Rosemont Copper Mining

What kind of mining operation does Rosemont do?

               Rosemont Copper mining has its own type of mining that has gotten the whole operation as far as it is. There are at least three types of common mining operations. Mountaintop removal, open-pit mining, and strip mining. Being a well known mining operation, Rosemont is a type of mining operation that is more energy efficient than most mining systems. Rosemont Copper Mining, is a mining operation of open-pit mining. noting or pertaining to a type of surface mining in which massive,usually metallic mineral deposits are removed by cutting benches in the walls of a broad, deep funnel-shaped excavation.

• http://uranium1.com/index.php/en/mining-operations/what-is-isl-mining

• http://www.in-situ.com/cp/uploads/Mining_landing_w_text.jpg

What type of minerals are being mined in this process? What are they used for? What are their importance?

       In Rosemont's mining system, there is a more environmental process that is gone through in order to save water, and mine different minerals from the Earth's surface. That types of minerals that are mined from this operation are originally; Copper, Silver, Gold, and Molybdenum. All of these minerals from the Earth's surface would be considered high grade ore. High grade ore contains qualitatively large amounts of minerals in the mined ore. The perfect example of that type or ore would be exactly the kind of minerals that Rosemont operations mines. Gold, Silver, Molybdenum, and Copper all come with different uses, different means of importance that have an effect on our society today.
Copper alone has many different uses in many, almost up to all of everyday's appliances and needs. Silver, Gold, and Molybdenum also have a lot to offer in uses and meeting society or individuals needs.

    Copper:

• Electronics
• Aerospace components
• Computers
• Telephones
• Audio and visual equipment
• Money
• Electrical wiring
• Diesel engines
• Jet aircraft

   Silver:

• Jewelry and silverware
• Batteries
• Bearings
• Electronics
• Electroplating
• Photography
• Medical applications
• Mirrors and coatings
• Solar energy and water purification

  Gold:

• Currency
• Jewelry
• Electronics
• Medical and dental applications
• lasers
• Industrial equipment

  Molybdenum:

• Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in steel and cast iron to improve hardness, strength, toughness, and wear and corrosion resistance

http://www.mygoldi.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Gold-Currency-1-W976YWZXO5-1024x768.jpg

http://www.neckersjewelers.com/media/slides/hearts_on_fire_2.jpg

http://static.ibnlive.in.com/pix/slideshow/09-2012/the-apple-iphone/09-apple-iphone-5-teardown-fixit.jpg

http://rosemontcopper.com/what-we-mine.html

What mineral extractions and processing methods are used for this mining operation?

     Unlike other mining operations, Rosemont Copper Mining contains a more environmental friendly way of mining for different minerals. Rosemont is a type of open-pit  mining process, but much less water is being used, and is a ton more energy efficient when extracting minerals. Through progressive water conservation and recycling techniques, Rosemont Copper will use less than half the water than a traditional mine. Two types of ore-processing will take place: oxide-ore from areas that have been exposed to oxygen or water, and sulfide-ore that is found deeper in the ground. Ore will be processed using both milling and heap leaching technology. Copper, silver, and molybdenum will be recovered by grinding and froth flotation, with the principal recovered minerals being the copper sulfide minerals (bornite, chalcocite, and chalcopyrite) and the molybdenum sulfide mineral (also referred to as “moly”). Copper sulfide mineral concentrate (the end result of the milling process) produced at the mill facility will be loaded into highway haul trucks and transported off site to a copper concentrate smelter and metal refinery. Molybdenum concentrate produced at the mill site will be bagged and/or drummed and loaded onto trucks for shipment to market.

• http://rosemontcopper.com/copper-process.html
• http://rosemontcopper.com/assets/files/MPO/Ore%20Processing.pdf

What Environmental impacts of this mining operation?
       There are some environmental flaws that come with the operation of this mining process.

•  Water Contamination
•  Animal degradation
• Destruction to a natural ecosystem 

What are the environmental restoration/reclamation for this mining operation?

      With the environmental flaws The Rosemont Copper Mining operation has its many corners during its entire mining process, The way that Rosemont mines its ore and minerals is a very environmental friendly way of mining. The restoration of the environment around the mining process shows that there in a an effort in trying to keep the environment the clean. One of Rosemont's Copper Mining restoration is Cattle for Soil Development. This entire source of environment restoration is based on bringing fresh soil and revegetation back to the the landscapes that had affected by mining practices in large-scale.  To support revegetation activities, Rosemont Copper has created the Rosemont Cattle Company with the intention of using cattle as a part of the seedbed preparation process.

Native seeds can be difficult to grow and reproduce. Cattle come into play in a big way to assist in this process. Seeds do better if incorporated into the soil so they don't dry out and blow away. Cattle hooves can press the seed into the soil where it has a better chance of survival. Grazing cattle create textured soil which helps capture water and nutrients.

The natural action of cattle grazing help stimulate vegetable growth by trampling weeds and eating weed flowers. In addition, the production of manure provides benefits for reclaimed lands. Cattle can be utilized in areas of poor growth to concentrate manure to increase microorganism populations and soil fertility.

• http://rosemontcopper.com/cattle.html

• http://rosemontcopper.com/assets/images/cattle_preview.jpg

            Work Cited:           

"Open Pit Mining." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/open-pit>.  

 "Rosemont Copper | Cattle and Revegetation." Rosemont Copper | Cattle and Revegetation. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. <http://rosemontcopper.com/cattle.html>.

"A Copper Process That Minimizes Water Usage." Rosemont Copper. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. <http://rosemontcopper.com/copper-process.html>.

"Minerals We Mine at Rosemont Copper." Rosemont Copper. Web. 17 Mar. 2015. <http://rosemontcopper.com/what-we-mine.html>.

Biodiversity Hotspots: West Africa

What is Biodiversity?
             Biodiversity is the different varieties is species in a habitat and the different varieties of life. It can be studied on many levels.  At the highest level, you can look at all the different species on the entire Earth.  On a much smaller scale, you can study biodiversity within a pond ecosystem or a neighborhood park. Identifying and understanding the relationships between all the life on Earth are some of the greatest challenges in science. My group decided to study the West African biodiversity hotspot in order to learn about the different types of species; from mammal to vegetation, and also about West Africa's environmental flaws and climactic differences. A biological hot spot is a natural environment with a high biodiversity that contains a large number of endangered species found no where else on Earth. Twenty five known biological hotspots occupy only 1.4 percent of Earths land surface, but are home to 35 percent of the worlds vertebrate species, and 44 percent of the worlds plant species. A third of Earths known land plants and animals are confined to less than 2 percent of the land surface. In Africa, hotspots include the Guinean forests of West Africa, the island of Madagascar and associated islands in the Indian Ocean, and the Cape Floristic Province of Southern Africa. 
The countries and regions that are dealing with the same fate are:

• Sierra Leone 
• Liberia
• Cote D'Ivoire 
• Guinea 
• Ghana
• Togo
• Nigeria
• Cameroon
• Bioko
• Benin

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/hotspots.htm
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Biodiversity.aspx

      The Guinean Forests of West Africa hotspot encompasses all of the lowland forests of political West Africa, stretching from Guinea and Sierra Leone eastward to the Sanaga River in Cameroon. This includes the countries of Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, which maintain remnant fragments of the forests. The hotspot also includes four islands in the Gulf of Guinea: Bioko and Annobon, which are both part of Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tomé and Principe, which together form an independent nation. Bioko is a continental-shelf island, whereas the remaining three are oceanic. 
   
The Lowland forests of West Africa are home to more than 20 species of primates.

Logging, mining, hunting and human population growth are placing extreme stress on the forests however, threatening species such as the Jentink's duiker pygmy hippopotamus, and scattered populations of western chimpanzees. Five Endemic Bird Area lie partly or entirely within the hotspot. Throughout these forests, there are many different species of mammal, birds, and even plants claiming habitual land.
http://www.microsfere.org/en/ghana/guinean-forests-of-west-africa-biodiversity-hotspot.html
        This food web gives the different patterns that occur in West Africa's food chain. The Jaguar and the Python are at the top of the food chain atop 
all of the mammals, reptiles, plants, and bacteria below it. This food web shows that most of the creatures on the food web shows that most animals 
are eaten by jaguars, and smaller creatures are eaten by pythons. But as this biodiversity hotspot continues to perish, this food web is at risk of becoming
smaller and putting more animals at risk.

   Studying about the Biodiversity hotspot: West Africa, I've learned about the different environment conditions, different species and breeds that lived in that form of habitat, and ways to help that ecosystem so diverse species can live a happier, more open life.

The Guinean Forests of West Africa biodiversity hotspot is one of the most critically fragmented regions on the planet. Only 93,047 square kilometers, or 15 percent, of its original forest cover remains.

These biologically rich, yet fragile forests are home to an estimated 9,000 vascular plant species, about 20 percent (1,800 species) of which are unique to the region. More than a quarter of Africa’s mammals are also found here, including more than 20 species of primates.

Human activities are placing extreme stress on the forests, with the forests dramatically reduced to a series of fragments separated by agricultural communities and degraded lands. The result threatens not only species but the health of entire ecosystems that provide important benefits for people.

Our support focuses on the Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem, which stretches from southern Guinea into eastern Sierra Leone and eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana into western Togo.​​​

 http://www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/africa/guinean_forests/Pages/default.aspx  

  

Ecological Footrpint Summary

There are actually quite a few things that I learned about The Ecological Footprint. There are many different parts of the world that are out of sustainability because of the amount of waste around the globe. Resources are continuously being taken up, making it incredibly hard for people on Earth to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Especially the United States and China. Tow of the many places that suffer from immense amounts of pollution and rapid population growth. Both causes create a serious issue for anyone to live a healthy lifestyle any longer due to the throw off of sustainability for the Planet Earth.