Canadian Industry & Natural Resources

October 19th, 2017

Patterns of Economic Activity

Page 33 in orange atlas

Recreate the map that shows what is happening across Canada with regard to industry

But first, draw the provincial boundaries on you map

Sectors of Industry

•Primary Industries• Those dealing directly with the extraction of natural

resources• Fisheries, Forestry, Mining

• Secondary Industries• Those that deal with manufacturing or construction• Fish processing, lumber mills, building contractors

• Tertiary Industries• Those that provide services to people, business or

governments• Banking, food service, consultants

Economic Overview• Canada’s economy represents a high-tech industrial society

• GDP – gross domestic product – a total value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country over a year

• Canada’s GDP – 1.518 Trillion, 14th in the world

• Trade with US is also important, Canada’s only neighbor and biggest trading partner.

Mining in CanadaOctober 24th, 2017

Location and Types of MineralsCanada’s minerals can be broken down into 3 categories

1. Metallic• Iron Ore

• Nickel

• Uranium

• Copper

• Lead

• Zinc

• Gold

• Silver

• Platinum

2. Non-Metallic• Gypsum

• Potash

• Salt

• Asbestos

3. Structural• Limestone

• Aggregate

• Clay

Step 1: Exploration

• Geophysical survey – determining the presence of minerals

• Core samples – Looking for proof

Steps in the mining process

1. Exploration• Geophysical survey – determining the presence of minerals• Core samples – Looking for proof

2. Determining Viability• Quality of resource• Demand and value• Transportation costs• Availability and cost of labour

3. Extraction• Open Pit Mining• Shaft Mining

4. Turning Ore to Metal• Milling (crushing the ore into small particles)• Smelting (heat is used to burn off impurities)• Refining (chemically treated to remove all impurities)

Step 2: Determining Viability

Analysis of samples

Analysis of market factors

• Quality of resource

• Demand and value

• Transportation costs

• Availability and cost of labour

Step 3: Mining

• Open Pit Mining

• Shaft Mining

Step 4: Turning Ore to Metal

• Milling (crushing the ore into small particles)

• Smelting (heat is used to burn off impurities)

• Refining (chemically treated to remove all impurities)

• These processes are often the most environmentally criticized part of mining

Mount Polley Mine Disaster

• Copper & gold mine owned by Imperial Metals

• Central BC

• In 2014 a dam around a tailing pond broke and the surrounding area was flooded

• Selenium, arsenic, lead and other toxins have poisoned the surrounding environment

• Investigation is ongoing

Mining Case Studies

• Thetford Mines, Quebec

• Thompson, Manitoba

1. Describe some of the uses of asbestos

2. What is INCO?

3. What is the CBD?

4. How has diversification been encouraged?

The Big Question – Compare and contrast Thetford Mines with Thompson.

The Westray Mining DisasterOctober 25th, 2017

The Westray Mining Disaster

• What factors made opening of the Westray mine unlikely?

• What made opening the Westray mine possible?

• What risks were well known?

• What went wrong?