1. 1
   A mining company is investigating low-grade copper ores in a region where traditional open-pit mining would destroy a large area of forest. A researcher proposes growing a fast-growing plant species on the ore-bearing soil, then harvesting and burning the plants to collect their ash.

   (a)

   What is this process called?

   [1 mark]

   • ABioleaching
   • BPhytomining
   • CElectrolysis
   • DDisplacement

   (b)

   Once the plants described above have been burned, what must happen to the resulting ash in order to obtain the copper?

   [1 mark]

   • AThe ash is dissolved in water and left to evaporate naturally
   • BThe ash is buried underground to allow bacteria to leach the metal
   • CThe ash is compressed into blocks and sold directly as ore
   • DThe metal compounds in the ash are extracted, for example by electrolysis or displacement

   (c)

   Give two reasons why phytomining might be preferred over traditional mining methods for extracting copper from this low-grade ore.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A student reads about a technique in which bacteria are added to crushed copper ore. Over several weeks, the bacteria produce a solution containing copper compounds, called a leachate.

   (a)

   What is this process called?

   [1 mark]

   • APhytomining
   • BFractional distillation
   • CBioleaching
   • DThermal decomposition

   (b)

   Which of these is the correct name for the solution produced by the bacteria in the process described above?

   [1 mark]

   • ALeachate
   • BElectrolyte
   • CAlloy
   • DPrecipitate

   (c)

   Explain why bioleaching and phytomining are being researched as alternatives to traditional mining, particularly for low-grade copper ores.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A copper mining company compares two low-grade ore deposits. Deposit X will be processed using bioleaching, and Deposit Y will be processed using phytomining.

   (a)

   Describe how copper compounds are obtained from Deposit X using bioleaching.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Describe how copper compounds are obtained from Deposit Y using phytomining, and explain one advantage this method shares with bioleaching over traditional mining.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A country with dwindling supplies of high-grade copper ore is deciding whether to invest in traditional mining of its remaining low-grade deposits, or to fund research into phytomining and bioleaching instead.

   (a)

   Discuss the environmental and economic advantages of phytomining and bioleaching compared with traditional mining methods for extracting copper from low-grade ores.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Evaluate the limitations of phytomining and bioleaching compared with traditional mining, and suggest why a country might still choose traditional mining despite these environmental advantages.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions