Grade 9 Natural Sciences (NS) Summaries - Term 4 (Via Afrika): These summaries are compiled using the Via Afrika textbook's Term 3 content. The summaries are in English, with additional notes provided by the compiler.
Strand 4 - Planet Earth and beyond.
Topic 1: The Earth as a system.
Topi...
, Mining in South Africa Extracting ores
• Ores are rocks with concentrated minerals
• Rich mineral deposits offer economic benefits and
extracted from Earth's crust through mining.
employment opportunities.
• Mining methods depend on the ore's
• South Africa's mines account for a third of the
location, with titanium ore from sea-sand
world's mineral supply.
and gold ore underground.
• High reserves of manganese, chromium, vanadium,
• Opencast mining is cheaper, safer, and
and platinum.
easier than underground mining for iron ore.
• Environmental Impact of Mining:
T3: Mining of • Processing involves cutting and polishing,
o Mine dumps occupy valuable land, harming
with diamonds being the hardest known
wildlife and humans. mineral mineral.
o Water pollution from deep mines harms
resources • Natural minerals like sand, salt, sulphur, and
environment and nearby water resources.
Sample
potash are used for building or fertilization.
o Air and water pollution cause damage to tourist or
cultural heritage sites.
o Open-cast mining can lead to loss of farming and
wildlife environments. Refining Minerals
• Laws to Protect People and the Environment:
o Mining activities are controlled by the Department • Refining Minerals:
Summaries after sample
of Minerals and Energy.
o Companies consider ore amount, mining costs,
potential profit, and local community concerns
before opening a new mine.
o
o
o
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Metallurgists study metal properties and extraction from ore.
Physical processes used for unreactive metals like gold, platinum, and silver.
Reactive metals like iron, lead, and zinc extracted using chemical methods.
Most reactive metals like aluminium, sodium, and potassium can only be
extracted with an electric current.
• Early Discoveries of Copper, Tin, and Iron:
o Iron is the only pure iron found in meteorites, extracted from the iron oxide
in iron ore.
o The Bronze Age preceded the Iron Age, requiring longer extraction methods
due to its reactive nature.
o Around 5000 BC, Egyptians discovered copper in blue-green rocks.
o Bronze used for weapons, tools, and jewelry in Egypt by 2000 BC.
• Iron and Copper Extraction:
o Extraction spread from Egypt, with evidence of early copper and iron
smelting found in Africa.
o Modern steel is made by adding carbon and other metals to pure iron
produced by blast furnaces.
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