Mineral Resources

Finding and Mining of Minerals

st
Week 3 (1 Quarter)

Learning Competency

● Describe how ore minerals are found, mined, and processed for human use S11/12ES-Ib-
5

Objectives

● discuss how ore minerals are found, mined, and processed for human use;
● differentiate the two types of mining; and
● describe how ore minerals are processed for human use.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever wondered why diamonds are a woman's best friend? Is it because it is one of
the hardest known minerals or because of its high value and brilliant shine? It is undeniable that
diamonds captivate the hearts of most women. However, before diamonds become jewelry, it
undergoes a lot of process. Obtaining a diamond does not happen in just a blink of an eye. It takes a
lot of perseverance to get a gram of diamond out of tons of rock. Literally and figuratively, searching
and extracting diamonds and other minerals that are very essential in our everyday life is a huge
business. In return, when extracting minerals for human use were done irresponsibly, the environment
is put into danger. The cost of mine production does not outweigh the environmental cost of
irresponsible mining.

Let’s Recall

REBUS PUZZLE

Direction: The following illustrations are rebus puzzles. Identify the mineral name by
analyzing the picture given. Then, give at least one use of the mineral. Write your
answers on your answer sheet.

1.Mineral Name: _________________________________________

Use: ____________________________________________________

2.Mineral Name: _________________________________________

Use: ____________________________________________________

3.Mineral Name: _________________________________________

Use: ____________________________________________________
 Let’s Understand
Since mineral resources have finite supply, it has become a global crisis especially for a
continuously increasing population. Therefore, this scenario poses a dilemma as we need more
minerals to supply this growing demand.
Four Groups of Mineral Deposits
Mineral deposits are aggregates of minerals present in high concentration. Regardless of
whether it has high economic value or none, an accumulation of minerals are still considered mineral
deposits. However, when it is economically valuable, it is called ore deposit .Mineral deposits can be
categorized into four groups: energy resources, metal resources, industrial mineral resources, and
essential resources .
Energy Resources
Energy resources can be further divided into fossil fuels and nuclear fuels. Fossil fuels include
natural gas, coal, oil shale, tar sand and oil while nuclear fuels include thorium and uranium.
Metal Resources
Metal resources include structural metals such as iron, copper, and aluminum as well as
economic metals such as gold and platinum . These resources also include technological metals such
as lithium and rare earth metals .
Industrial Mineral Resources
Industrial mineral resources include commodities such as salt, potash, and sand .These
minerals are widely used in the field of construction, chemical industries and even agriculture.
Essential Resources
Essential minerals are minerals that pertain to those needed by living organisms. These
minerals are found in soil and water. One good example of an essential resource mineral is zinc that
is naturally present in water and soil.
Mineral Exploration
In the lithosphere, minerals are present everywhere but usually in minute amounts. Therefore,
high quality ore should be located in a small area for mining to be profitable. Searching for valuable
ore is called mineral exploration.Remember that ore deposits are considered economically. Its
profitability depends on the presence of high concentration of ore minerals. Grade refers to the
concentration of the valuable minerals in an ore deposit. The minimum concentration required to
profitably extract the ore is called cut-off grade .Most ore deposits are found in mixtures with minerals
called gangue minerals or minerals that have no commercial value. For example, quartz (SiO2 ) is a
common gangue mineral that is usually associated with several metal deposits and is discarded as a
waste product. However, when quartz is considered as a pure deposit, it becomes valuable in making
glass and other profitable uses. The technology nowadays provides a means to search for high
quality ore without doing the actual mining. Various exploration techniques were used to assess ore
deposits prior to mining. These techniques include remote sensing, geophysical methods and
geochemical methods .
Remote Sensing
This method uses devices such as sonar, radar , and satellite images to gather image
representation of the earth’s surface. These representations aid us in finding probable mining sites.
Geophysical Methods
This is a technique that uses the properties of minerals and geology to determine its location.
An example is diamond extraction. Through volcanic pipes, diamond bearing rocks known as
kimberlites were carried from the mantle to the surface. Geologists search for these ancient volcanic
pipes when looking for diamond deposits. The illustration below shows the first kimberlite pipe
discovered. It is located in South Africa. The big hole was created after the pipe was excavated.
Geochemical Methods
Merging the idea of the chemical properties of minerals and geology of a location, compounds
present in the ore and its abundance will be identified.
Two Methods of Mining
After mineral exploration is done, the valuable ore needs to be obtained out of the ground.
This process is known as mining. Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals from mineral deposits.
The practice of mining and processing of minerals dates back a long time ago. About 3000
B.C.,techniques in mining had already been established. Cyprus was well known for its mines and its
Cyprian metal, which was later called copper. Mining also gave an advantage to several empires such
as the Ionians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans over the populations of the Stone Age. There are
two methods of mining: surface mining and underground mining.
Surface Mining
Surface mining is being used to extract ore minerals near the surface of Earth. This type of
mining is being performed to obtain sand, gravel, coal, phosphates, iron, copper, and aluminum. It is
usually preferred to underground mining since it is less expensive, safer, and it involves less
electricity and water. However, it poses more environmental problems than underground mining. The
soil and rocks that cover the ores are being removed through blasting. Blasting is a controlled use of
explosives and gas exposure to break rocks. There are five types of surface mining. This includes
strip mining, open-pit
mining, dredging, mountaintop removal mining, and highwall mining .
Strip mining is usually used in extracting coal. This type of mining is ideal on surfaces that are
flat and horizontal. In this method, a thin strip of layer is removed above the mineral deposit, and
wastes are dumped just behind it. Once the mineral deposit is exposed, another strip parallel to the
first strip is made, and this time, the wastes are dumped on top of the first strip. This is the cheapest
type of mining, but it produces the largest environmental footprint.
Open pit mining , also known as open-cast mining, is considered as the most common type of
surface mining. It is usually used to extract near-surface deposits like sand and gravel. This type of
mining creates an open pit mine or a large-scale hole in the ground that is continuously enlarged by
blasting and drilling the rocks apart. The mine becomes cone-shaped with benches or steps spiraling
from top to bottom when exposed in a cross-section. This orientation allows the trucks to go down the
mine from the sides while collecting the blasted debris.
Dredging is a type of mining that is used to collect unconsolidated materials from bodies of
water. Although this type of mining does not contribute to chemical pollution, it still affects diversity of
organisms in the water by dispersing fine particles over a large area. In the long run, it could degrade
marine habitats by disrupting water currents and sediment placement. Highwall mining is an open-cut
mining which can be a combination of surface and underground mining. This type of mining is usually
used in coal extraction. Rocks are drilled beneath the ground which can be very dangerous,
especially when there is undermining on the high wall causing the ground to become unstable.
Underground Mining
Underground mining is used to extract the rocks, minerals, and other precious stones that can
be found deep beneath Earth’s surface. The underground mining requires the creation of a tunnel so
miners can reach the ore minerals. This kind of mining is more expensive and dangerous as
compared to surface mining because miners need to use explosive devices to remove the minerals
from the rocks surrounding them. This type of mining involves several methods such as room-and-
pillar mining, shrinkage stopping, and vertical crater retreat (VCR).
Room-and-pillar mining is a method used to extract mineral resources that are deep and
tabular. Pillars are left to support the hanging wall. Rooms and pillars are arranged in regular patterns
where pillars are designed with circular or square cross sections separating the rooms.
Shrinkage stoping is a method where the ore deposits are excavated by slicing a horizontal
pattern, starting from the bottom of the deposit going upwards.
Vertical crater retreat (VCR) is a method that uses crater blasting techniques where powerful
explosives are placed in big holes. This method is widely used by miners worldwide.
Factors Affecting Mineral Availability
Mineral availability is affected by several factors such as geologic, economic, and
environmental factors.
Geologic Factors
Our mineral supply comes from mineral deposits. Mineral deposits are mixtures of elements
or minerals formed from several geologic processes. From these mineral deposits, some important
elements including metals can be economically extracted from specialized rocks called ore deposits.
Examples of geologic factors that affect abundance of mineral deposits are geological origin of the
area, presence or absence of volcano, and age of the geologic structure.
Economic Factors
Economic factors also affect mineral availability. These include the costs in getting the supply
such as engineering, mineral extraction, and processing and costs for coping with the demand such
as commodity prices, land tenure, taxation, and other legal policies.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors affect mineral resources. Due to problems brought about by pollution
associated with mineral production and waste products due to mining and mineral processing, these
problems could be far greater than the costs in compliance with the government regulations and the
profitability of the extracted mineral deposits.
Mineral processing is the process of extracting minerals from the ores, refining them, and
preparing these minerals for use.
The primary steps involved in processing minerals include sampling & analysis, comminution,
concentration, and dewatering.
● Sampling is the removal of a portion which represents a whole needed for the analysis
of this material.
● Analysis is important to evaluate the valuable components in an ore.
● Comminution is where the valuable components of the ore are separated through
crushing and grinding
● Concentration is a process where the minerals are separated from the waste rock.
● Dewatering uses the concentrates to convert it to usable minerals.

Let’s Apply

A. Directions: Using your knowledge on Mineral Resources carefully answer the following
items. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

1. With the current issues on the negative effects of mining on the environment, do you think
mining must be prohibited in the Philippines?

2. Do you think the Philippines is rich in mineral deposits? How do you think the
can the Philippines reach its potential as one of the leading sources of ore deposits?

B. Directions: In column A, write the step in mineral processing being described. Then,
arrange the steps in order. Write number 1 for the first step, 2 for the second and so
on. Put your answer in column B. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Column A Column B Steps in Mineral Processing

The valuable components in an ore are

evaluated.

Minerals are separated from unwanted rock.

A portion which represents a whole needed

for
the analysis of this material is removed.

Filtration and sedimentation of the

suspension,
and drying of the solid material harvested
from this suspension was involved.

The rocks were crushed into smaller pieces.

 Let’s Analyze

CASE STUDY
Direction: Read the excerpt below and discuss why environmental damage often impacts
most of the poor. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

The Marcopper Mining Disaster occurred on March 24, 1996 on the Philippine island
ofMarinduque, in Luzon. A fracture in the drainage tunnel of a large pit containing
leftover mine tailings led to a discharge of toxic mine waste into the Makulapnit-Boac
river system and caused flash floods in areas along the river. One village, Barangay
Hinapulan, was buried in six feet of muddy floodwater, causing the displacement of
400 families. Twenty other villages had to be evacuated. Drinking water was
contaminated killing fish and freshwater shrimp. Large animals such as cows, pigs
and sheep were overcome and killed. The flooding caused the destruction of crops
and irrigation channels. Following the disaster, the Boac River was declared
unusable.

Let us investigate!
Impact or effects of disaster in Marcopper Mining?
Problem:
Solution:
Long term Effect:

Let’s Create

Crafting Gemstones out of Polymer Clay

Goal
● Your task is to make a gemstone using the polymer clay.
Role
● You are to make a gemstone that looks like the real one. You can bake the
clay in the oven or add some paint to make it more realistic.
Audience
● You need to convince your classmates to purchase your crafts.
Situation
● The challenge involves dealing with the details in crafting the gemstone.
Product, Performance and Purpose
● You will create a gemstone craft in order to appreciate the beauty of some minerals
especially those gemstones used in jewelleries.
Standards and Criteria for Success
● Your work will be judged by your classmates and teachers since they are your
customers.

Criteria Developing Standard Exemplary Total Points

1-7 8-14 15-20

Illustration of targeted Does not illustrate Illustrates some of Correctly illustrates
___
Concepts and targeted concepts targeted concepts the targeted
20
Principles and principle concepts and
principles
1-4 5-7 8-10
Inartistically done, Moderately well- Well-crafted
___
unattractive and crafted; acceptable attractive; and
Aesthetic Appeal 10
sloppy appearance; and superior
workmanship ordinary workmanship
workmanship
 0-1 2-3 4-5
Lack of imaginative Demonstrates Demonstrates
thinking: output moderate imaginative ___
produced has no imaginative skills; thinking; output 5
Creativity
innovative or output produced produced has
unique qualities has some innovative and
innovative and unique qualities
unique qualities
___
Total 35

Let’s Evaluate

Multiple Choices
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer from the given choices. Write your answers
on your answer sheet.
1. What is the advantage of creating benches in an open-pit mining?
A. It minimizes the use of explosive devices.
B. It makes it easier to blast the rocks apart.
C. It enables personnel to extract ore deposits.
D.It allows trucks to go down the mine.
2. Why does surface mining pose more environmental problems than underground
mining?
A.It can cause collapse on mines or subsidence.
B.It can cause soil erosion.
C.It can destroy landscapes, forests and even wildlife habitat.
D.It can cause flood
3. Why do you think underground mining is more expensive and dangerous
compared to surface mining?
A.It uses explosives to extract the ores from the tunnels.
B.The tunnels will not hold for long which endanger the miners.
C.Enough air and light must be brought to the tunnels.
D.It needs to create a tunnel so that the miners and equipment can locate the ore
minerals.
4.Which of the following describes a gangue mineral?
A. forms a single element
B. concentration of an element
C. economically valuable
D. with no commercial value
5. How do you separate ore minerals from unwanted rocks near the surface of the earth?
A. by dewatering C. by analysis
B. by blasting D.by sampling
LEARNING AREA GRADE 11/EARTH SCIENCE
Self-Learning Module (Pansariling Pampagkatutong Modyul)
Quarter 1 - Module 3: Finding and Mining of Minerals
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Ma. Flordeluna D. Ainza

Editor:
Reviewers: Dr. Corazon A. Javier, EPS Science – Division of Parañaque
Arlene A. Sioc
Illustrator: Ma. Flordeluna D. Ainza
Layout Artist:
Management Team: Wilfredo E. Cabral, Director IV
Genia V. Santos, CLMD Chief
Dennis M. Mendoza, Regional EPS In Charge of
LRMS
Evangeline P. Ladines, CESO V, Schools Division
Superintendent
Bernardo N. Mascariña, Curriculum Implementation

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