GEOG 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Ghawar Field, The Fluid, Artesian Aquifer
Document Summary
Benefits to the economy: has led to growth of magadi town ship, has led to development of social amenities such as hospitals and schools and water from. Gold occurs as small grains in a hard rock. It"s mined by shaft mining since its bearing rocks are deep below the surface. The main mining area is the witwatersrand and others are ogendaalrus and lydenburg. Ore is crushed to a fine powdery dust. Mixed with water until it is fluid mud. The fluid is runoff with gold dissolved leaving behind waste salts. Zinc dust is added to filter gold for solidification. Gold is smelted and cast into ingots. Diamond sinks to the bottom as it"s denser. Water and less dense residue are drained off. Remaining material is put on heavily greased trays and washed. Diamond repels water so it sticks to grease while remnants are drained off.
