7.8 - Evaluating Extraction Methods

Is this extraction worth doing?

• High-grade ores are being depleted, leaving low-grade ores that hold less metal per tonne of rock.
• Extraction methods are judged by balancing economic and environmental factors, and by comparing them against recycling scrap metal.

Plant location factors

• Near the coast - Raw materials can be imported by ship directly to the plant.
• Away from housing - Reduces the impact of noise and air pollution on nearby residents.
• Near a workforce - Close enough to towns and cities for workers to commute.
• Near a power supply - Extraction processes such as electrolysis require large amounts of electricity.
• Good transport links - Roads and rail allow the extracted metal to reach buyers.

Economic and environmental factors

• Running costs - High electricity and fuel demands make running costs high; the extracted metal must sell for enough to cover these costs.
• Raw materials - Transporting imported ores can cost less and cause less environmental damage than quarrying locally.
• Emissions - Energy generation from fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, which contributes to climate change.