Chapter 1: Mineral Resources and Mining in Africa

Keywords

1. capital- intensive
2. Derrick
3. extraction
4. minerals
5. mining
6. open cast mining
7. underground mining
8. profit repatriation

After studying this chapter, you should be able to;

1. Understand the use of mineral resources in the development of any two industries in Uganda
2. Recognize types and consequences of mining from photographs
3. Appreciate the positive and negative contribution of mineral resources to development
4. Understand why most mining is capital-intensive
5. Understand why much of the mining in Africa is controlled by overseas companies
6. Draw a map to show the main mining areas in Africa
7. Draw diagrams to show the main methods of mining
8. Appreciate the dangers that most people may not benefit from mining in the countries where it takes place

Introduction

Look at the things around you, at school and at home, such as utensils, furniture, stationery and many more. You realise that they are made from different materials Many of them are made from minerals. Mining refers to all attempts to extract valuable minerals, both solid and liquid from the earth’s crust. The mining industry of Africa includes the mining of various minerals; it produces relatively little of the industrial metals such as copper; lead, and zinc.

According to an estimate, Africa has a percentage of world reserves 40% of gold, 60% of cobalt, and 90% of the world’s platinum. There are three types of minerals: metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals and minerals which are sources of power. In Senior Two, you learnt about the mineral resources of East Africa, the methods used to extract the minerals, and factors that favour mining. You also learnt the challenges faced by the mining sector and its contribution to the East African economy.

In this chapter, you will learn about the main mineral resources in Africa and how minerals can contribute to the development of African countries. Minerals in Africa.

Africa has some large industries due to the presence of a variety of minerals. Do you know that many countries in Africa depend on mining and that mining has led to the development of such countries? After doing tasks in activity 25.1, you will know the different minerals and main mining areas in Africa.

Activity 25.1 Discovering the different minerals and main mining areas in Africa

In pairs, study the map in figure 25.1 showing minerals and main mining areas in Africa and use it to do the following tasks.

Table 25.1: Minerals and main mining areas in Africa

1 Copy table 25.1 in your notebook and, complete it by filling in minerals mined in each country to help you with this, the first row has been filled for you.

2 Copy Figure 25.1 into your notebook and fill in the names of the mining Countries which you have identified in (1) above.

3 Swap your work with other pairs and make comments on each other’s work.

4 Make corrections where necessary

You have realised that Africa has minerals which are metallic such as tin, zinc and lead; and non-metallic minerals such as salt, sulphur and phosphates. The continent also has energy minerals such as petroleum, natural gas, and uranium. Minerals are extracted from either underground or underwater while some are on the surface.

Methods of mining

In Senior Two, you learnt about the nature and depth at which the mineral occurs. Determine the method of mining used. After doing tasks in activity 25.2, you will understand the main methods used to extract minerals in Africa.

Open Cast Mining

This method of mining is used to extract minerals that occur near the earth’s surface. Open-cast mining, also known as open-pit mining, is a type of surface mining technique where minerals or rocks are extracted from the Earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow. This method of mining is typically used for extracting coal, metal ores, and various minerals.

After doing tasks in activity 25.2, you will understand more about open cast mining.

Figure 25.2: Some mining methods

1 Which of the photographs in figure 25.2 shows open cast mining?

2 Suggest minerals which can be mined using this method.

3 With the aid of diagrams, describe the process of open cast mining.

4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method of mining?

5 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.

Underground Mining

This involves accessing deposits beneath the earth’s surface through tunnels and shafts.

In Senior Two you learnt about underground mining. After doing tasks in activity 25.3, you will learn more about underground mining.

Figure 25.3: Some mining methods

1 Which of the photographs in Figure 25.3 shows underground mining?

2 Suggest minerals which can be mined using this method.

3 With the aid of diagrams, describe underground mining.

4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method of mining?

5 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.

Drilling Method

This method is used in the extraction of oil and natural gas from the ground onto the surface. After doing tasks in activity 25.4, you will understand more about the drilling method.

Figure 25.4: Some mining methods

1 Which of the photographs in Figure 25.4 shows the drilling mining method?

2 With the aid of diagrams, describe the drilling mining method.

3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method of mining?

4 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.

You have learnt that in the drilling method, oil in the underground is trapped under pressure, and when the drill reaches the oil or the gas-bearing rock, the oil flows upwards to the surface. Where pressure is low, a derrick is constructed to pump the oil or gas to the surface.

Case studies of Major mining countries in Africa

Some of the major mining countries in Africa include South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Nigeria, Angola and Libya.

Gold Mining in South Africa

South Africa is one of the African countries whose development is associated with minerals such as gold. South Africa is the leading gold producer in the world. Gold is a shiny yellowish mineral that does not rust or fade in colour.

Gold is the world’s most valuable mineral throughout history. Today it is widely used as a basis of the world’s money and jewellery. The main deposits are at Witwatersrand gold mines close to Johannesburg, a city that developed due to Gold. Gold occurs as small grains in hard rock.

The Gold-bearing rocks are found very deep below the earth’s surface; hence underground mining method is used for getting gold ore to the surface. After doing tasks in activity 25.5, you will understand more about gold mining in South Africa.

Figure 25.5: A map showing mining in South Africa

Activity 25.5 Discovering the different minerals and main mining areas in Africa

Study the map in Figure 25.5 showing mining in South Africa and do the following tasks.

1 Copy the map in Figure 25.5 showing mining in South Africa into your notebook.

2 Identify other minerals which are mined in South Africa and where they are mined.

3 Suggest methods of mining used in the extraction of gold in South Africa.

4 Why do you think gold mining is important to the development of South Africa?

5 Explain the problems affecting gold mining in South Africa.

6 Present your work to the rest of the class.

You have found out that mining is a very important economic activity in South Africa. The country has a lot of mineral resources including gold, copper, diamonds, iron ore, manganese and platinum as shown in table.

South Africa is one of the leading producers of many of these minerals in the World. Minerals make up over 85% of her exports.

Table 25.2: Sector contributions to mineral exports in South Africa (2016)

Source: Chamber of Mines estimates; Stats SA (2016)

Copper mining in Zambia

Zambia is one of the leading mining countries in tropical Africa as well as the Tropical world. The most important mineral mined in Zambia is copper; extracted from Katanga copper belt that extends from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Copper mines in Zambia are controlled by Zambia Consolidated Copper Corporation.

Copper is the highest export earner of Zambia’s foreign exchange. Apart from copper Zambia has other important minerals as you are going to discover. The Zambian copper belt alone covers a zone of about 110km long by 50km wide. Zambia’s copper accounts for 10% of the world’s total production.

Copper industries are the largest consumers of electricity generated from Kariba and Kafue power generation stations. Smelting is done to get rid of some impurities by melting. After doing tasks in activity 25.6, you will learn more about copper mining in Zambia.

Figure 25.6: A map showing major mining centres in Zambia

Activity 25.6 Understanding Copper Mining in Zambia

In groups, study the map in Figure 25.6 showing the major mining centres in Zambia and do the following tasks.

1 Copy the map in Figure 25.6 showing the mining centres in Zambia into your notebook.

2 Make a list of minerals that are mined in Zambia.

3 Which methods of mining are used in the extraction of copper in Zambia?

4 How is copper mining important to the development of Zambia?

5 What are the problems affecting copper mining in Zambia?

6 Swap your work with other groups and make comments.

You have found out that Zambia depends mostly on the exploitation and export of copp Methods used to mine copper ore are both open cast and underground shaft mining.

Copper mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Congo is one of the countries with various minerals. Unfortunately, most of her minerals are not fully utilised and exploited, the major mineral mined is copper. Copper constitutes 30% of Congo’s mineral export and the major mining town is Lubumbashi. Other than copper, Congo has other important minerals as you are going to learn. After doing tasks in activity 25.7.

Figure 25.7: A map showing major mining centres in Congo

Activity 25.7 Understanding Copper Mining in Congo

In pairs, study the map in Figure 25.7 showing the major mining centres in Congo and do the following tasks.

1 Copy the map in Figure 25.7 showing mining in Congo into your notebook.

2 Identify minerals mined in Congo

3 Suggest methods of mining used in the extraction of copper in Congo.

4 How is copper mining important to the development of Congo?

5 What are the problems affecting copper mining in Congo?

6 Swap your work with another group and make comments and comments on each other’s group work.

Oil mining in Nigeria

In Senior Two, you learnt about oil drilling in East Africa, where you realised that o is extracted from underground. You further learnt that Oil is a very important resource which supports the development of a country’s economy.

Today, Nigeria is the largest producer and exporter of oil in Africa. Natural gas, coal, tin, and columbite are other minerals mined in Nigeria. After doing tasks in activity 25.8, you will understand about oil mining in Nigeria.

Figure 25.8: A map showing oil mining in Nigeria

Activity 25.8 Understanding Oil Mining in Nigeria In pairs, study the map in Figure 25.8 and do the following tasks.

1. Copy the map in Figure 25.8 into your notebook.

2 Make a list of other minerals mined in Nigeria

3 What methods of mining are used in the extraction of oil in Nigeria?

4 Why is oil mining important to the development of Nigeria?

You have found out that oil is mined by the drilling method. An important piece of equipment used in this activity is called a derrick. This is sunk underground and the oil is pumped onto the surface.

Oil is drilled with many impurities; this kind of unprocessed oil is called crude oil. It is thick and bulky and needs to be refined before it can be used. From the oil fields, oil is transported by pipeline to the refineries.

Nigeria is also involved in mining other minerals like coal, tin, iron ore, phosphates and limestone.

Benefits of mining in Africa

Mineral resource extraction has contributed to the development of Africa. Large mining operations in Africa have generated big profits for foreign companies, however, most of the mineral-rich countries in Africa enjoyed a mining boom between 2002 and 2007 as metal and oil prices nearly tripled.

After doing tasks in activity 25.9, you will understand the benefits of mining in Africa.

Activity 25.9 Understanding the benefits of mining in Africa

In groups; carry out a textbook or internet research on the benefits of mining in Africa and do the following tasks.

1 What are the benefits of mining to the development of Africa?

2 Explain why the economic benefits discussed in (1) above do not always benefit the people of Africa.

3 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.

You have found out that mining benefits African countries. However, most of the benefits of mining are not enjoyed by the African people.

This is because most of the mining companies are owned by foreign people and companies because it requires a lot of capital which African countries can not it afford. Mining is capital-intensive.

Foreign companies send the profits back to their home countries. This is called profit reparation.

Negative impacts of mining in Africa

Across the world, mining affects the environment negatively. After doing tasks in activity 25.10, you will understand the negative impacts of mining in Africa.

Activity 25.10 Understanding the negative impacts of mining in Africa

In groups; study photographs A-D in Figure 25. 5 and do the tasks that follow.

Figure 25.9: Effects of mining on the environment

1 Explain how mining affects the environment in each of the photographs in Figure 25.5.

2 Suggest other ways in which mining can affect the environment.

3 Present your work to the rest of the class.

You have learnt that to establish a mine, vegetation must be cleared. This causes deforestation, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity which has an impact the environment

Problems faced by mining in Africa

In senior two, you learnt about problems facing mining in East Africa, you realised that mining was referred to as a robber industry. What do you remember about robber industries?

Africa is a continent that is highly endowed with minerals, these minerals are not fully utilised. This is because of a number of factors that limit the development of the mining sector. After doing tasks in activity 25.11, you will understand the problems affecting the mining industry in Africa.

Activity 25.11 Understanding the problems affecting the mining industry in Africa

In groups, carry out textbooks or internet research on problems affecting the mining industry in Africa and do the following tasks.

1 Explain the problems facing mining in Africa.

2 Suggest possible solutions to the problem affecting the mining industry in Africa.

3 Present your work to the rest of the class.

You have found out that although mining is carried out in Africa, it still experiences problems that affect the development of the mining sector.

There are many accidents in the mines which cause loss of lives and equipment. You have also learnt that mining leads to pollution of air, land and water resulting from the dumping of wastes.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter you have learnt that;

Africa has minerals which are metallic such as coal, tin, zinc and lead, non-metal minerals such as salt, phosphates, Sulphur, and stones, and energy minerals such as petroleum, natural gas, and uranium.

Minerals are extracted using methods like open cast, underground and drilling mining methods.

The major mining countries in Africa include South Africa, the copper belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, Nigeria, Angola and Libya.

South Africa is the leading gold producer in the world. In Africa, Copper is mined mainly in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in large quantities.

Oil is mined by drilling method using equipment called a derrick.

Several limit the development of the mining sector which include; Inadequate capital, Political instabilities, Inadequate skilled labour and Price fluctuations on the world market.