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Pak Studies Geography IGCSEprinted 60 · PDF 60
162 pagesrevision 46929
printed 60 · PDF 60
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Chapter 5 – Mineral Resources of Pakistan
5.1 What are Minerals & Mining Processes
Definition & classification
arenaturally occurring inorganic substances in the Earth’s crust from which
Minerals
metalsor otheruseful materials can be extracted.
Categories:
1. Metallic minerals (iron, copper, chromite etc.)
2. Non-metallic minerals (rock salt, gypsum, limestone, marble etc.)
3. Minerals used as energy / fuel resources (coal, oil, natural gas) — though
technically fossil fuels, they overlap with mineral resources in syllabus.
Mining & extraction processes
Prospecting / exploration
:Geological surveys, remote sensing, mapping to locate
mineral deposits.
Mining: open-pit or underground depending on depth & nature of deposit.
Processing / beneficiation: Crushing, grinding, washing, separating ores to increase
mineral concentration.
Transportation & refining: after extraction and processing, minerals transported to
refineries or industrial users.
Environmental & social concerns in mining
Land degradation, deforestation, soil erosion.
Pollution: air (dust), water (acid drainage), sound.
Displacement of communities.
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