Study the photograph below and answer questions (a) and (b).

KCSE Geography Paper 2 2016 Section B Question 7.

Study the photograph below and answer questions (a) and (b).

(a) Name: (i) the mining methods shown in the photograph;

• Panning/alluvial mining/placer mining

​(ii) two minerals that may be mined using the method shown in the photograph.

• Gold,
•  Diamond,
•  Platinum,
•  Tin

​(b) (i) Using evidence from the photograph, give four indicators that show that the weather was hot when the photograph was taken.

• Almost all the miners have removed their shirts/bare chested.
•  Some miners are wearing hats/head scarfs
•  The sky is clear.
•  The shadows indicate that the sun is almost overhead.
•  Use of an umbrella by a person at the middle ground.
•  Bodies are glistering with sweat/sweaty bodies.
•  There is a reflection of the sun rays on the water surface .

​(ii) Describe how minerals are obtained using the mining method shown in the photograph.

• A mixture of water, solid/mud and mineral particles is scooped from the water bed using a pan. Water is added if the mixture is thick/if the water is excess it is decanted.
  
• The material scooped is swirled in the pan. This separates the lighter material from the heavier particles which contain the mineral particles. The lighter material is removed/poured out. The heavier materials are sorted to display mineral particles. The mineral particles are collected from the pan.

​(iii) Citing evidence from the photograph, explain two ways in which the mining method shown has affected the environment.

• The scooping of materials has led to water pollution as indicated by the brown colour stagnant water which may make it unfit for people to use.
• The continuous scooping and dumping of the waste has led to land dereliction as indicated by the depression and heaps of waste material.
• The method has led to destruction of vegetation as miners cleared the land to access the area with the mineral as indicated by absence of vegetation/bare ground/in the foreground/middle ground.
• The method has led to loss of biodiversity/destroyed the ecosystem as indicated by the absence of plant life where mining is taking place

(iv) Apart from the method shown in the photograph, name three other mining methods.

• Opencast/stripping method,
•  Deep shaft/underground method/solution.
•  Adit/drift/horizon/tunnel method/slope mining,
•  Drilling method.

​(c) Explain how the following factors influence the occurrence of minerals:
(i) evaporation;
(ii) vulcanicity; 
(iii) metamorphism 

(i) evaporation; 

• High temperatures in arid and semi-arid areas cause evaporation of water in lakes/seas. This leads to high concentration of mineral salts in the water.
• Continued evaporation causes further recrystallization of the salts which may thereafter be attracted as minerals such as soda ash and common salt/deposition of salts near the surface

(ii) vulcanicity; 

• When molten magma intrudes into rock joints minerals contained in the magma embedded in the joints called veins. Such minerals as tin and copper occur in this form/Hot springs/geysers. Fumaroles bring minerals to the earth's surface

(iii) metamorphism 

• High pressure and heat cause recrystallization and hardening of certain rocks causing them to change their nature to and become minerals such as diamond.

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