MINERAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE WORLD

Meaning of some common terms: Mining Is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials which form the package of economic interest to the miners. . Types of mining industry Surface mining; Extraction of minerals found close to the earth’s surface, e.g corals and limestone. Underground mining; Extraction of minerals found deep in the ground e.g. gold, diamond etc

Distribution of mining industry regions in the world, minerals are unevenly distributed in the world. Mining activities are concentrated where minerals deposits are in, some regions are rich in mineral resources e.g. south Africa while others are poor in minerals this is due to geological factors which led to their occurrence. Methods of mining

(a) Open cast mining It is used to extract minerals which usually occur close to the earth’s surface It involves removing the top layers of the earth and other overlying materials above the mineral areas Earth moving machines and bulldozers are used. Electric shovels-to dig up minerals and load it into the lorries or trucks It is the cheapest method Example Quarrying of lime stone and corals at kunduchi in DSM and Barubuni in Kenya

(b) Alluvial mining Takes place where minerals occur in alluvial deposits ( materials deposited by water). It involves mixing of alluvial deposits with water. Then the mixture is rotated until light particles like sand, mud and small stones are crashed off Then the mineral particles like gold, platinum and diamonds are left behind (c) Underground (shaft mining) It is used in mining ore that lie deep below the surface of the earth Vertical shaft is dug up to the layer containing the mineral, and then the tunnel is dug up horizontally to reach the minerals. Hence, the minerals are transported from the tunnels to the base of the shaft from where it is hoisted onto the surface.

TYPES OF MINERALS AND DISTRIBUTION OF MINING REGIONS IN THE WORLD

Metallic minerals /inorganic Gold, iron, silver, copper, lead, nickel, cobalt, manganese, tin, aluminium etc Non – metallic minerals Salt, potash, nitrate, Sulphur, diamond and graphite. Energy mineral Coal, natural gas and petroleum Coal It is found in USA in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and interior states like Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and the gulf province in states like Texas, Alabama. The former USSR in Moscow, Donetsk coal basin and kuanetstk coal basin. Other countries include china, United Kingdom, South Africa, Zimbabwe at wonkie, Zambia, Nigeria, Botswana, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Morocco, Malawi, Sudan and Tanzania [from the Ruhuhu basin, ketewaka- Mchuchuma and Songwe-kiwira] Gold It is found in South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, DRC, Uganda and Kenya Salt minerals It is found in Tanzania along the coast, Uvinza in kigoma and China Copper It is found in Zambia, DRC, Uganda –kilembe, Mauritania, Botswana, Chile, Canada, the former USSR and USA Natural gas It is found in Tanzania at Songosongo Island in Kilwa, Nigeria and Middle East Diamond This is found in Tanzania [Mwadui shinyanga], South Africa, DRC, Namibia and sierra Leone and guinea Phosphate It is found in Tororo –Uganda and Morocco at khourigba, youssonta and ben gueri within the maseta Rouxite It is the ore of aluminum. It is located in guinea, Ghana and Cameroon. Iron ore It is in German, Sweden, USA, and china, Brazil, Australia, France, UK, Liberia, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Algeria, Angola and South Africa.

Contribution of mining industry to the economy (economic importance of mining industry) of any country

i) Mining leads to the development of industries in the country for example steel cutting industry, coal has led to the development of heavy industries in china, USA and chemical industries.

ii) Mining contributes to the earning of foreign currency in the country for example copper in Zambia, gold in South Africa, oil in Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Middle East and Kuwait.

iii) Mining industry provides employment opportunities to the people i.e. in Zambia copper mining employs a lot of people also many people are employed in the gold mining areas in south Africa [ in rand mining areas] iv) Mining stimulates the development of transport and communication of other economic systems in any country for example in South Africa mining led to the development of a dense network of roads and railway lines in the eastern part.

v) It encourages the development of other economic sectors since it generates capital for the country, for example mining in china has led to heavy investment in agricultural machinery.

vi) Mining also leads to the improvement in the international relations through forming international organizations for the countries which deals with mining and exporting certain types of minerals for example Nigeria is the member of OPEC to the oil mining industry

vii) Mining leads to the development of towns and large cities like the industrial conurbation of rand in South Africa. Conurbation is the large zone formed as a result of the combination of many towns into one zone.

viii) Also mining leads to the diversification of the economy of the country so that the country cannot depend on one source of revenue or income

ix) Mining has stimulated the construction activity especially in the supply of corrugated iron sheets for roofing the buildings etc

x) It also supplies some energy since some minerals are energy reserve like coal, petroleum, uranium and natural gas

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL STRUCTURE

7 CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

7 ADVANTAGES OF WETLANDS

7 FACTORS INFLUENCING MASS WASTING

5 CONDITIONS FOR EXISTENCE OF CORAL REEFS

3 TYPES OF WEATHERING AND THEIR PROCESSES

6 LANDFORMS OF HIGHLANDS GLACIATION

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF OCEAN BREEZE AND SEA BREEZE

PLATE TECTONICS THEORY EXPLAINED