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CChemistryMathematicsS3 to S6Mining
Mining lab: from rock to metal
A tonne of rock may contain only a few kilograms of tin ore. Follow the rock from the mine to the concentrate and find out when a mine makes a profit.
LevelS3 to S6
TimeAbout 35 min
You usePercentages, moles, mass balance, profit
PriceFree: no account
🎯 Aim
To use percentage composition, ore grade and recovery to calculate the metal produced from rock, the waste, and the profit of a mine.
You will learn to
- Calculate percentage composition of a compound.
- Calculate masses with ore grade and recovery.
- Calculate profit and the cut-off grade.
- Discuss mining waste and the environment.
🧭 What to do
- Read the tin produced for the starting mine.
- Change the Ore grade and watch the profit graph.
- Change the Recovery in the washing plant and the Price of tin (example).
- Find the cut-off grade where the profit is zero.
- Answer the questions with the class data.
- Write your conclusion and download your lab report.
📋 The data
One week at a small tin mine (example data).
🧠 Investigate: answer from the data
Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.
➕ Get more from this experiment
📝 Free
Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.
📦 Premium Lab Pack
1 000 RWF
- Worksheet: percentage composition and ore calculations
- Mining and environment case study
- Teacher guide and answer key
- Exam-style questions with marking scheme
👩🏫 For teachers
Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.
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