Memory Anchor:

• Super Challenge:

  Stretch:

  Challenge:

Key Questions:

1. What will happen to the Earth's supplies of metal ores if we continue to extract them at the rate we are now?
   • The Earth's resources of metal ores are limited. Eventually they will run out.
2. What are new ways of extracting copper from low-grade ores called?
   • Copper ores are becoming scarce and new ways of extracting copper from low-grade ores include phytomining, and bioleaching.
3. What do these new methods of copper extraction avoid?
   • These methods avoid traditional mining methods of digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock.
4. How is phytomining carried out?
   • Phytomining uses plants to absorb metal compounds. The plants are harvested and then burned to produce ash that contains metal compounds.
5. How is bioleaching carried out?
   • Bioleaching uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds.
6. How can copper compounds be processed to obtain the metal.
   • The metal compounds can be processed to obtain the metal. For example, copper can be obtained from solutions of copper compounds by displacement using scrap iron or by electrolysis.