- Minerals are non-renewable resources found all over the world
- The Canadian Shield is the source of many of our mineral deposits
- Minerals can be divided into three groups:
- Metallic (copper, nickel, uranium, gold, etc)
- Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
- Industrial (stone, diamonds, salt, potash)
Environmental Issues
- Mining can cause air pollution, acid precipitation, and can pollute local water sources
- Abandoned mines can also be an environmental and aesthetic hazard
Economic Issues
- 50% of minerals mined in Canada are processed after being exported > Exported jobs
- Global markets control mineral prices and demand
- Foreign competition
- lower production costs overseas make their minerals cheaper
- Ghost Towns
- After a mine closes up,
- many one industry towns
- have been abandoned.
- i.e. Elliot Lake, ON
Types of Mines
- Strip Mining – Used in oil sands, coal, and other minerals located near the surface. Strips are removed from the surface with machines or blasting
Open Pit Mining
- Used for minerals near the surface and slightly deeper. Often used for coal or rock mining. Sometimes pits can be quite deep
- Underground Mining
- Used to extract minerals deep beneath the surface using deep underground mine shafts and tunnels. Commonly used for coal or potash
