Factors Affecting Extraction of Rocks, Ores & Minerals (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note

Factors affecting rock, ore & mineral extraction

• The decision to extract rocks, ores, and minerals depends on many physical, economic, and environmental factors

• Each factor affects whether extraction is safe, profitable, and sustainable

Exploration

• Exploration is the search for areas where valuable minerals or rocks can be found

  • Modern exploration uses methods such as drilling, sampling, and satellite surveys

• Extraction can only begin when enough information about the size, depth, and location of a deposit is known

  • If exploration shows that the deposit is too small or too deep, extraction may not be worthwhile

Geology

• Geology is the study of the structure and composition of the Earth’s crust

  • The type of rock determines where minerals and ores are found and how easy they are to remove

• Hard or folded rocks are more difficult and expensive to mine than softer, layered rocks

  • For example, minerals trapped in igneous or metamorphic rocks are harder to extract than those in sedimentary rocks

Accessibility and terrain

• Accessibility refers to how easy it is to reach a mining site

  • Mines in remote or mountainous areas are harder to access

• Terrain affects transport, construction, and safety

  • Flat or gently sloping land is easier and cheaper to mine than steep or uneven terrain

Quantity and quality of deposit (ore grade)

• The quantity and quality of the deposit decide whether extraction is worth the cost

  • Ore grade is the concentration of the metal or mineral in the rock

  • High-grade ores contain a large amount of the desired material

    • This makes them more profitable to extract

  • Low-grade ores produce less metal and need more processing

    • This increases costs

Climate

• Climate affects how easily and safely mining can take place

  • Very hot, cold, or wet climates make mining operations difficult

  • Heavy rainfall can cause flooding in open pits or underground tunnels

  • Dry conditions can create dust pollution, which affects air quality and health

Environmental impact assessment (EIA)

• An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a study carried out before a project starts to understand how it will affect the environment

  • It looks at possible impacts on land, water, air, plants, and animals

• Governments often require EIAs to be completed before giving permission to mine

  • If the environmental damage is likely to be severe, extraction may be limited or refused

Supply and demand

• Supply and demand affect how valuable it is to mine a resource

  • High demand and low supply make minerals more profitable to extract

  • If demand falls or alternative materials are used, mining may stop because it is no longer profitable

Cost and profit

• Cost and profit are key factors in deciding whether mining is worthwhile

  • Costs include exploration, equipment, labour, transport, and environmental management

  • Profit depends on how much of the mineral can be sold and at what price

  • If costs are greater than expected profits, the project will not go ahead