Brainlag Plus
Brainlag PlusPhytomining and bioleaching
Why low-grade copper ores need new methods, how plants and bacteria collect metal compounds, and getting copper out of the solution by displacement or electrolysis, with the masses worked out.
Why new methods are needed
The world's supply of high-grade copper ore is running out. What is left is low-grade ore, with only a small percentage of copper, and old mine waste.
- An ore is 0.5% copper. Mass of ore for 10 tonnes of copper = 10 × 100 ÷ 0.5 = 2000 tonnes
- waste rock = 2000 − 10 = 1990 tonnes to dig, move and dump
Traditional mining of ore like this means huge pits, heaps of waste and a lot of energy. Biological methods avoid most of that.
The rest of this lesson and its 8 practice questions are in Plus.
Screen 1 of 4, free to read.
- 8 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
- Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards