EVR 1001 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
Earthquakes are likely to occur ________. - ANSWERS-along
tectonic plate boundaries where there is movement
The Pacific "ring of fire" is a volcanic area where ________. -
ANSWERS-there are many earthquakes and active plate boundaries
Tsunamis are caused by ________. - ANSWERS-displacement of sea
water by volcanoes, earthquakes or coastal landslides
Why have some open pit mines been declared Superfund sites? -
ANSWERS-The waters in the pit become highly acidic and contain
high levels of toxic metals.
Acid drainage does not normally occur in areas before mines are built
but tends to happen after the mine has been in operation for many
years. What causes acid drainage? - ANSWERS-Mining exposes
unweathered rock surfaces that react with water and the atmosphere to
generate acids.
Which type of mining generates "overburden" as a byproduct of the
mining process? - ANSWERS-strip mining
,Most metals, such as iron and copper, do not occur in a pure state in
Earth's crust, but occur within ________. - ANSWERS-ores
If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable, and can conduct heat and
electricity, it is a(n) ________. - ANSWERS-metal
Tantalum from African coltan is used primarily for the manufacture of
________. - ANSWERS-electronics: cell phones, computers, digital
cameras
Which of these leads to uncertainty in our ability to predict how long
a mineral resource will last? - ANSWERS-All the above
This bar graph tells us that ________. - ANSWERS-at current rates of
consumption, most metals will become scarcer and costlier
The effect of rising rates of consumption of metals will ________. -
ANSWERS-make prices higher as nations complete for limited
resources
Another conclusion drawn from the bar graph is that ________. -
ANSWERS-our collective use of metal resources is presently
unsustainable
The bar graph indicates that all of the metals shown will ________. -
ANSWERS-eventually no longer be available, even with current
technological capabilities
, Subsurface mining is used extensively in the extraction of ________.
- ANSWERS-coal, phosphate, diamonds, gold
As in the mining of coltan in Congo, coal mining in Appalachia has
produced issues of ________. - ANSWERS-environmental damage
and social and economic injustice
The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium,
tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously ________. -
ANSWERS-recycle existing supplies
Sustainable minerals use and longer projected lifetimes for scarce
minerals can be achieved with all of the following, except ________.
- ANSWERS-increasing demand and lowering prices for products
using these minerals
The relationship between recycling, economics, and energy
consumption is demonstrated in the case of aluminum, where
________. - ANSWERS-95% of the energy expended to mine and
produce items from virgin ore is saved by recycling
Electronic waste, or e-waste, consists of discarded cell phones,
computers, and other electronic products and is increasing rapidly.
Recycling e-waste is essential because ________. - ANSWERS-all of
the above are correct
AND ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
Earthquakes are likely to occur ________. - ANSWERS-along
tectonic plate boundaries where there is movement
The Pacific "ring of fire" is a volcanic area where ________. -
ANSWERS-there are many earthquakes and active plate boundaries
Tsunamis are caused by ________. - ANSWERS-displacement of sea
water by volcanoes, earthquakes or coastal landslides
Why have some open pit mines been declared Superfund sites? -
ANSWERS-The waters in the pit become highly acidic and contain
high levels of toxic metals.
Acid drainage does not normally occur in areas before mines are built
but tends to happen after the mine has been in operation for many
years. What causes acid drainage? - ANSWERS-Mining exposes
unweathered rock surfaces that react with water and the atmosphere to
generate acids.
Which type of mining generates "overburden" as a byproduct of the
mining process? - ANSWERS-strip mining
,Most metals, such as iron and copper, do not occur in a pure state in
Earth's crust, but occur within ________. - ANSWERS-ores
If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable, and can conduct heat and
electricity, it is a(n) ________. - ANSWERS-metal
Tantalum from African coltan is used primarily for the manufacture of
________. - ANSWERS-electronics: cell phones, computers, digital
cameras
Which of these leads to uncertainty in our ability to predict how long
a mineral resource will last? - ANSWERS-All the above
This bar graph tells us that ________. - ANSWERS-at current rates of
consumption, most metals will become scarcer and costlier
The effect of rising rates of consumption of metals will ________. -
ANSWERS-make prices higher as nations complete for limited
resources
Another conclusion drawn from the bar graph is that ________. -
ANSWERS-our collective use of metal resources is presently
unsustainable
The bar graph indicates that all of the metals shown will ________. -
ANSWERS-eventually no longer be available, even with current
technological capabilities
, Subsurface mining is used extensively in the extraction of ________.
- ANSWERS-coal, phosphate, diamonds, gold
As in the mining of coltan in Congo, coal mining in Appalachia has
produced issues of ________. - ANSWERS-environmental damage
and social and economic injustice
The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium,
tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously ________. -
ANSWERS-recycle existing supplies
Sustainable minerals use and longer projected lifetimes for scarce
minerals can be achieved with all of the following, except ________.
- ANSWERS-increasing demand and lowering prices for products
using these minerals
The relationship between recycling, economics, and energy
consumption is demonstrated in the case of aluminum, where
________. - ANSWERS-95% of the energy expended to mine and
produce items from virgin ore is saved by recycling
Electronic waste, or e-waste, consists of discarded cell phones,
computers, and other electronic products and is increasing rapidly.
Recycling e-waste is essential because ________. - ANSWERS-all of
the above are correct
