Why did people start growing pumpkins? Pumpkin was bred in both the Old and New Worlds thousands of years before our era, and this was done solely for its hard rind, which was used to make vessels. The first examples of ceramic ware in some areas

How did the first people evolve, what did they start doing first - gathering or hunting? (Asked by T. Jordan, Gainesville, Florida, USA) They probably began hunting and gathering at the same time. But before that, perhaps the first people ate carrion.

Where did gold mining first begin? Traces of the first gold mining were discovered in Egypt. The Egyptians began mining gold more than 5,000 years ago. We also have evidence that about 4,500 years ago, the Assyrians fought with their neighbors to get gold. The rulers of Greece and Rome too

When did people start building houses? A house is, first of all, the place where a person lives, and at first, like other living beings, he looked for shelter wherever he could. People found a good protected place and considered it “home”. Then they began to improve their homes with various

The economies of many countries depend on mining. This is one of the main resources for the development of industry, construction and the economy. There are two main mining options: underground mining and open-pit mining. The choice of method depends on the depth of valuable rock deposits, terrain features and other factors.

Work on extracting useful resources from the bowels of the Earth has a thousand-year history. Equipment and mining methods have gone through a serious evolutionary path. Nevertheless, the basic principles have been preserved.

Quarries are being developed in almost every corner of the planet. Metals, minerals, construction raw materials are mined. This type of mining has a negative impact on the environment and ecological situation. However, there are a number of advantages that determine the popularity of the open-pit mining method:

• simplified version of preparatory and construction work;
• high degree of safety for participants in the process;
• relatively low costs for organizing and conducting development;
• comfortable conditions for workers;
• the possibility of more efficient rock extraction.

The positive aspects of quarrying are identified in relation to other mining options (underground, combined). Labor costs for open-pit mining are quite high. The economic benefit decreases with the deepening of the pit. Delivery of the breed to the collection point is constantly becoming more complicated, increasing the cost of the procedure.

Open development technology

Extraction of natural resources is a process that consists of many stages. Preparatory work begins with geological exploration. Experts search for fossil deposits and estimate the likely volumes of mined rock.

Preparatory work

After positive results geological exploration begins the stage of primary preparation. Mining enterprises carry out the following work:

• uprooting of forests;
• drainage or watering of the area;
• construction of necessary communications (sewage, communications, access roads);
• erection of administrative buildings and other premises.

The duration of the preparatory stage depends on the financial investment, the scale of the work, weather conditions, and terrain features.

Minerals (coal, metal, etc.) are hidden under waste rock. This layer of soil must be removed. To achieve this, stripping operations are carried out. The top soil is removed layer by layer. There is a systematic advance towards valuable deposits. As a result, a cascade of benches is formed, and the development of the quarry approaches the direct production phase.

The following equipment is used for stripping operations:

• bulldozer;
• excavator;
• dragline (excavator with rope connection);
• drilling and blasting equipment.

The efficiency of open pit mining is determined by the ratio of the displaced waste rock to the mining result. The number of cubic meters of removed soil is divided by the tonnage of the removed mineral.

Mining process

After stripping operations, direct extraction of the mined rock is carried out. It is removed from the subsoil and transported to warehouses or processing plants. To reduce the cost of this stage of development, they use large-tonnage equipment and try to automate some processes.

Transportation of raw materials is often entrusted to mining dump trucks of the BelAZ plant. In 2013, a model was released that is capable of transporting cargo weighing up to 450 tons. During testing, the dump truck handled a record 503.5 tons.

New technologies and equipment are regularly developed, which are used for the development and extraction of valuable rocks. The level of security is increasing, and some processes are being fully automated. But work in quarries and mines remains difficult and dangerous. Working conditions are often extreme and require high physical and psychological stability.

Quarry structure

Open mining is suitable for many valuable rocks. There are chalk quarries, coal quarries, amber quarries, marble quarries, and copper quarries. One of the largest open-pit mining sites is located in Utah, USA. Mining of the Bingham Canyon quarry began in 1863. The depth of the pit is about 1,200 meters. Active ore mining continues in the quarry.

Features of quarry development depend on many factors. We can identify the main elements that are characteristic of all such structures:

• working and non-working board;
• lower and upper contours;
• overburden and clearing benches;
• platforms (below the slope, above the slope);
• breed collection point;
• transport communications.

The bottom of the quarry is also often called the bottom - this is the lower platform of the ledge. Its dimensions take into account the necessary safety conditions for removing rock and loading at the last level.

The influence of quarries on the environmental situation

Each quarry development is a significant blow to the environment and ecological background of the area. Already at the preparatory stage of rock extraction, actions are carried out that destroy the landscape. Enterprises cut down entire forests, drain water bodies, and carry out blasting operations.

Open pit mining has a detrimental effect on the soil. Cubic meters of soil are removed for fossil deposits. Often these are lands that could be effectively used for agricultural purposes. The development of valuable rocks entails a decrease in groundwater levels. The region's water supply and soil productivity are declining.

Overburden dumps pose a particular danger. The extent of the negative impact depends on the depth of the quarry and the chemical composition of the soil. Dumps pollute water, air, and soil. Various salts can leach into vegetation and lead to increased risk of certain diseases in local populations.

Mining in quarries is always accompanied by:

• wastewater pollution;
• carbon monoxide emissions;
• loud noise.

All this also negatively affects the environment.

Ecological restoration measures

The open-pit method of mining does not have a gentle approach to the area being mined, but the negative consequences can be somewhat mitigated. In many countries, companies involved in quarrying are required to carry out reclamation and replant the site with vegetation after the end of mining. This allows you to start the process of regeneration of the soil and the ecological background.

Work with industrial waste can also be optimized. From the dump rocks the following is extracted:

• mineral fertilizers;
• alumina;
• Construction Materials.

This makes it possible to expand the range of economic benefits for the mining industry and reduce the negative impact of dumps on the environment.

Conclusion

Open pit mining is common throughout the world. This method allows you to remove a wide variety of rocks: chalk, coal, etc. We have to come to terms with the fact that quarrying has a negative impact on the environment.

However, conscious states are trying to control this process by setting certain requirements for mining enterprises. Mining and development of valuable rocks is a help for a stable economy. It is difficult for governing bodies to refuse the impressive financial flow that lies in the bowels of the country.

How minerals are mined

check yourself

1.Question: Tell us about the variety of minerals.

Answer: minerals can be in different types: solid, liquid, gaseous. They are mined underground, from underground, on the surface of the earth. For example: iron ore, coal - mined both underground and on the surface, like clay, sand, limestone, granite - mined in quarries, oil, natural gas - mined from underground.

2. Question: why do people mine minerals? What is their use based on?

Answer: to receive necessary for a person items to satisfy your needs. The application depends on the properties of the minerals. Sand, clay, limestone, granite, marble - used in construction; oil for fuel, plastics, road construction materials; coal for heating and electricity generation; various ores for obtaining metals.

3. Question: what methods of mining do you know?

Answer: mine, drilling rig and platform, quarry, well.

Homework assignments

Task 2.

Question: What minerals are mined in your area?

Answer: copper ore, gold ore, coal, sand, clay, precious stones, iron ore, titanomagnetite ore, etc.

Task 3. Prepare a report about some mineral.

Answer: Coal.

Coal is a solid, exhaustible, non-renewable mineral that man uses to produce heat by burning it. According to the classification, it belongs to sedimentary rocks.

People began to use coal as an energy source in ancient times, along with firewood. The “combustible stone” was found on the surface of the earth, and later it began to be deliberately mined from underneath it.

Coal appeared on Earth about 300-350 million years ago, when tree ferns grew lushly in ancient swamps and the first gymnosperms. Huge trunks fell into the water, gradually forming thick layers of undecomposed organic matter. With limited access to oxygen, the wood did not rot, but gradually sank deeper and deeper under its weight. Over time, thanks to the displacement of layers of the earth's crust, these layers sank to a considerable depth and there, under the influence of high pressure and elevated temperature, a qualitative change occurred from wood to coal.

Today they are mining different kinds coal.

Anthracites are the hardest varieties with great depth and have maximum temperature combustion.

Hard coal - many varieties mined in mines and in open pits. It is widely used in many areas of human activity.

Brown coal - formed from the remains of peat, the youngest type of coal. Has the lowest combustion temperature.

All types of coal occur in layers and their locations are called coal basins.

At first, coal was simply collected in places where the seam came to the surface. This could have happened as a result of displacement of layers of the earth's crust. Often, after landslides in mountainous areas, such deposits were exposed, and people were able to get to pieces of “combustible stone.”

Later, when primitive technology appeared, coal began to be mined using the open pit method. Some coal mines sank to depths of more than 300 meters.

Today, thanks to the availability of sophisticated modern technology, people descend underground into mines more than a kilometer deep. The highest quality and valuable coal is mined from these horizons.

All types of coal can be used to produce heat. When burned, it is released into much more than you can get it from firewood or other hard species fuel. The hottest types of coal are used in metallurgy, where they are needed high temperatures. In addition, coal is a valuable raw material for the chemical industry. Paints, plastics and other valuable materials are extracted from it.

Coal is mined in mines and quarries. And they are transported in wagons by rail.

In the next lesson.

Question: remember what plants are called cultivated. Give examples of such plants. What kind of plant growing work is done at different times of the year? What agricultural professions do you know?

Answer: cultivated plants (agricultural crops) are plants grown by humans to obtain food products, feed in agriculture, medicines, industrial and other raw materials and other purposes. Examples of cultivated plants: various grains, potatoes, carrots, tomato, pepper, cucumber, cotton, rice, etc.

In the spring, the land is plowed and plants are sowed, in the summer - weeding, fertilizing, loosening; in the fall - harvesting, soil preparation - plowing plowed land, shutting off autumn moisture, sowing winter crops is possible; in winter - they carry out “snow retention”, work to retain snow in the fields.

Agricultural professions related to growing plants: combine operator, agronomist, field grower, vegetable grower, tractor driver.

Sedimentary minerals most typical for platforms, since the platform cover is located there. These are mainly non-metallic minerals and fuels, the leading role among which is played by gas, oil, coal, and oil shale. They were formed from the remains of plants and animals accumulated in the coastal parts of shallow seas and in lake-marsh land conditions. These abundant organic remains could accumulate only in sufficiently humid and warm conditions favorable for lush development. In hot, dry conditions, in shallow seas and coastal lagoons, salts accumulated, which were used as raw materials.

Mining

There are several ways mining. Firstly, this is an open method in which rocks are mined in quarries. It is more economically beneficial, as it helps to obtain a cheaper product. However, an abandoned quarry can create a wide net. The mine method of coal mining requires large expenditures and is therefore more expensive. The cheapest method of oil production is flowing, when oil rises through a well under oil gases. The pumping method of extraction is also common. There are also special methods of mining. They are called geotechnological. With their help, ore is mined from the depths of the Earth. This is done by downloading hot water, solutions into layers containing the necessary minerals. Other wells pump out the resulting solution and separate the valuable component.

The need for minerals is constantly growing, the extraction of mineral raw materials is increasing, but minerals are exhaustible Natural resources, therefore it is necessary to spend them more economically and fully.

There are several ways to do this:

• reducing losses of minerals during their extraction;
• more complete extraction of all useful components from the rock;
• integrated use of mineral resources;
• search for new, more promising deposits.

Thus, the main direction in the use of minerals in the coming years should not be an increase in the volume of their production, but a more rational use.

In modern searches for mineral resources, it is necessary to use not only the latest technology and sensitive instruments, but also a scientific forecast for the search for deposits, which helps to conduct targeted exploration of subsoil on a scientific basis. It was thanks to such methods that diamond deposits in Yakutia were first scientifically predicted and then discovered. A scientific forecast is based on knowledge of the connections and conditions for the formation of minerals.

Brief description of the main minerals

The hardest of all minerals. Its composition is pure carbon. It is found in placers and as inclusions in rocks. Diamonds are colorless, but they are also found in various colors. A cut diamond is called a diamond. Its weight is usually measured in carats (1 carat = 0.2 g). The largest diamond was found in Yuzhnaya: it weighed more than 3,000 carats. Most diamonds are mined in Africa (98% of production in the capitalist world). In Russia large deposits diamonds are located in Yakutia. Clear crystals are used to make gemstones. Before 1430, diamonds were considered common gemstones. The trendsetter for them was the Frenchwoman Agnes Sorel. Due to their hardness, opaque diamonds are used industrially for cutting and engraving, as well as for polishing glass and stone.

Soft malleable metal yellow color, heavy, does not oxidize in air. In nature it is found mainly in its pure form (nuggets). The largest nugget, weighing 69.7 kg, was found in Australia.

Gold also occurs in the form of placers - this is the result of weathering and erosion of the deposit, when grains of gold are released and carried away, forming placers. Gold is used in the production of precision instruments and various jewelry. In Russia, gold lies on and in. Abroad - in Canada, South Africa,. Since gold occurs in nature in small quantities and its extraction is associated with high costs, it is considered a precious metal.

Platinum(from the Spanish plata - silver) - a precious metal from white to steel-gray color. It is characterized by refractoriness, resistance to chemical influences and electrical conductivity. It is mined mainly in placers. It is used for the manufacture of chemical glassware, in electrical engineering, jewelry and dentistry. In Russia, platinum is mined in the Urals and in Eastern Siberia. Abroad - in South Africa.

Gems(gems) - mineral bodies with beautiful color, brilliance, hardness, and transparency. They are divided into two groups: stones used for cutting and semi-precious stones. The first group includes diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, and aquamarine. The second group includes malachite, jasper, and rock crystal. All precious stones, as a rule, are of igneous origin. However, pearls, amber, and coral are minerals of organic origin. Precious stones are used in jewelry and for technical purposes.

Tuffs- rocks of various origins. Calcareous tuff is a porous rock formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from sources. This tuff is used to produce cement and lime. Volcanic tuff - cemented. Tuffs are used as a building material. Has different colors.

Mica- rocks that have the ability to split into thin layers with a smooth surface; found as impurities in sedimentary rocks. Various micas are used as a good electrical insulator, for the manufacture of windows in metallurgical furnaces, and in the electrical and radio industries. In Russia, mica is mined in Eastern Siberia, c. Industrial development of mica deposits is carried out in Ukraine, the USA, .

Marble- crystalline rock formed as a result of limestone metamorphism. It comes in different colors. Marble is used as a building material for wall cladding, architecture and sculpture. In Russia there are many of its deposits in the Urals and the Caucasus. Abroad, the most famous marble is quarried in...

Asbestos(Greek inextinguishable) - a group of fibrous fireproof rocks that split into soft fibers of greenish-yellow or almost white. It occurs in the form of veins (a vein is a mineral body that fills a crack in the earth’s crust, usually has a plate-like shape, going vertically to great depths. The length of the veins reaches two or more kilometers), among igneous and sedimentary rocks. It is used for the manufacture of special fabrics (fire insulation), tarpaulins, fire-resistant roofing materials, as well as thermal insulation materials. In Russia, asbestos mining is carried out in the Urals, in, and abroad - in and other countries.

Asphalt(resin) - a brittle, resinous rock of brown or black color, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons. Asphalt melts easily, burns with a smoky flame, and is a product of changes in certain types of oil, from which some of the substances have evaporated. Asphalt often penetrates sandstones, limestones, and marl. It is used as a building material for road surfaces, in electrical engineering and the rubber industry, for the preparation of varnishes and mixtures for waterproofing. The main asphalt deposits in Russia are the Ukhta region, abroad - in France.

Apatity- minerals rich in phosphorus salts, green, gray and other colors; found among various igneous rocks, in some places forming large accumulations. Apatites are mainly used for the production of phosphate fertilizers, they are also used in the ceramics industry. In Russia, the largest deposits of apatite are located in, on. Abroad, they are mined in the Republic of South Africa.

Phosphorites- Sedimentary rocks rich in phosphorus compounds that form grains in the rock or bind various minerals together into a dense rock. The color of phosphorites is dark gray. They, like apatites, are used to produce phosphate fertilizers. In Russia, phosphorite deposits are common in the Moscow and Kirov regions. Abroad, they are mined in the USA (Florida Peninsula), etc.

Aluminum ores- minerals and rocks used to produce aluminum. Main aluminum ores- these are bauxites, nephelines and alunites.

Bauxite(the name comes from the area of ​​Beau in the south of France) - sedimentary rocks of red or brown color. 1/3 of the world's reserves lie in the north, and the country is one of the leading countries in their production. In Russia, bauxite is mined in. The main component of bauxite is aluminum oxide.

Alunites(the name comes from the word alun - alum (French) - minerals that contain aluminum, potassium and other inclusions. Alunite ore can be a raw material for the production of not only aluminum, but also potash fertilizers and sulfuric acid. Alunite deposits are in the USA , China, Ukraine, and other countries.

Nephelines(the name comes from the Greek “nephele”, which means cloud) - minerals of complex composition, gray or green in color, containing a significant amount of aluminum. They are part of igneous rocks. In Russia, nephelines are mined in and in Eastern Siberia. Aluminum obtained from these ores is a soft metal, produces strong alloys, and is widely used in the production of household goods.

Iron ores- natural mineral accumulations containing iron. They are varied in mineralogical composition, the amount of iron in them and various impurities. Impurities can be valuable (manganese chromium, cobalt, nickel) and harmful (sulfur, phosphorus, arsenic). The main ones are brown iron ore, red iron ore, and magnetic iron ore.

Brown iron ore, or limonite, is a mixture of several minerals containing iron with an admixture of clay substances. It has a brown, yellow-brown or black color. It is most often found in sedimentary rocks. If the ores of brown iron ore - one of the most common iron ores - have an iron content of at least 30%, then they are considered industrial. The main deposits are in Russia (Ural, Lipetsk), Ukraine (), France (Lorraine), on.

Hematite, or hematite, is a red-brown to black mineral containing up to 65% iron.

It is found in various rocks in the form of crystals and thin plates. Sometimes it forms clusters in the form of hard or earthy masses of a bright red color. The main deposits of red iron ore are in Russia (KMA), Ukraine (Krivoy Rog), USA, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Canada, Sweden.

Magnetic iron ore, or magnetite, is a black mineral containing 50-60% iron. This is high quality iron ore. Composed of iron and oxygen, highly magnetic. It occurs in the form of crystals, inclusions and solid masses. The main deposits are in Russia (Ural, KMA, Siberia), Ukraine (Krivoy Rog), Sweden and the USA.

Manganese ores- mineral compounds containing manganese, the main property of which is to give steel and cast iron malleability and hardness. Modern metallurgy is unthinkable without manganese: a special alloy is smelted - ferromanganese, containing up to 80% manganese, which is used to smelt high-quality steel. In addition, manganese is necessary for the growth and development of animals and is a microfertilizer. The main ore deposits are located in Ukraine (Nikolskoye), India, Brazil and the Republic of South Africa.

Tin ores- numerous minerals containing tin. Tin ores with a tin content of 1-2% or more are being developed. These ores require beneficiation - increasing the valuable component and separating waste rock, so ores are used for smelting, the tin content of which has been increased to 55%. Tin does not oxidize, which is why it is widely used in the canning industry. In Russia, tin ores are found in Eastern Siberia and on, and abroad they are mined in Indonesia, on the peninsula.

Nickel ores- mineral compounds containing nickel. It does not oxidize in air. The addition of nickel to steels greatly increases their elasticity. Pure nickel is used in mechanical engineering. In Russia it is mined on the Kola Peninsula, the Urals, and Eastern Siberia; abroad - in Canada, in Brazil.

Uranium-radium ores- mineral accumulations containing uranium. Radium is a product of the radioactive decay of uranium. The radium content in uranium ores is negligible - up to 300 mg per 1 ton of ore. have great importance, since the nuclear fission of each gram of uranium can produce 2 million times more energy than burning 1 gram of fuel, so they are used as fuel in nuclear power plants to generate cheap electricity. Uranium-radium ores are mined in Russia, the USA, China, Canada, Congo, and other countries of the world.