Mineral Security: AQA ALEVEL GEOGRAPHY

as minerals are shipped from all over the world to Asia for manufacturing + then shipped back across the world for consumption, what does this create? - global trading network Manufacturing of technological devices mostly occurs where? - in Asian NIC's such as Taiwan what are strategies to reduce environmental impacts of extraction, of a mineral resource project? - - Water sprayed on mine roads to reduce toxic dust in air - Choosing not to mine environmentally sensitive areas - On-site processing reduces emissions of transportation as waste material is not transported what are strategies to reduce environmental impacts of processing, of a mineral resource project? - - Rio Tinto created new process for making aluminium which produces only O2 as a byproduct > carbon neutral to certain extent - Efficiency of mining processes constantly being improved - Powering processing plants by solar power is more sustainable what are strategies to reduce environmental impacts of recycling, of a mineral resource project? - - Copper + aluminium are widely recycled, reducing amount of mining required - Increasing recycling, reduces demands on mines so can be exploited more sustainably what are strategies to reduce environmental impacts of site restoration, of a mineral resource project? - - Planting trees + restoring environment around a mine - Stabilising overburden (waste material above desired mineral) + tailings (waste materials from the ore) > Tailing Management Facilities (TMF's) used to store tailings - piles vegetated with plants that remove harmful toxins from ground