Question 1

Estimates of mineral reserves are dependent upon:
A) technological changes.
B) economic changes.
C) political changes.
D) price fluctuations.
E) all of these statements are true

Accepted Answer

Mineral reserves are dependent upon technological changes because advancements in technology can make previously unavailable minerals accessible. Economic changes can also impact mineral reserves as fluctuations in demand and prices can make certain minerals more or less profitable to extract. Political changes can affect mineral reserves through regulations or nationalization of resources. Finally, price fluctuations are also a factor in determining mineral reserves as higher prices can make previously unprofitable deposits worth extracting. Therefore, all of the statements are true.

Question 2

All of the following statements are TRUE except:
A) Examples of nonmetallic minerals include phosphates, salt, and sand.
B) Subsurface mining disturbs the land less than surface mining.
C) Highly developed nations still have large mineral reserves within their boundaries.
D) Many developing countries lack any significant mineral deposits.
E) Four of the world's top five mineral producers are highly developed countries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following statements are TRUE...

Question 3

Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between nations and their consumption of minerals?
A) Highly developed nations often rely on developing nations for strategically important minerals.
B) The nations with the richest concentration of minerals consume the largest portion of minerals.
C) Highly developed nations consume a fair and proportionate share of the world's minerals.
D) As developing nations industrialize, their consumption of minerals decreases.
E) The richest concentrations of minerals in developing countries have been depleted.

Accepted Answer

Highly developed nations often have a high demand for minerals to support their industries, and may look to developing nations as a source of these minerals. Developing nations often have a significant amount of mineral deposits, but may lack the technology and infrastructure to fully utilize them, making them a target for extraction by more developed nations. This relationship can be seen in the extraction of rare earth minerals from countries such as China in order to support industries in countries such as the United States and Japan.

Question 4

Reclamation of the environment surrounding Ducktown, Tennessee has involved:
A) the addition of fertilizer.
B) using advanced technology to extract all of the residual mine and smelting toxins from the soil.
C) reintroduction of animals, including birds and field mice.
D) reconstitution of the original, complex forest ecosystem in just three decades.
E) establishment of a preserve and national park on the old mining site.

Accepted Answer

The reclamation efforts in Ducktown, Tennessee, have primarily involved the addition of fertilizer to restore vegetation and improve soil quality.

Question 5

What is a mineral? Compare and contrast the properties and uses of metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources. Include in your discussion three examples of both metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a mineral? Compare and contrast...

Question 6

Which of the following statements about Antarctica is FALSE?
A) The Antarctic Treaty of 1961 limits activity in Antarctica to peaceful uses, such as tourism and research.
B) Polar regions are extremely vulnerable to human activities and impact.
C) Substantial mineral deposits have been found in Antarctica.
D) The Madrid Protocol contains a moratorium on mineral exploration and development for at least 50 years.
E) This continent plays a pivotal role in regulating many aspects of the global environment.

Accepted Answer

There have been no substantial mineral deposits found in Antarctica. In fact, the Madrid Protocol includes a ban on mineral exploration and development.

Question 7

The environmental damage near Ducktown, Tennessee was caused by:
A) coal mining and ash ponds.
B) copper mining and smelting.
C) gold mining and smelting.
D) strip mining for diamonds.
E) open-pit mining for sand and gravel.

Accepted Answer

The environmental damage near Ducktown, Tennessee was caused by copper mining and smelting, which released sulfur dioxide pollution and caused deforestation and soil erosion.

Question 8

_____ is stockpiling and controls the global supply of rare-earth metals, which are used in high-tech industries.
A) South Africa
B) Japan
C) The United States
D) China
E) India

Accepted Answer

China is known for stockpiling and controlling the global supply of rare-earth metals, which are crucial components in high-tech industries such as electronics, magnets, and renewable energy technology. China controls over 80% of the world's rare-earth metal supply, making it a dominant player in the global market.

Question 9

The world reserve base of minerals includes:
A) deposits that have been identified and located.
B) deposits of low-grade ores, which may be profitable to extract in the future.
C) deposits of high-grade ores.
D) deposits that have not been identified yet.
E) All of these statements are correct

Accepted Answer

The world reserve base of minerals includes all of these options, as it encompasses identified and located deposits, potential future extraction of low-grade ores, high-grade ores, and unknown deposits.

Question 10

The environmental degradation of the Copper Basin, Tennessee region is the result of all of the following except:
A) destruction of nearby aquatic communities.
B) deforestation.
C) acid precipitation.
D) soil erosion.
E) All of these choices are associated with the environmental degradation of the Copper Basin area.

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed (destruction of nearby aquatic communities, deforestation, acid precipitation, and soil erosion) have contributed to the environmental degradation of the Copper Basin, Tennessee region.

Question 11

Large potato-sized nodules found on the sea floor contain manganese, copper, and nickel. What is the main reason these minerals have not been mined?
A) it would cost more to mine the minerals than they are currently worth
B) international agreements for seafloor mining do not yet exist
C) nobody is really sure where these nodules are located
D) the metals are of limited use and abundantly available elsewhere
E) none of these statements is correct

Accepted Answer

The main reason these minerals have not been mined is that the cost of mining them from the sea floor is currently higher than the market value of the minerals themselves. This makes such mining ventures economically unfeasible.

Question 12

Mineral ________ have been identified and are currently profitable to extract, while mineral ________include ores that are undiscovered or currently unprofitable to extract.
A) funds; collections
B) caches; refuges
C) resources; reserves
D) reserves; resources
E) stores; hoards

Accepted Answer

The terms "resources" and "reserves" are commonly used in the mining and minerals industry to refer to different types of mineral deposits. "Resources" are minerals that have been identified and are potentially extractable, while "reserves" are minerals that have been identified and are currently profitable to extract. Therefore, the best choice is D, as it correctly identifies both types of mineral deposits and distinguishes between them. The other answer choices do not accurately describe the concept of mineral resources and reserves.

Question 13

Discuss three processes that can lead to the formation of mineral deposits. Please include in your discussion the role water and mineral solubility play in the process. Include specific examples of mineral deposits formed by each process.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss three processes that can lead to...

Question 14

Which of the following statements about wetlands is false?
A) Artificial wetlands may take 50 to 100 years to adequately neutralize acidity for aquatic life.
B) Bacteria in wetlands consume the sulfur in the acid mine drainage, thereby decreasing the acidity of the water.
C) Creating and maintaining wetlands are inexpensive solutions to the problem of acid mine drainage.
D) As water in the wetland becomes more basic, zinc and copper precipitate out and enter the sediments.
E) Wetlands trap sediments and pollutants so that water quality downstream from the wetland is improved.

Accepted Answer

Creating and maintaining wetlands can actually be quite expensive, especially in areas where there are no natural wetlands present. The other statements are true.

Question 15

Provisions of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):
A) prohibit seabed mining in deep territorial waters.
B) apply only to international waters.
C) were developed primarily by the United States.
D) have been ratified by all countries that have oceanic borders.
E) None of these statements is correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provisions of the U.N. Convention on the...

Question 16

Identify the bacterial genus that shows promise in "biomining" of certain valuable minerals (i.e., copper).
A) Arctostaphylos
B) Thiobacillus
C) Rhizobium
D) Streptococcus
E) Marchantia

Accepted Answer

Thiobacillus is a genus of bacteria that is involved in the biomining of minerals such as copper. These bacteria obtain energy by oxidizing sulfide minerals, which results in the release of metal ions. This process is used in the mining industry to extract metals from low-grade ores.

Question 17

What is the difference between an ore and a rock?
A) ores contain a large concentration of a particular mineral; a rock may or may not be an ore
B) ores contain only metallic minerals; rocks contain only nonmetallic minerals
C) ores are always profitable to extract; rocks are never profitable to extract
D) ores are good conductors of heat and electricity; rocks are not good conductors of heat and electricity
E) ores are usually formed through hydrothermal processes; rocks are usually formed through sedimentation

Accepted Answer

Ores are rocks that contain a large concentration of a particular mineral that can be economically extracted for a profit. On the other hand, rocks may or may not contain valuable minerals and may not be profitable to extract.

Question 18

Dematerialization refers to:
A) a company selling waste products to another company for a different use.
B) a decrease in the weight of products over time due to technological improvements.
C) burning or otherwise destroying a product to reduce waste.
D) replacing one material in a product with a less expensive one.
E) recycling individual metals found in electronic products.

Accepted Answer

Dematerialization refers to a decrease in the weight of products over time due to technological improvements. This can lead to increased efficiency and reduced use of resources.

Question 19

Which of the following can be used to help remove pollutants from water draining away from mining lands?
A) topsoil
B) legume plants
C) seeds
D) fertilizer
E) wetlands

Accepted Answer

Wetlands can help remove pollutants from water draining away from mining lands through a process known as phytoremediation, which involves the use of plants to remove contaminants from soil or water. Wetland plants such as cattails and bulrushes are particularly efficient at removing heavy metals and other pollutants from water.

Question 20

Phytoremediation is a process used to:
A) remove impurities from metal ores.
B) absorb toxic materials from the soil.
C) treat harmful gases produced by smelting.
D) neutralize acid mine drainage.
E) minimize erosion in open-pit mines.

Accepted Answer

Phytoremediation is a process where plants are used to remove, detoxify or immobilize harmful pollutants from contaminated soil, water or air. Therefore, it is used to absorb toxic materials from the soil.

Quiz 15: Mineral Resources

Estimates of mineral reserves are dependent upon:

All of the following statements are TRUE except:

Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between nations and their consumption of minerals?

Reclamation of the environment surrounding Ducktown, Tennessee has involved:

What is a mineral? Compare and contrast the properties and uses of metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources. Include in your discussion three examples of both metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources.

Which of the following statements about Antarctica is FALSE?

The environmental damage near Ducktown, Tennessee was caused by:

_____ is stockpiling and controls the global supply of rare-earth metals, which are used in high-tech industries.

The world reserve base of minerals includes:

The environmental degradation of the Copper Basin, Tennessee region is the result of all of the following except:

Large potato-sized nodules found on the sea floor contain manganese, copper, and nickel. What is the main reason these minerals have not been mined?

Mineral have been identified and are currently profitable to extract, while mineral include ores that are undiscovered or currently unprofitable to extract.

Discuss three processes that can lead to the formation of mineral deposits. Please include in your discussion the role water and mineral solubility play in the process. Include specific examples of mineral deposits formed by each process.

Which of the following statements about wetlands is false?

Provisions of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) :

Identify the bacterial genus that shows promise in "biomining" of certain valuable minerals (i.e., copper) .

What is the difference between an ore and a rock?

Dematerialization refers to:

Which of the following can be used to help remove pollutants from water draining away from mining lands?

Phytoremediation is a process used to: