metal sulfide minerals

1. What are the differences between sulfide minerals, sulfate minerals and carbonate minerals?

Give three examples of metal sulfide minerals that have commercial value (provide names and chemical formulae).

Give example locations where these sulfide minerals have been extracted. ]

2. There are a number of mines which have been developed in different parts of the world which now release acid mine drainage (AMD). For the following three mines or mine districts, 1) Iron Mountain Mine in Shasta County, Redding, California, 2) Britannia Mine in Britannia Beach, British Columbia, Canada, and 3) the Rio Tinto mining district near Huelva, Spain, describe the years of operation, the type of ore mined, and the scale and nature of wastes generated from the mining activities.*

3. Describe the primary geochemical reactions which contribute to the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) from sulfide-rich mine wastes.

4. Describe the primary reactions which contribute to the neutralization of AMD through natural geological processes.

5. Describe two remedial actions taken at the Iron Mountain Mine site to reduce AMD and describe how these actions have helped to improve the environment.

How long is AMD predicted to continue at this site?