of the
country, covering the need for income to feed / clothe the population and the need for minerals.
Minerals are needed for many purposes and candidates may identify that minerals are important
for foreign exchange and imports / exports. Some candidates will consider that mining may
have more relative importance to the economy of a LEDC.

Candidates may suggest there are plenty of other countryside areas that are not being mined
and that minerals may be in short supply. They might also discuss restoring an area after
mineral extraction, more efficient use of minerals and recycling.

Candidates may agree that preservation is important but state that we need minerals too.
Environmental factors might include deforestation, rare habitats, risk of extinction, disruption of
food webs and that the effect of mining on these environmental factors is difficult to measure.
Candidates may also cite the impact of noise, air or water pollution with their sources and / or
impact.
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Candidates may also cover the time it takes to restore an area and consider only allowing
mining in certain areas.
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Responses may also identify the impact of mining developments on tourism.

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surface mining / opencast / open-pit / open-cut / strip mining / quarrying;

The photograph shows an opencast mine, used to extract copper ore, in Zambia.

The photograph shows a location where marble is being extracted.

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