EMSC 121

Spring 2002

Take-home Exam

Due on May 3, 2002

You may e-mail the completed exam to seser@psu.edu.
 

Each question is worth 8 points for a total of 112 points.

Part 1: Lecture Notes
    1.) List the major mineral classification systems and briefly describe the benefit of each classification system.

    2.) List three important physical properties of minerals and comment on the industrial significance of each property with examples.

    3.) List the major rock classifications and mention distinguishing characteristics of each rock type.

    4.) Compare three underground mining methods and describe the circumstances (e.g., ore strength, wall strength, etc.) that would make these methods desirable.

    5.) List major environmental impacts associated with mining and mineral processing operations and list four major federal laws that regulate these operations.

    6.) What is Industrial Ecology and how does it apply to the Mineral Industries? Give one example.

    7.) Write two-three paragraphs on what you have learned in this course and what you expected to learn? If you were to pick one mineral as the most important one for human life on earth, what would it be and why?
     
     

    Part 2: Questions from Case Studies

 
1.) List the major applications for silver.  How do silver minerals occur in the earth's crust?    List two other metals that silver is found with in nature.

2.) Whar countries are the major producers of chromium ores?  What is the principla environmental concern with the production and use of chromium?

3.) What are the important properties of aluminum that have led to its widespread use in society? Explain how metallic aluminum is recovered from aluminum ores. Why is it important to recycle aluminum?

4.) What are the major iron minerals used for metallic iron production? How are these minerals mined and processed to recover metallic iron? How do metallurgical coke and limestone help in these processes? Why does iron rust?

5.) How were the nickel-iron alloys first discovered? List other important alloys of nickel and describe their uses. What is stainless steel made of? What are superalloys?

6.) List major uses of gold in manufacturing sector as related to unique properties of this metal. How is gold recovered? Describe the majorenvironmental concerns associated with gold mining.

7.) List the major uses of lead.  Why is lead not used in gasoline and paints any more? What metal used in manufacturing?