Mining, Energy Sources, and Industrial Production

Posted on Mar 20, 2025 in Geography

What is Mining?

Mining is not only the extraction of raw materials (minerals) but also their treatment.

Types of Mining

There are several types of mining, including:

  • Open-cast mine: The mineral is close to the surface.
  • Underground mine: Minerals are deep below the Earth’s surface.
  • Wells: Petroleum and natural gas are extracted through a vertical shaft.
  • Seabed mine: Big companies explore the seabed with vehicles operated by remote control from a boat above the mine. They search for metals such as manganese, iron, calcium, cobalt, copper, and nickel.

Problems of Mining

Mining leads to various environmental problems:

  • It pollutes the soil, rivers, aquifers, and the air as a result of the harmful chemical substances that are released in solid, liquid, or gaseous form.
  • It transforms landscapes, destroying natural areas.
  • It overuses and exhausts mineral deposits.
  • The lack of minerals creates geopolitical problems.
  • Miners sometimes inhale toxic substances and suffer serious injuries or drown when a mine collapses.
  • Most of the minerals mined in the world are extracted in fewer than 20 countries. China is the world’s top producer of minerals (particularly coal).

Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy sources are produced using limited raw materials. These energy sources generate waste and emit gases that pollute and damage the environment.

  • They take a long time to renew resources.

Benefits of Non-Renewable Energy

Benefit percentages are related to few countries, and there is a balance between expenses and benefits (profits). Profits depend on globalization (diplomacy).

Impact of Non-Renewable Energy

These kinds of resources generate a significant amount of pollution and visual impact, changing landscapes.

Petroleum

It is a fossil fuel made from organic remains, refined to produce fuels, but it pollutes and contributes to global warming.

Nuclear Energy

Produced by separating radioactive atoms (uranium, plutonium, etc.) by fission in nuclear reactors without causing direct pollution. However, it generates radioactive waste that is dangerous and difficult to manage.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy uses infinite resources or those profitable in a short period of time. Examples: wind energy and biomass.

  • Wind energy is produced when wind turbines convert the wind’s energy into electrical energy.
  • Biomass is when organic waste from forestry, livestock, agriculture, industry, and urban areas is used to produce energy for industry, heating, and gas.

Benefits of Renewable Energy

Benefits are considered higher than those of non-renewable sources because the impact is minor. On the other hand, we have unlimited resources.

Impact of Renewable Energy

Three reasons for the impact:

  1. There is always some impact on the environment.
  2. Technology is still to be developed.
  3. Political support is needed.

Time: A short time or unlimited time to wait for them to renew resources.

Consumption

Consumption is related to the use of energy. There are producer countries that produce more than they consume and countries that consume more than they produce. Countries look for a balance between production and consumption surplus (superavit).

Consumers: This consumption depends on large consumers and small consumers.

Industry

Elements of Industry

There are a range of factors that are necessary in order for industry to develop:

  • Government policies that promote research and innovation, as well as laws that facilitate and allow their implementation.
  • The required capital to establish the industry, acquire raw materials and energy sources, pay workers, and develop technology.

Types of Industry

  • Employees: Small, medium, and large size, considered by the number of employees. Nowadays, there is more technology and fewer employees.
  • Capital: When we talk about capital, we refer to the stockholding and participation (SA – Sociedad Anónima and SL – Sociedad Limitada).
  • Material:
    • Heavy industry: This first industry transforms raw materials initially to be processed again. Example: metal bars.
    • Intermediate industry: Transforms initially manufactured goods into tools to manufacture other goods. Example: machine industry.
    • Light industry: It is focused on manufacturing goods for the consumer. Example: medicine, perfumes, and plastic.

History of Industry

Industrial revolutions are significant technological leaps throughout history. Each industrial revolution means an exponential advance, reducing more and more time between one revolution and the next.

Example: Second Industrial Revolution (19th-20th centuries)
It took place as a result of the discoveries related to electricity.

Distribution

Industrial area: The USA, Europe, and Japan are still leading industrial and technological advances, but it is temporary because there is other participation.

Emerging countries are those who have an industry in a process of development (this process of development is advanced) (BRICS) Brazil.

Non-industrialized countries have imitated industry, and most of it is owned by foreign companies. Relations established among this type of countries are based on the control of industry, normally by the industrial countries. So, many times, it’s difficult for non-industrial countries to move up.

Construction

If the objective of consumption was initially thought to give the construction a specific use (dwelling, business), this initial objective is turned into the mere obtaining of benefits.

Offshoring

Relocation done by multinational companies, which consists of dividing the manufacturing process among several areas to maximize benefits and minimize expenses.

Vocabulary

  • Secondary sector: Occupied in transforming, through different processes, raw materials into manufactured goods that can be directly used or transformed again, depending on needs.
  • Mining: Extraction of mineral resources (raw materials) through different methods (wells, mines…). Depending on whether it is processed or not after extraction, it could be classified as part of the secondary sector.
  • Energy source: Resources obtained from nature which, through industrial processes, can be transformed into energy. Depending on time and renovation, they can be classified into renewable (short terms) and non-renewable (long terms).
  • Industrial Revolution: Processes of transformation that human beings have passed through several times in history by improving techniques and technology, moving them onto their different eras.
  • Offshoring: Relocation done by multinational companies which consists on dividing the manufacturing process among several areas to maximize benefits and minimize expenses.
  • Industrial landscape: Transformed and adapted areas to industrial process mostly transforming raw materials into manufacturing goods. According to these different types can be seen (Industrial, Agroindustrial and I+D parks).
  • Industrialisation: Process of acquisition of techniques and technology that improves manufacturing capabilities & quantity. Depending on level of this acquisition an area can be considered more or less industrialised.