Name: Date: Mine Cleanup
Chemical change Physical Change Separation techniques Mine Cleanup - Page 2
THE SITUATION THE SITUATION Environmental scientists are concerned about the pollution of abandoned mines in Northern Quebec and the impact on the surrounding areas. There are over 595 abandoned mining sites in Nunavik. The Quebec Government and Makivik are interested in coming up with possible solutions for cleaning up Northern Quebec s abandoned mines. This abandoned mining site, with a rusting Muskeg vehicle, poles, drums and cabins, is typical of those in Nunavik. (PHOTO BY ROBERT COMTOIS) Makivik and Saaputit have created a youth environmentalist group Sila Youth to create a clean-up and decontamination plan.. Clean-up has started in several sites, however, much more work still needs to be done. Sila Youth will be responsible to create a procedure on how to purify and process contaminated water samples and to create an action plan on how the clean-up of the abandoned mines can be done on a large scale. Mine Cleanup - Page 3
THE SITUATION You have recently been hired by Sila youth. Your main job is to try several methods to purify and process contaminated water samples. You have been provided a few samples to practice on. Once you have found an appropriate procedure for decontaminating water samples, you will then submit a report along with your recommendations. What are you being asked to do? What tasks are you being asked to do? What steps do you have to do to solve the problem? Mine Cleanup - Page 4
CHECKLIST Studied physical changes between materials. Studied chemical changes between materials. Studied separation techniques of substances. Found a way to purify the contaminated water samples. Brainstormed ideas how to clean-up and determine the changes occurred to the soil and surrounding area of the mines. Completed your report for Sila Youth. Mine Cleanup - Page 5
RECAP 1. What did you learn while you were studying physical changes? 2. How does what you learned about physical changes help you with the questions from the Sila Youth? 3. What do you still want to learn about physical changes? Mine Cleanup - Page 6
RECAP 1. What did you learn while you were studying chemical changes? 2. How does what you learned about chemical changes help you with the questions from the Sila Youth 3. What do you still want to learn about chemical changes? Mine Cleanup - Page 7
RECAP 1. What did you learn while you were studying separation techniques? 2. How does what you learned about separation techniques help you with the questions from the Sila Youth? 3. What do you still want to learn about separation techniques? Mine Cleanup - Page 8
RECAP RECAP 1. What did you learn while you were studying how to purify contaminated water samples? 2. How does what you learned about purifying contaminated water samples help you with the questions from Sila Youth? 3. What do you still want to learn about purifying contaminated water samples? Mine Cleanup - Page 9
BRAINSTORM 1. What are some of the problems that can happen to the soil surrounding a mine? 2. Can these changes be reversed? 3. Why or Why not (Explain)? Mine Cleanup - Page 10
BRAINSTORM (Use this page to brainstorm your ideas on ts project.) IDEAS NOTES Mine Cleanup - Page 11
RECAP 1. What are some of the types of changes to the soil of the surrounding mine area? 2. How does what you learned about physical and chemical changes help determine what changes occurred? 3. What suggestions can be given how to reverse these changes? Mine Cleanup - Page 12
EXPERIMENT TASK: Use the space below for your report. Make sure to include the following: State the purpose of your report (why are you writing this report). Come up with a list of materials needed to purify the contaminated water sample. Create a procedure to purify the contaminated water sample. Purify the contaminated water sample. Show the results of your experiment. Write a conclusion explaining your results. Provide some recommendations. Purpose (Why are you writing this report): Mine Cleanup - Page 13
EXPERIMENT Materials (what do you need to conduct your experiment): Drawing of your setup (if required): Mine Cleanup - Page 14
EXPERIMENT Procedure: Mine Cleanup - Page 15
EXPERIMENT Results: Mine Cleanup - Page 16
EXPERIMENT Conclusions: Recommendation(s): Mine Cleanup - Page 17
REFLECTION ACTIVITY 1. Is the method you chose to purify the contaminated water possible on a large scale? 2. What are possible suggestions to help clean the contaminated water on a larger scale? Mine Cleanup - Page 18
REFLECTION ACTIVITY 3. What suggestions can be made to clean-up the soil and surround area of the mines? (Hint: refer to the ideas from the brainstorming section) 4. What conclusions, as Sila Youth, can you offer Makivik and the Quebec Government? 5. If you had to do this activity again, what would you do differently? Mine Cleanup - Page 19