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Earth Science – Grade 11

Learner Activity Sheets
Quarter 1 - Week 3A
Title: Ore Minerals
First Edition, 2021
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Development Team of the Learners’ Activity Sheets

Writer/s: Christell Joy E. Raza

Division Validators:
Relyn D. Raza
Marietta C. Asignar
Tamarah harel M. Consigna

Regional Validators: Relyn D. Raza

Noraine Princess Tabangcora

Management Team: Evelyn R. Fetalvero

Lorenzo O. Macasocol
Isidro M. Biol, Jr.
Kevin Hope Z. Salvaña
Maripaz F. Magno
Nelia S. Lomocso
Relyn Raza

Author: Christell Joy E. Raza

School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]
 WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Earth Science, Grade 11 Quarter 1, Week 3A

Ore Minerals

Learning Competency:
Describe how ore minerals are found, mined, and processed for human use (S11/12ES-
Ic-d-8).

Specific Objectives:
1. Define what is an ore mineral.
2. Differentiate the two methods of mining.
3. Determine the impacts of mining.

Time Allotment: 2 hours

Key Concepts:

Four Groups of Mineral Deposits

Mineral deposits are aggregates of minerals present in high concentration. Regardless of

whether it has high economic value or none, an accumulation of minerals are still considered
mineral deposits.
However, when a mineral deposit is economically valuable, it is called an ore deposit.
Mineral deposits can be categorized into 4 groups:
1. energy resources 3. industrial mineral resources
2. metal resources 4. essential resources
Ores are natural rocks or sediments that hold one or more valuable minerals, mostly
metals, that can be mined, processed and sold at a great price. They are contained inside the Earth
in a limited quantity because its creation and deposition would take millions of years.
Ore genesis, the process by which a deposit of ore is created has three major types: internal
processes, hydrothermal processes, and surficial processes.
Internal processes include geologic activity such as when volcanoes bring ore from deep
in the planet to the surface.
Hydrothermal process happens when seawater circulates through cracks in Earth’s crust
and deposits minerals in the areas around hydrothermal vents. Hydrothermal vents are cracks on
the seafloor where seawater meets magma.
Surficial process in which ore can accumulate through processes that happen on the
surface of Earth, like erosion.
Aside from ore genesis, ore minerals can also be deposited to the Earth because of the
rocky fragments or debris from the solar system that fall. These pieces of fragments, that enter
the Earth’s atmosphere are called meteorites or what we known as “shooting stars”. Countless
meteorites contain large amounts of iron ore where we could extract metallic iron for industry and
infrastructure purposes.
Moreover, ore minerals can be found in the Earth's surface or to its crust and at the
ocean floor. Quarts, mica and olivine are some of the silicate rocks that are frequently found on
the surface of the Earth. Likewise, igneous rocks (granite, gabbro and basalt), metamorphic
rocks (gneiss, schist and amphibolite) and sedimentary rocks (sandstone, shale, and
limestone) can also be found on the Earth’s crust.
Ore is a nonrenewable resource and since modern societies rely so much on its use in
infrastructure and industry, miners need to find new ore deposits to withstand its increasing
demand. With this, mining enthusiasts have trekked every part of the world and even explore the
ocean’s depth, in search for these ores.

Author: Christell Joy E. Raza

School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]
Mineral Exploration

• Searching for valuable ore is called mineral exploration.

• Most ore deposits are found in mixtures with minerals called gangue minerals or
minerals that have no commercial value.
• The technology nowadays provides means to search for high quality ore without doing the
actual mining.
o Various exploration techniques were used to assess ore deposits prior to mining.
These techniques include remote sensing, geophysical
methods and geochemical methods.

Methods of Mining

• Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals from mineral deposits.

• There are two methods of mining: surface mining and underground mining.
o Surface mining is being used to extract ore minerals near the surface of Earth.
o There are five types of surface mining. This includes strip mining, open-pit
mining, dredging, mountaintop removal mining, and highwall mining.
o Underground mining is used to extract the rocks, minerals, and other precious
stones that can be found deep beneath Earth’s surface.
o This type of mining involves several methods such as room-and-pillar mining,
shrinkage stopping, and vertical crater retreat (VCR).

Ore Extraction

The ore’s journey to becoming a useable material is only just beginning when the ore leaves the
mine. Rocks are crushed so that the valuable minerals can be separated from the waste rock.
Then the minerals are separated out of the ore. A few methods for extracting ore are:
• heap leaching: the addition of chemicals, such as cyanide or acid, to remove ore.
• flotation: the addition of a compound that attaches to the valuable mineral and
floats.
• smelting: roasting rock, causing it to segregate into layers so the mineral can be
extracted.
To extract the metal from the ore, the rock is melted at a temperature greater than 900°C, which
requires a lot of energy. Extracting metal from rock is so energy intensive that if you recycle just
40 aluminum cans, you will save the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.

Factors Affecting Mineral Availability

• Geologic factors that affect abundance of mineral deposits are geological origin of the
area, presence or absence of volcano, and age of the geologic structure.
• Economic factors include the costs in getting the supply such as engineering, mineral
extraction, and processing and costs for coping with the demand such as commodity
prices, land tenure, taxation, and other legal policies.
• Environmental factors affect mineral resources.

Mineral Processing

• Mineral processing is the process of extracting minerals from the ores, refining them,
and preparing these minerals for use.

Author: Christell Joy E. Raza

School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]
 • The primary steps involved in processing minerals include sampling and analysis,
comminution, concentration, and dewatering.
1. Sampling and Analysis

• Sampling is the removal of a portion which represents a whole needed for the
analysis of this material.
• Analysis is important to evaluate the valuable components in an ore. This
includes chemical, mineralogical, and particle size analysis.

2. Comminution

• After the mineral has been found and mined, it needs to be obtained out of the
ore.
• Comminution is the process where rock is crushed or broken down into
smaller pieces.

3. Concentration

• Concentration is the separation of the valuable minerals from the raw

materials creating an end product called concentrate.
• Various separation techniques are used such as optical, density, flotation,
magnetic and electrostatic separation.

4. Dewatering
- Dewatering uses the concentrates to convert it to usable minerals. This involves
filtration and sedimentation of the suspension and drying of the solid material
harvested from this suspension.

Environmental Impacts

• Improper mining can cause flooding, erosion, subsidence, water and air pollution, damage
to wildlife and habitat.
• Measures to prevent or mitigate the harmful effects of irresponsible mining:
1. Topsoil replacement using uncontaminated soil;
2. Reintroduction of flora and fauna;
3. Neutralizing acidic waters;
4. Backfilling and sealing of abandoned underground mines;
5. Stabilizing the slope of impacted area to reduce erosion, etc.

Activity No. 1: Getting to Know MOre Minerals!

What to know: Define what is an ore mineral.

What to do: Fill in the needed information below. You can mine information from the concepts
discussed above.

What Are Ores and Where to Find These Minerals

Ores are ____________________________________________________________________

Author: Christell Joy E. Raza

School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]
 How ore mineral deposits are created?
Example:
2. 3. 4.
1.Internal Process

Where can we find these Ore

Minerals?

1. 2. Ocean Floor

1.Quartz 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.

Activity No. 2: Let’s Mine Something

What to Know: 1. Differentiate the two methods of mining.

2.Describe how ore minerals are processed for human use
What to do: You are tasked to seek words relating to the methods of mining and how ore minerals
are found, mined and processed for human use. Encircle the word if you find them, can you find
them? Remember, miners are patient seekers. Enjoy seeking!
B E H F E E Y O T G F E M P D B
C M L K G S S T G S L F H G E B
W L T T N P K M I V O Y R F W C
G M W Z I Y S S E E T A S T A L
D I G L H L Y O U L A F E T T K
E G F I C L S S N T T M D H E I
E A L G A L E O W Y I I E N R R
A F D N E H J E B O O M N S I E
C D A F L A A J A J N M M G N O
A R E I P S Y Z F U R O E A G J
F R E S A M P L I N G I E J H P
C O N C E N T R A T I O N I O O
A I O F H C O M M I N U T I O N
Author: Christell Joy E. Raza
School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]
Guide Questions:
1. What are the words found in the box?
2. Why is it important to conduct sampling first before proceeding with the
analysis of ores? Answer in 3-4 sentences.

Scoring Rubric for Question number 2

3 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the
concepts and has no misconception.
2 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the
concepts, but with several misconception.
1 Practical application is explained consistent to the concepts, but
with many misconceptions.
0 No discussion.

Reflection:
In a newly acquired mineral project for exploration, is it possible to immediately
drill in the area even without any subsurface investigation? Explain in 3 sentences.

Scoring Rubric for The Reflection

3 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the
concepts, and has no misconception.
2 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the
concepts, but with several misconception.
1 Practical application is explained consistent to the concepts, but with
many misconceptions.
0 No discussion.

References for learners:

Rodriguez, Nympha P. Earth Science- Grade 12 Alternative Delivery Mode, Quarter 1- Module 3:
Minerals and Its Importance to Society First Edition, 2020. Department of Education
– Division of Cagayan de Oro City.

https://link.quipper.com/en/organizations/5468b5c12294ee0802000030/dashboard
https://www.ck12.org/earth-science/finding-and-mining-ores/lesson/Finding-and-
Mining-Ores-HS-ES/

Author: Christell Joy E. Raza

School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]
 email address: [email protected]
Division: Siargao
School/Station: Dapa National High School
Author: Christell Joy E. Raza
Activity 1
What Are Ores and Where to Find These Minerals
Ores are: are natural rocks or sediments that hold one or more valuable minerals,
mostly metals, that can be mined, processed and sold at a great price.
 email address: [email protected]
Division: Siargao
School/Station: Dapa National High School
Author: Christell Joy E. Raza
Activity 2
Direction: You are task to seek words relating to the methods of mining and how
ore minerals are found, mined and processed for human use. Encircle the word if
you find them, can you find them? Remember, miners are patient seeker. Enjoy
seeking!
B E H F E E Y O T G F E M P D B
C M L K G S S T G S L F H G E B
W L T T N P K M I V O Y R F W C
G M W Z I Y S S E E T A S T A L
D I G L H L Y O U L A F E T T K
E G F I C L S S N T T M D H E I
E A L G A L E O W Y I I E N R R
A F D N E H J E B O O M N S I E
C D A F L A A J A J N M M G N O
A R E I P S Y Z F U R O E A G J
F R E S A M P L I N G I E J H P
C O N C E N T R A T I O N I O O
A I O F H C O M M I N U T I O N
Guide Question:
1. What are the words that are found in the box?
Answer: Heap Leaching, concentration, comminution, flotation,
dewatering,sampling and analysis
2. Why is it important to conduct sampling first before proceeding with the
analysis of ores?
Answer: ANSWERS MAY VARY
Author: Christell Joy E. Raza
School/Station: Dapa National High School
Division: Siargao
email address: [email protected]