How did it all start?
Task
In small groups, create a presentation that focuses upon the importance and use of one type of rock. Include:
Here's TED on how to avoid death by PowerPoint. WATCH IT!!
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Finally, a little more information on minerals. Note down any new or important information.
TASK
Use the link to find your fortune. The link will take you to a GIS site that allows you to find precious metals and minerals. |
Use the GIS mapping to:
1. Describe the distribution of gold in Europe.
2. Use the map evidence to suggest reasons for this distribution.
3. Zoom in on the Italian and Austrian Alps. Set the map so that it shows all of the mineral resources available in the data base:
1. Describe the distribution of gold in Europe.
2. Use the map evidence to suggest reasons for this distribution.
3. Zoom in on the Italian and Austrian Alps. Set the map so that it shows all of the mineral resources available in the data base:
- List all of the resources found in the Alps.
- Do some research and make your fortune by finding the 5 most profitable minerals to mine in the Alps.
Formative Assessment
It might look fairly straightforward, but mining can be deadly, and not just for the workers. On the 21st of October 1966, a mining waste tip gave way above Aberfan, a mining community in South Wales. 116 children and 28 adults died as the coal slurry slammed into the towns junior school and houses.
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How does the global mining industry effect the economies of poorer countries and the lives of millions living in them?
How much profit is fair?
Here is the story of a TNC and its influence upon a whole country and people.
Rüschlikon is a village in Switzerland with a very low tax rate and very wealthy residents. But it receives more tax revenue than it can use. This is largely thanks to one resident – Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of Glencore, whose copper mines in Zambia are not generating a large bounty tax revenue for the Zambians. Zambia has the 3rd largest copper reserves in the world, but 60% of the population live on less than $1 a day and 80% are unemployed. Based on original research into public documents, the film describes the tax system employed by multinational companies in Africa.
Rüschlikon is a sleepy village in Switzerland, where house prices are soaring, unemployment virtually non-existent and social problems few and rare. Discretion is the local watch word, as Mayor Bernard Elsener puts it, “you can be rich, but please do not show it.” The good fortune of the village was recently cemented by the arrival Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of commodity giant Glencore, who netted $9.6 billion when his company went public in 2011. Receipt of Glasenberg’s taxes overwhelmed public coffers to such an extent the mayor decided to lower the tax rate.
Less fortunate are the citizens of Zambia, who don’t see bountiful revenues from their internationally owned copper mines. Zambia has the 3rd largest copper reserves in the world, but 60% of the population live on less than $1 a day and 80% are unemployed. “We are aware that Africa is losing more money from tax avoidance by foreign companies every year than it is gaining in aid from the countries from which these people come” comments Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott, who was elected in 2011 on a promise to challenge existing corporate practices.
However, the terms of Zambia’s bail-out by the World Bank and the IMF in 2000, when copper prices had hit rock bottom, makes change difficult. The near broke country agreed to loan conditions that required the sell-off of the mines. As Edith Nawakiwi recalls “I felt that I was not a minister. I was a beggar.” Copper prices subsequently rebounded, but too late for the country to benefit from an increase of over 350%.
“Glencore” comments filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen “is famous for their ability to spot an opportunity which is what they did in 2000 with the faltering Zambian mines”. Now a public company, Glencore’s predecessor company was founded by Marc Rich, a highly controversial and ruthless American businessman who fled US Justice in 1984. Along with their co-investors, the company successfully negotiated a royalty rate of 0.6% with the then Zambian administration. The lowest in Africa.
These terms, which the now disgraced former Minister for Mines involved in the sell-off will not comment on, leave Zambia out of pocket by the exploitation of its own resources. As well as economic woes, copper has also become a source of health and welfare concerns in Zambia. Water supplies are being contaminated and air pollution detected that, observers claim, exceed World Health Organisation levels. “A lot of respiratory infection cases come” says Dr Makasa Sichela “especially when the emissions are too big… I feel it myself.” Despite the claims and independently sourced data, Glencore strongly asserts that its operations are carefully monitored and clean.
“This is a story of global trade where money and natural resources only flow one way. The Zambian story is only a small piece of the puzzle. Neither the rule or law nor morals determine what investors pay in tax in Africa. It comes down to what you can get away with.”
Some facts:
In 2010, approximately 80% of African exports were based in oil, minerals and agricultural goods.
Around $160 billion worth of taxes are lost from developing countries each year as a result of multinational corporations dodging paying them.
Liberia declared corruption public enemy No.1 and its revenue rose from US$80 million in 2004/5 to US$142 million in 2006/7.
Here is the story of a TNC and its influence upon a whole country and people.
Rüschlikon is a village in Switzerland with a very low tax rate and very wealthy residents. But it receives more tax revenue than it can use. This is largely thanks to one resident – Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of Glencore, whose copper mines in Zambia are not generating a large bounty tax revenue for the Zambians. Zambia has the 3rd largest copper reserves in the world, but 60% of the population live on less than $1 a day and 80% are unemployed. Based on original research into public documents, the film describes the tax system employed by multinational companies in Africa.
Rüschlikon is a sleepy village in Switzerland, where house prices are soaring, unemployment virtually non-existent and social problems few and rare. Discretion is the local watch word, as Mayor Bernard Elsener puts it, “you can be rich, but please do not show it.” The good fortune of the village was recently cemented by the arrival Ivan Glasenberg, CEO of commodity giant Glencore, who netted $9.6 billion when his company went public in 2011. Receipt of Glasenberg’s taxes overwhelmed public coffers to such an extent the mayor decided to lower the tax rate.
Less fortunate are the citizens of Zambia, who don’t see bountiful revenues from their internationally owned copper mines. Zambia has the 3rd largest copper reserves in the world, but 60% of the population live on less than $1 a day and 80% are unemployed. “We are aware that Africa is losing more money from tax avoidance by foreign companies every year than it is gaining in aid from the countries from which these people come” comments Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott, who was elected in 2011 on a promise to challenge existing corporate practices.
However, the terms of Zambia’s bail-out by the World Bank and the IMF in 2000, when copper prices had hit rock bottom, makes change difficult. The near broke country agreed to loan conditions that required the sell-off of the mines. As Edith Nawakiwi recalls “I felt that I was not a minister. I was a beggar.” Copper prices subsequently rebounded, but too late for the country to benefit from an increase of over 350%.
“Glencore” comments filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen “is famous for their ability to spot an opportunity which is what they did in 2000 with the faltering Zambian mines”. Now a public company, Glencore’s predecessor company was founded by Marc Rich, a highly controversial and ruthless American businessman who fled US Justice in 1984. Along with their co-investors, the company successfully negotiated a royalty rate of 0.6% with the then Zambian administration. The lowest in Africa.
These terms, which the now disgraced former Minister for Mines involved in the sell-off will not comment on, leave Zambia out of pocket by the exploitation of its own resources. As well as economic woes, copper has also become a source of health and welfare concerns in Zambia. Water supplies are being contaminated and air pollution detected that, observers claim, exceed World Health Organisation levels. “A lot of respiratory infection cases come” says Dr Makasa Sichela “especially when the emissions are too big… I feel it myself.” Despite the claims and independently sourced data, Glencore strongly asserts that its operations are carefully monitored and clean.
“This is a story of global trade where money and natural resources only flow one way. The Zambian story is only a small piece of the puzzle. Neither the rule or law nor morals determine what investors pay in tax in Africa. It comes down to what you can get away with.”
Some facts:
In 2010, approximately 80% of African exports were based in oil, minerals and agricultural goods.
Around $160 billion worth of taxes are lost from developing countries each year as a result of multinational corporations dodging paying them.
Liberia declared corruption public enemy No.1 and its revenue rose from US$80 million in 2004/5 to US$142 million in 2006/7.
TASK
Watch the documentary and answer the 5 questions below:
Watch the documentary and answer the 5 questions below:
- How does the global economic system impact upon Zambia?
- What problems does the government of Zambia face in tackling poverty?
- What are the environmental and social impacts of the mining activity?
- Do the loans and aid given by NGOs like the IMF actually help Zambia?
- How do companies like Glencore abuse trade rules for their own benefit?
Skills - Dealing with data, maps and diagrams
Mercury pollution
Mining and ore processing occurs throughout the world and consists of extracting minerals, metals, and gems from surrounding earth and ore. Industrial mines vary in size, with some being quite small operations and others very large. Many large-scale mines also have ore processing facilities where extracted ore is sent for crushing, washing, and various physical or chemical separation processes. Not all mined materials are dangerous, but many heavy metals and naturally radioactive materials that are removed from the earth can be very hazardous to human health.
In addition to active mines, there are a large number of inactive and abandoned mining sites throughout the world that still contain large levels of contaminants and pose dangers to local communities.
Mining and ore processing occurs throughout the world and consists of extracting minerals, metals, and gems from surrounding earth and ore. Industrial mines vary in size, with some being quite small operations and others very large. Many large-scale mines also have ore processing facilities where extracted ore is sent for crushing, washing, and various physical or chemical separation processes. Not all mined materials are dangerous, but many heavy metals and naturally radioactive materials that are removed from the earth can be very hazardous to human health.
In addition to active mines, there are a large number of inactive and abandoned mining sites throughout the world that still contain large levels of contaminants and pose dangers to local communities.
1. State one type of ore that is mined and processed. (1) 2. Describe the distribution of mercury pollution shown on the map. Use data in your answer. (3) 3. Explain why some locations have a higher number of people at risk from mercury pollution than others. (4) 4. Suggest two environmental consequences of mercury pollution from mining and ore processing. (3) |
Surface coal mining
Surface coal mining involves:
Mountaintop and area mining allows for almost complete recovery of coal seams, and reduces the number of workers required to a fraction of what conventional methods require but produces large volumes of excess spoil disposal needs.
Surface coal mining involves:
- removing parts or all of mountaintops to expose buried seams of coal, and
- disposing in adjacent valleys the excess:
- "overburden" (rock above the coal seam), and
- "interburden" (rock between coal seams).
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Mountaintop and area mining allows for almost complete recovery of coal seams, and reduces the number of workers required to a fraction of what conventional methods require but produces large volumes of excess spoil disposal needs.
1. Describe the process of coal extraction shown in the diagram. (3) 2. Suggest two reasons why this method of extraction is used in an area such as that shown in the diagram. (3) 3. Suggest two problems that could be caused by the sediment pond shown in the diagram. (3) 4. Suggest two ways in which the mining site could be monitored to ensure its safety and limit its environmental impact. (3) 5. Suggest and explain three environmental impacts of the mining operations for the settlement shown in the diagram. (5) |