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2026 May/June · Paper 21 · Q1 (c(i), c(ii), d)7.2 marksDistribution and uses of minerals · Extraction methods and impacts
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2025 May/June · Paper 21 · Q1 (a(iv), b(i), b(ii), d)6.6 marksDistribution and uses of minerals · Extraction methods and impacts
2024
2024 May/June · Paper 21 · Q1 (a(i), a(ii), a(iii), b(i), b(ii), d)10.8 marksOfficial paper ↗Distribution and uses of minerals · Extraction methods and impacts
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school. “Paper 42” means Paper 4, variant 2.
Practice questions
Original questions written by HomiLabs in the style of the exam, with answers and mark schemes. They are not
Cambridge past paper questions and have not been reviewed by Cambridge. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1Distribution and uses of minerals · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Name the range of hills in northern Punjab where the Khewra mine is located.[1]
(b)Name the mineral mined at Khewra.[1]
(c)State three uses of rock salt.[3]
Show answer
(a) The Salt Range.
B1.
(b) Rock salt.
B1.
(c) Any three: table salt and food preservation; raw material for the chemical industry (soda ash, caustic soda); tanning leather; decorative items such as salt lamps and tiles; export; livestock licks.
1 mark each.
Q2Distribution and uses of minerals · Core · Paper 2 style · 7 marks
(a)Name two areas of Pakistan where limestone is found.[2]
(b)State the main industrial use of limestone in Pakistan.[1]
(c)Explain two reasons why cement factories are usually built close to limestone deposits. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Any two: Salt Range; Kohat; Margalla Hills / around Islamabad; Rohri (Sindh); Daudkhel / Mianwali; Dera Ghazi Khan; Thatta.
1 mark each.
(b) Making cement.
B1.
(c) Limestone is heavy and bulky and large amounts are needed for each tonne of cement, so carrying it long distances would be very costly; the raw material loses weight in processing, so it is cheaper to make cement at the quarry and transport the finished product; other raw materials such as clay and gypsum are often found nearby in the same areas.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: bulky / heavy raw material; weight lost in processing; transport cost; other raw materials (clay, gypsum, coal) nearby.
Q3Distribution and uses of minerals · Core · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
(a)Name one coalfield in Sindh and one in Balochistan.[2]
(b)State two uses of coal in Pakistan.[2]
Show answer
(a) Sindh: Thar, Lakhra or Sonda. Balochistan: Degari, Sor Range, Mach or Khost–Sharig.
1 mark each.
(b) Generating electricity in thermal power stations; fuel in brick kilns; fuel in cement factories; steel making (mostly imported coking coal).
1 mark each.
Q4Distribution and uses of minerals · Core · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
(a)Name one area of Pakistan where marble is quarried.[1]
(b)State two uses of marble.[2]
(c)Suggest one reason why Pakistan earns relatively little from its marble exports.[1]
(b) Floors, walls and building facing; decorative items and handicrafts; monuments and tombstones; crushed for chips, lime and paint.
1 mark each.
(c) Much marble is wasted or damaged by blasting, so few large blocks are produced; little is cut and polished to export standard.
B1.
Q5Distribution and uses of minerals · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Classify each of these minerals as metallic or non-metallic:(i) chromite (ii) gypsum (iii) copper (iv) rock salt[2]
(b)What is meant by a mineral resource?[1]
(c)Explain why minerals are described as non-renewable resources.[2]
Show answer
(a) (i) metallic; (ii) non-metallic; (iii) metallic; (iv) non-metallic
B2 all correct; B1 two or three correct.
(b) A naturally occurring substance in the Earth's crust that can be extracted and used by people.
B1.
(c) They take millions of years to form, so once they have been extracted and used up they cannot be replaced within a human lifetime.
B1 formed over very long periods; B1 cannot be replaced once used.
Q6Distribution and uses of minerals · Core · Paper 2 style · 4 marks
(a)Name two places in the Salt Range or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, other than Khewra, where rock salt is mined.[2]
(b)Describe how the Khewra salt mine is used for purposes other than producing salt.[2]
Show answer
(a) Any two: Warcha; Kalabagh; Bahadur Khel (Karak); Jatta.
1 mark each.
(b) It is a major tourist attraction with tours, a salt mosque and lit-up salt features; a clinic uses the salt-rich air for treating asthma and breathing problems.
1 mark each for two uses (tourism; health/asthma clinic).
Q7Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Name two areas where gypsum is found in Pakistan.[2]
(b)Explain two uses of gypsum in Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Any two: Salt Range (e.g. Khewra, Dandot); Kohat; Dera Ghazi Khan; parts of Balochistan.
1 mark each.
(b) It is added to cement in small amounts to control how fast it sets, so the cement industry is the main user; it is used to make plaster of Paris for building, ceilings and moulds; it is spread on saline or sodic (alkaline) soils to improve them, so it helps farmers reclaim land affected by salinity; it is used in making some fertilisers.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: cement (setting time); plaster of Paris; soil improvement (salinity); fertiliser; chalk.
Q8Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 7 marks
(a)Name the area of Balochistan best known for chromite mining.[1]
(b)State two uses of chromite.[2]
(c)Explain two reasons why most of Pakistan's chromite is exported as ore rather than processed in Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Muslim Bagh (Killa Saifullah district).
B1; accept Zhob area.
(b) Making stainless steel and other alloys; refractory bricks for furnaces; chemicals for leather tanning and dyes.
1 mark each.
(c) Pakistan has few stainless steel or ferro-chrome plants, so there is little demand at home; processing needs a lot of cheap electricity, which is expensive and in short supply; mining is done by small operators who lack the capital and technology to build processing plants; buyers such as China pay for raw ore, so it is a quick source of income.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: lack of processing industry; energy cost; lack of capital / technology; small-scale mining; foreign demand for ore.
Q9Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Name the district of Balochistan where the Saindak and Reko Diq deposits are found.[1]
(b)State two minerals obtained from these deposits.[1]
(c)Explain two difficulties of developing large mines at Reko Diq. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Chagai.
B1.
(b) Copper and gold (also silver).
B1 for two.
(c) The area is a remote desert near the borders with Iran and Afghanistan, so roads, railways and power lines must be built at great cost; water is very scarce but is needed for processing ore; the project needs billions of dollars of investment and technology from foreign companies, and legal disputes over contracts delayed it for years; security concerns in the region increase costs.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: remoteness and lack of infrastructure; water shortage; extreme climate; capital and foreign investment; legal disputes; security.
Q10Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe the coal found in the Thar coalfield.[2]
(b)Explain two reasons why Thar coal is important for Pakistan's future energy supply. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) It is lignite, a low-grade brown coal with high moisture and ash content and low heat value; the reserves are very large (about 175 billion tonnes, among the largest in the world).
B1 lignite / low grade; B1 very large reserves (approximate figure accepted).
(b) Pakistan imports large amounts of oil, gas and coal for power, which costs scarce foreign exchange; using local Thar coal reduces this import bill; the reserves are big enough to supply power stations for many decades, improving energy security; power from local coal can be cheaper than from imported fuel, helping reduce load-shedding; developing it creates jobs and infrastructure in a poor desert region.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: reduces imports / saves foreign exchange; large reserves / energy security; cheaper electricity; reduce load-shedding; jobs and development in Thar.
Q11Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Name two places in Pakistan where iron ore is found.[2]
(b)Explain two reasons why Pakistan Steel Mills in Karachi has relied on imported iron ore. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Any two: Kalabagh; Chiniot; Dilband (Mastung); Nokkundi (Chagai); Hazara.
1 mark each.
(b) Much of Pakistan's iron ore, such as at Kalabagh, is low-grade with a low iron content and impurities, so it needs costly processing; richer deposits are in remote areas such as Chagai or were found only recently (Chiniot), with no rail link to Karachi; the mill was built at Port Qasim so that ore and coking coal could be imported cheaply by sea.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: low-grade ore; remoteness / transport costs; deposits not developed; coastal location designed for imports; high-quality ore available abroad.
Q12Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Name the gemstones found in (i) the Swat valley and (ii) the Hunza valley.[2]
(b)Explain two ways in which Pakistan could earn more from its gemstones. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) (i) emeralds; (ii) rubies.
B1 each.
(b) Training local workers in cutting and polishing would allow finished stones to be sold for much higher prices than rough stones; using modern mining methods instead of blasting would reduce damage to stones; setting up gem testing and certification centres would give buyers confidence and attract foreign traders; promoting jewellery making and exhibitions would add value and create jobs.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: cutting and polishing / value addition; modern extraction; certification; marketing / exhibitions; jewellery industry; reduce smuggling.
Q13Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)Barytes is mined near Khuzdar in Balochistan. State its main use in Pakistan.[1]
(b)Name the mineral obtained from the Koh-e-Sultan area of Chagai and give one use.[2]
(c)Suggest two reasons why mineral production in Balochistan is important for the people of the province.[2]
Show answer
(a) In drilling mud for oil and gas wells (also in paint and chemicals).
B1.
(b) Sulphur; used for making sulphuric acid, fertilisers or matches.
B1 sulphur; B1 use.
(c) It provides jobs and incomes in areas with few other activities; royalties and investment can pay for roads, schools and clinics; it supports local businesses such as transport.
1 mark each.
Q14Distribution and uses of minerals · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)China clay (kaolin) is found near Shah Dheri in Swat. State two uses of china clay.[2]
(b)Explain two ways in which the mineral industry supports other industries in Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Pottery, ceramics and sanitary ware; paper making; paint; rubber; tiles.
1 mark each.
(b) Limestone and gypsum are raw materials for the cement industry, which in turn supplies construction; rock salt supplies the chemical industry, which makes soda ash for glass, soap and textiles; coal fuels brick kilns, cement plants and power stations; china clay and silica sand supply ceramics and glass factories; barytes supplies oil and gas drilling.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: cement; chemicals; energy; ceramics / glass; oil and gas drilling; steel (iron ore).
Q15Distribution and uses of minerals · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 7 marks
Production of four minerals in Pakistan in two years (hypothetical figures, million tonnes):Rock salt: Year 1 2.1, Year 2 3.4Limestone: Year 1 40.0, Year 2 52.0Gypsum: Year 1 1.6, Year 2 2.2Coal: Year 1 3.9, Year 2 9.1
(a)Calculate the percentage increase in production of each mineral between Year 1 and Year 2. Give your answers to one decimal place.[4]
(b)State which mineral had the largest percentage increase and suggest a reason for it.[2]
(c)Suggest why limestone production is so much larger than that of the other minerals.[1]
Show answer
(a) Rock salt: 61.9%; Limestone: 30.0%; Gypsum: 37.5%; Coal: 133.3%
1 mark for each correct percentage.
(b) Coal: new open-cast mining of lignite at Thar to supply coal-fired power stations.
B1 coal; B1 reason (Thar coal for power).
(c) Huge demand from the cement industry for construction (housing, dams, roads).
B1.
Q16Distribution and uses of minerals · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 10 marks
(a)Explain why low-grade lignite from Thar is burnt in power stations built at the coalfield rather than transported to cities. You should develop your answer.[4]
(b)'Pakistan should make much greater use of its coal resources.' Evaluate this view.[6]
Show answer
(a) Lignite has a high moisture content and low energy per tonne, so moving it long distances would mean paying to transport much water and ash; it can catch fire easily when dried, making transport risky; it is cheaper to send the electricity through transmission lines to the national grid than to move the bulky coal.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: low energy per tonne / high moisture; transport cost; self-ignition risk; electricity easier to transmit; pithead plants.
(b) For: large local reserves such as Thar can reduce imports of oil and LNG, saving foreign exchange; coal power provides reliable power day and night, unlike solar and wind; mining and power stations create jobs in poor areas. Against: burning coal releases carbon dioxide, which adds to climate change that already harms Pakistan through floods and heatwaves; air pollution and ash cause health problems; open-cast mining displaces villages and uses scarce water; renewables such as solar and wind are becoming cheaper and are plentiful in Sindh and Balochistan. Judgement: e.g. Thar coal is useful in the short term for energy security, but renewables should be expanded faster.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): simple points. L2 (3–4): developed point(s) for one view, or simple points for both. L3 (5–6): developed points for both views, a named Pakistani example and a judgement.
Q17Distribution and uses of minerals · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
Share of the value of Pakistan's exports of some minerals in one year (hypothetical, %):Marble and onyx: 31Rock salt: 25Chromite: 18Gemstones: 11Other: 15
(a)Calculate the angle needed for each sector if this information is drawn as a pie chart.[2]
(b)Explain two reasons why the value of Pakistan's mineral exports is small compared with its mineral reserves. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Marble and onyx 111.6°, Rock salt 90°, Chromite 64.8°, Gemstones 39.6°, Other 54°
M1 % × 3.6; A1 all correct.
(b) Many deposits are in remote, mountainous or desert areas of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan with poor roads and railways, so transport is costly; most mining uses outdated methods and small operators lack capital, so output is low and quality poor; minerals are often exported raw rather than processed, so they earn low prices; surveys of reserves are incomplete and security problems discourage investors.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: remoteness / infrastructure; outdated methods / lack of capital; raw exports; lack of surveys and skilled workers; security / policy uncertainty.
Q18Distribution and uses of minerals · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 10 marks
(a)Explain two reasons why Balochistan produces only a small share of Pakistan's mineral output even though it has many mineral deposits. You should develop your answer.[4]
(b)'Developing mineral resources is the best way to improve living standards in Balochistan.' Evaluate this view.[6]
Show answer
(a) The province is large, mountainous and thinly populated, with long distances to ports and markets and few roads and railways, so moving ore is costly; water and electricity for mining and processing are scarce; there is a shortage of skilled workers and capital, and much mining is small-scale and traditional; security problems and disputes over royalties have discouraged investors.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: remoteness / infrastructure; lack of water and power; lack of skills and capital; traditional methods; security / disputes.
(b) For: projects such as Saindak, Reko Diq and coal mines can bring jobs, royalties and investment; roads, power lines and water schemes built for mines also serve local people; Gwadar port can export minerals. Against: modern mines employ relatively few local workers and profits may go to companies and the federal government; mining can damage water supplies and grazing land; other sectors such as fishing along the Makran coast, fruit farming (apples, dates), livestock, solar energy and tourism can benefit more people; education and health spending are also needed. Judgement: e.g. minerals can help if local people share the benefits and are trained, but a wider development plan is needed.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): simple points. L2 (3–4): developed point(s) for one view, or simple points for both. L3 (5–6): developed points for both views, a named Pakistani example and a judgement.
Q19Distribution and uses of minerals · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
Some minerals produced in four provinces:Balochistan: chromite, copper, barytes, sulphur, coal, marble (onyx)Punjab: rock salt, gypsum, coal, limestoneKhyber Pakhtunkhwa: marble, rock salt, china clay, emeraldSindh: coal, limestone
(a)Using the table only, state the number of minerals listed for each province.[1]
(b)Using the table only, name the minerals that are listed for more than one province.[2]
(c)Suggest two reasons why mineral deposits are often found in mountainous and plateau areas of Pakistan.[2]
(b) Coal (Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh); rock salt (Punjab, KP); limestone (Punjab, Sindh); marble (Balochistan, KP).
B2 all four; B1 two or three.
(c) Folding and faulting during mountain building brought old rocks with minerals close to the surface; erosion of mountains exposes rock layers and mineral veins; igneous activity in these areas formed metallic ores such as copper and chromite.
1 mark each for two reasons.
Q20Extraction methods and impacts · Core · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
(a)What is meant by open-cast (open-pit) mining?[1]
(b)Explain why coal in Balochistan is mined by underground (shaft or drift) methods, while Thar coal is mined open-cast. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Removing the soil and rock above a mineral deposit near the surface and digging the mineral out from a large open pit.
B1.
(b) In Balochistan the coal seams are thin and lie at steep angles deep within folded mountain rocks, so it would be too costly to remove all the rock above them; tunnels follow the seams instead. At Thar the lignite lies in thick, almost flat seams under sand at a depth of about 150–200 m, so it is cheaper to remove the overburden and dig out large amounts in a pit.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: Balochistan – thin, steep, folded seams; deep; tunnels follow the seams. Thar – thick flat seams; under loose sand; overburden removal economic; large output.
Q21Extraction methods and impacts · Core · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)State two dangers faced by workers in underground coal mines in Balochistan.[2]
(b)Explain two ways in which the safety of coal miners could be improved. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Explosions of methane gas; roof collapses; flooding; breathing coal dust, causing lung disease; poor ventilation / lack of oxygen.
1 mark each.
(b) Gas detectors and better ventilation shafts would warn miners of methane build-up and remove the gas before it can explode; strong roof supports (steel props) and regular inspections would reduce collapses; providing helmets, masks and breathing equipment would protect miners from dust and gas; training and enforcing mining laws would make owners follow safety rules.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: gas detection and ventilation; roof supports and inspections; protective equipment; training; enforcement of laws; rescue teams.
Q22Extraction methods and impacts · Core · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Describe two effects of limestone quarrying on the hills near large cities.[2]
(b)Explain two ways in which the damage caused by quarrying can be reduced. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Hillsides are cut away, scarring the landscape; trees and vegetation are removed, causing soil erosion; dust covers crops and homes; blasting noise and vibration disturb people and wildlife.
1 mark each.
(b) Banning quarrying in protected areas such as national parks keeps important landscapes and forests safe; requiring companies to restore quarries by filling, terracing and replanting trees after use reduces erosion and scars; spraying water on roads and using covered trucks reduces dust; setting time limits on blasting reduces disturbance.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: bans / protected areas; reclamation and replanting; dust control; regulations on blasting; locating quarries away from settlements.
Q23Extraction methods and impacts · Core · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)State two ways in which the transport of minerals can damage the environment.[2]
(b)Explain two benefits that a new mine can bring to a remote area of Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) Heavy trucks damage roads and raise dust; spills of coal or ore pollute land and water; exhaust fumes cause air pollution; new roads through forests or grazing land destroy habitats.
1 mark each.
(b) It creates jobs for local people, raising incomes and reducing the need to migrate; roads, electricity and water supplies built for the mine can also be used by villages; new shops, transport services and workshops grow to serve the mine and its workers; royalties may be spent on schools and health centres.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: jobs; infrastructure; local business; royalties / services; skills training.
Q24Extraction methods and impacts · Standard · Paper 2 style · 7 marks
(a)Khewra uses the room-and-pillar method, in which about half of the salt is left as pillars to hold up the roof. If a section of the mine contains 2 million tonnes of salt, estimate how much can be extracted.[1]
(b)Describe the room-and-pillar method of mining.[2]
(c)Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of the room-and-pillar method. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) 2 × 0.5 = 1 million tonnes
B1 1 million tonnes.
(b) Tunnels (rooms) are cut into the mineral layer in a regular grid; blocks of the mineral are left standing between them as pillars to support the roof.
B1 rooms/tunnels cut; B1 pillars left to support roof.
(c) Advantage: the pillars support the roof, so it is relatively safe and the land above does not collapse, protecting buildings and farmland. Disadvantage: a large share of the mineral is left in the pillars and never used, so the resource is wasted and the mine's output is lower.
1 mark for each point and 1 for its development, one advantage and one disadvantage.
Q25Extraction methods and impacts · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain two problems caused by using explosives (blasting) to quarry marble in Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
(b)Suggest two improvements to marble quarrying methods.[2]
Show answer
(a) Blasting cracks and shatters the stone, so a large share of the marble is wasted and only small blocks can be sold, lowering the value of exports; waste rock is dumped on slopes and in streams, blocking water channels and destroying farmland; dust and noise harm the health of workers and nearby villagers; flying rock can injure workers.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: wastage / cracked blocks; lower value; waste dumping and river pollution; dust and noise; accidents.
(b) Using diamond wire saws or chain saws to cut whole blocks; training workers in modern techniques and safety; giving loans for machinery; setting up marble cities / processing zones with modern cutting and polishing plants.
1 mark each.
Q26Extraction methods and impacts · Standard · Paper 2 style · 5 marks
Deaths recorded in coal mine accidents in one province over five years (hypothetical figures):Year 1: 48, Year 2: 61, Year 3: 39, Year 4: 72, Year 5: 55
(a)Calculate the mean number of deaths per year over the five years.[1]
(b)Calculate by what percentage the worst year was above the mean. Give your answer to one decimal place.[2]
(c)Suggest two reasons why deaths in small private coal mines remain high.[2]
Show answer
(a) 275 ÷ 5 = 55
B1 55.
(b) (72 − 55) ÷ 55 × 100 = 30.9%
M1 difference ÷ mean × 100; A1 30.9%.
(c) Mine owners use outdated methods and do not invest in safety equipment; mining laws are weakly enforced and inspections are rare; workers are poorly trained and paid by output, so they take risks; mines are remote, so rescue is slow.
1 mark each.
Q27Extraction methods and impacts · Standard · Paper 2 style · 6 marks
(a)Explain two reasons why much mining in Pakistan is still carried out by small operators using traditional methods. You should develop your answer.[4]
(b)Describe two social problems linked to small-scale mining.[2]
Show answer
(a) Many deposits such as chromite and marble occur in small, scattered pockets that large companies do not find profitable; small operators lack capital to buy machinery, so they rely on picks, shovels and blasting; mining leases are often short or insecure, so owners do not invest in long-term equipment; cheap labour is available in poor areas.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: small scattered deposits; lack of capital / credit; insecure leases; cheap labour; lack of technical knowledge.
(b) Child labour; low wages and debt bondage; poor health from dust; lack of compensation after accidents.
1 mark each.
Q28Extraction methods and impacts · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 10 marks
(a)Explain two environmental problems caused by open-cast coal mining in Thar. You should develop your answer.[4]
(b)'Open-cast mining in Thar has brought more benefits than problems to local people.' Evaluate this view.[6]
Show answer
(a) Huge amounts of overburden (sand and rock) must be removed and dumped, destroying grazing land and changing the landscape; groundwater must be pumped out of the pit, and this saline water has been stored in reservoirs, affecting nearby land and wells; dust from blasting and moving coal affects people's health and crops; coal-fired power plants nearby release smoke, ash and carbon dioxide.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: overburden dumping / loss of land; dewatering and saline effluent; lowering of water table; dust; emissions from power plants; loss of habitat.
(b) Benefits: local people have been given jobs, including as truck drivers (including women drivers), and some have received training; new roads, an airport, schools, a hospital and clean water plants have been built; compensation has been paid for land and new housing provided for some displaced families. Problems: some villages and grazing land have been lost and people have been relocated; saline water from mine dewatering has affected land; dust and pollution threaten health; many skilled jobs went to outsiders; traditional herding livelihoods are harder. Judgement: e.g. benefits are growing, but only if displaced families and herders share fairly in them.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): simple points. L2 (3–4): developed point(s) for one view, or simple points for both. L3 (5–6): developed points for both views, a named Pakistani example and a judgement.
Q29Extraction methods and impacts · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 8 marks
(a)At one block of the Thar coalfield the coal seam is about 12 m thick and lies under about 150 m of overburden. Calculate the ratio of overburden thickness to coal thickness in the form n : 1.[2]
(b)Explain how the ratio you calculated affects the cost of mining. You should develop your answer.[2]
(c)Explain two ways in which the land can be restored after open-cast mining ends. You should develop your answer.[4]
Show answer
(a) 150 ÷ 12 = 12.5 : 1
M1 150/12; A1 12.5 : 1.
(b) The higher the ratio, the more sand and rock must be removed for each tonne of coal, so fuel, machinery and labour costs per tonne rise; a high ratio makes low-value lignite less profitable.
B1 more material to remove per tonne; B1 higher cost / lower profit.
(c) The pit can be refilled with stored overburden and topsoil, then levelled so it can be used for grazing or farming; trees and grasses can be planted to stabilise the soil and prevent wind erosion; old pits can be turned into water reservoirs or fish ponds; monitoring and drainage reduce salinity in restored land.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: backfilling and replacing topsoil; replanting; reservoirs / ponds; recreation use; salinity control.
Q30Extraction methods and impacts · Challenge · Paper 2 style · 10 marks
(a)Explain two ways in which mining can affect water supplies in nearby areas. You should develop your answer.[4]
(b)'Mining companies should be made to spend part of their profits on the local communities where they work.' Evaluate this view.[6]
Show answer
(a) Pumping water out of mines lowers the water table, so nearby wells may dry up; waste water containing salts, chemicals or metals can flow into streams and soak into groundwater, making it unsafe for drinking and irrigation; processing ore (e.g. copper at Saindak) uses large amounts of scarce water in desert areas; sediment from mine waste clogs channels.
1 mark for each point and 1 mark for its development, for two points. Points: dewatering lowers water table; contamination by saline/chemical effluent; heavy water use in processing; sediment / siltation.
(b) For: local people bear the costs of dust, water loss, land loss and accidents, so they deserve schools, clinics, clean water and training; this reduces conflict and protests, making mining more secure; projects in Thar and Chagai show how community spending can improve living standards. Against: high charges may discourage investors and reduce national revenue from royalties and taxes; the government, not companies, should be responsible for services; money may be wasted or captured by local elites without proper monitoring. Judgement: e.g. a fixed share for community development, managed transparently with local people, is fair and helps mining succeed.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): simple points. L2 (3–4): developed point(s) for one view, or simple points for both. L3 (5–6): developed points for both views, a named Pakistani example and a judgement.
Similar questions
Questions that test the same subtopic in different years, grouped so you can work on one skill at a time.
References only: find each question in its paper (official link where available, otherwise through your school).
Distribution and uses of minerals3 questions · 3/5 sessions
