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1. What is the major hazard of gold mining?

2. Make a chart and describe each of the following:
- Overburden
- Spoils
- Tailings
- Gangue
- Smelting
- Acid mine drainage
- Reclamation

3. Make a chart to compare the ecological and economical advantages and disadvantages of surface and subsurface mining practices. Explain why we shouldn't mine in the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems.

4. Draw a diagram to illustrate the Tragedy of the Commons. Provide four examples of the Tragedy of the Commons.

Answer :

1. The major hazard of gold mining is environmental contamination

2. - Overburden: Soil and rock above mineral deposits. Spoils: Waste material from mining.

3. Surface Mining: Quick, but harmful to ecosystems and expensive for mitigation. Subsurface Mining: Less surface disruption, but costly and risky.

4. Overfishing, Air pollution, Overgrazing, Deforestation

1. The major hazard of gold mining is environmental damage, including ecosystem destruction, water pollution, and the release of toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.

2.

- Overburden: Soil and rock above a mineral deposit, removed during mining.

- Spoils: Waste material removed during mining, including overburden and unused materials.

- Tailings: Residue left after extracting valuable minerals, often containing harmful chemicals.

- Gangue: Non-valuable rock or minerals left after extracting valuable ores.

- Smelting: A process of extracting metal from ore by heating it in a furnace with a reducing agent.

- Acid mine drainage: Acidic water from mining areas due to sulfide minerals reacting with air and water.

- Reclamation: Restoring a mined area to its natural or usable state, often through vegetation and pollution control.

3.

- Surface mining:

- Ecological advantages: Efficient and fast extraction of minerals.

- Ecological disadvantages: Destroys landscapes, causes habitat loss, soil erosion, and water pollution.

- Economical advantages: Efficient extraction of large quantities of minerals.

- Economical disadvantages: High initial costs for land preparation and environmental management.

- Subsurface mining:

- Ecological advantages: Less surface disruption and minimal impact on ecosystems.

- Ecological disadvantages: Causes subsidence, underground water pollution, and danger to workers.

- Economical advantages: Suitable for deeper mineral deposits.

- Economical disadvantages: Expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming.

Mining in the Arctic and Antarctic should be avoided due to the fragile ecosystems, vulnerability to climate change, and potential irreversible damage, which could disrupt global biodiversity and ecosystems.

4. Examples of the Tragedy of the Commons:

1. Overfishing in oceans, leading to depletion of fish stocks.

2. Deforestation from unregulated logging or agricultural expansion.

3. Air pollution from industries and vehicles.

4. Overuse of groundwater, leading to depletion of aquifers.

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