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The Mining Cycle. Exploration. Reclamation. Mining. Images: Martin Miller. Metals-6-1. Useful metals come from rocks and minerals in the Earth’s crust. Galena sample – a main ore of lead. Image: Stonetrust, Inc. Metals-6-2.
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The Mining Cycle Exploration Reclamation Mining Images: Martin Miller Metals-6-1
Useful metals come from rocks and minerals in the Earth’s crust. Galena sample – a main ore of lead. Image: Stonetrust, Inc. Metals-6-2
Geologists explore for useful metals by mapping, drilling, and sampling rocks and minerals. Image: Martin Miller Metals-6-3
Many rocks containing useful metals are mined from surface excavations. Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co. Metals-6-4
Some rocks containing useful metals are mined from underground. Image: US Bureau of Land Management Metals-6-5
After mining removes the rocks containing useful metals, surface disturbances are covered with soil layers and revegetated. This is called reclamation. Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co. Metals-6-6
Mines are not closed until reclamation that protects surface and water resources is complete. Before After Images: Gold Institute, Echo Bay Mines; S. Warren Metals-6-7
The Mining Cycle Exploration Reclamation Mining Images: Martin Miller Metals-6-8