The greatest environmental impact would be caused by mining for ____ ore.
A) a high-grade
B) a moderate-grade
C) a low-grade
D) biomining
E) hydrothermal

Question

The greatest environmental impact would be caused by mining for ____ ore.​
A) ​a high-grade
B) ​a moderate-grade
C) ​a low-grade
D) ​biomining
E) ​hydrothermal

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Low-grade ore requires a higher amount of resources, energy, and water to extract the desired mineral, leading to significant environmental impacts. This includes land degradation, water and air pollution, and ecosystem destruction. High-grade ores typically require less processing and energy, while biomining and hydrothermal mining are less damaging alternatives to traditional mining methods. The impact of moderate-grade ore would fall somewhere in between.

The Greatest Environmental Impact Would Be Caused by Mining for ____