English National Curriculum - Science
Mission Objectives
Describe how phytomining and bioleaching extract metals from low-grade ores
Explain how copper can be obtained from metal compound solutions
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of biological extraction methods
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Words and meanings to learn
phytomining
a method of extracting metals using special hyperaccumulator plants to absorb metal ions from the soil; the plants are then harvested and burned to produce a concentrated metal ash
bioleaching
a process used to extract metals from low-grade ore by using bacteria to break down the rock structure and release the metal ions into a solution
smelting
a traditional, energy-intensive method of extracting metal from high-grade ore by heating it strongly with carbon to reduce the metal compounds to the impure molten metal
low-grade ore
rock that contains only a small, uneconomic concentration of a valuable metal, making it too expensive to extract using traditional methods like smelting
sulphur dioxide
a harmful gas released during the smelting of sulphide ores; it is acidic and is a major atmospheric pollutant that contributes to acid rain
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