2 The photograph shows a quarry where sedimentary rock is extracted. (a) State the name of one sedimentary rock. … [1] (b) State two environmental impacts of the quarry shown in the photograph. 1 … 2 … [2] (c) Suggest ways this quarry benefits the local community. … … … … [2] [Total: 5]

2(a) limestone / sandstone / shale; 1 2(b) any two from: loss of habitat; vegetation dies / deforestation; noise / water / air / visual pollution;; 2 2(c) any two from: employment opportunities; improvements in local / national economy; improvements in facilities and infrastructure; 2

3 (a) Complete the table by putting each rock in the correct column. basalt granite marble limestone shale slate rock type igneous metamorphic sedimentary [3] (b) Describe how a sedimentary rock such as sandstone is formed. … … … … … … [3] (c) The photograph shows a quarry where gravel is extracted. truck vegetation gravel Describe the impacts of this gravel extraction on the local environment. … … … … [2] [Total: 8] Section B

3(a) rock type igneous metamorphic sedimentary basalt marble limestone granite slate shale 2 correct; 4 correct; 6 correct; 3 3(b) any three from: sediments come from, existing / eroded / weathered, rock; transported by, water / rivers / wind / ice; deposited in layers / sedimentation; compaction (of sediments); (crystals of different salts causes) cementation; 3 3(c) any two from: loss of topsoil; loss of vegetation / destruction of habitat; impact on food chain; air pollution from trucks / vehicles; noise pollution; 2

5 The photograph shows a quarry where limestone is extracted. (a) (i) State the name of the type of mining shown in the photograph. … [1] (ii) Use the photograph to explain the impacts of this mine on the local environment. … … … … … … [3] (iii) Describe how limestone rock is formed. … … … … [2] (iv) A mining company wants to open a new mine. Suggest factors that affect the decision of the mining company to open the mine. … … … … … … [3] (b) Limestone is used to make cement. The bar chart shows cement production and cement consumption in India between 2013 and 2018. (i) Identify the year with the greatest difference between production and consumption. … [1] (ii) Use data from the bar chart to describe the trend in consumption of cement in India between 2013 and 2018. … … … … [2] Content removed due to copyright restrictions. (iii) In 2018, 298 million tonnes of cement was produced. Cement production was predicted to increase by 4.5% in 2019. Calculate the predicted cement production in million tonnes for 2019. … million tonnes [2] [Total: 14]

5(a)(i) surface / opencast / open-pit / open-cut; 1 5(a)(ii) any three from: air pollution due to transport; noise pollution due to transport / blasting; habitat loss due to land clearance; loss of biodiversity due to land clearance; dust pollution due to extraction; water pollution due to leaching / run-off; 3 5(a)(iii) limestone is a sedimentary rock / formed by sedimentation; formed by the accumulation of shell (material); by compaction / weight of overlying sediment; over a long time period; 2 5(a)(iv) any three from: availability / ease of extraction / cost of extraction; accessibility / ease of transportation; environmental impact assessment / away from settlements / protected areas / local opinion; supply and demand / profitability / economic factors; supply of labour; AVP; 3 5(b)(i) 2016; 1 5(b)(ii) consumption is increasing; relevant quoted data, e.g. from 244 to 296 million tonnes / 21% increase; 2 5(b)(iii) 4.5% of 298 / 13.41; (298 + 13.41 =) 311.41 / 311 / 311.4; 2

9 (a) A student reads a blog about mineral extraction. We need minerals for many things, and mining is the primary method of extraction. • Since 1980, the amount of minerals extracted worldwide has increased by 60%. • In 2008, the annual amount of extraction was 62 billion tonnes. This is eight times the amount extracted in 1900. • It is estimated that annual extraction will be 100 billion tonnes by the year 2030. The aim of modern mining is to be sustainable. This means meeting our needs without compromising the needs of future generations. There should be a balance between economic development, environmental protection, community benefits and government responsibilities. (i) The annual amount of extraction in 2008 was 62 billion tonnes. Calculate the annual amount of extraction in 1900 in billion tonnes. … billion tonnes [1] (ii) Suggest reasons why it is important that modern mining is sustainable. … … … … [2] (iii) Describe strategies for the sustainable use of minerals. … … … … … … [3] (iv) State two strategies for restoring landscapes damaged by mineral extraction. 1 … 2 … [2] (b) A mining company is going to open a new quarry. A person living in a nearby village says: Some people in my village are unhappy about the quarry being opened, but I think everybody should be pleased there is going to be a new quarry. To what extent do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … [6] [Total: 14]

9(a)(i) 7.75; 1 9(a)(ii) any two from: to conserve resources (for future generations); amount of resources are finite; finding more resources has: environmental impact; financial impact; social impacts; 2 9(a)(iii) any three from: increased efficiency in the extraction of minerals; increased efficiency in the use of minerals; recycling of minerals; use other alternatives (if suitable); laws / legislation / rules; reducing outputs / waste; reducing inputs / energy / water; reducing footprint / infrastructure; 3 9(a)(iv) any two from: land restoration; soil improvement; bioremediation; tree planting; making lakes and nature reserves; using as landfill sites; 2 9(b) Level of response marked question: Level 3 [5–6 marks] A coherent response is given that develops and supports the candidate’s conclusion using relevant details and examples. Indicative content and subject-specific vocabulary are generally used precisely and accurately. Good responses are likely to present a balanced evaluation of the statement. Level 2 [3–4 marks] Development and support of the conclusion is evident, though the response may lack some coherence and / or detail. Irrelevant detail may be present. Indicative content and subject-specific vocabulary are used but may lack some precision and / or accuracy. Responses contain evaluation of the statement, but this may not be balanced. Level 1 [1–2 marks] The response may be limited in development and / or support. Contradictions and / or irrelevant detail may be present. Indicative content and subject-specific vocabulary may be limited or absent. Responses may lack structure or be in the form of a list. Evaluation may be limited or absent. No response or no creditable response [0 marks] 6 9(b) Indicative content for: Some people in my village are unhappy about the quarry being opened, but I think everybody should be pleased there is going to be a new quarry. reasons to be pleased: employment; improvement to infrastructure, e.g. power supplies roads etc.; improvement to facilities, e.g. improved transport; economy of the town / more money spent in the town; provide a source of energy for cooking / heating; provide materials for building; opportunities to supply the mine / workers with services; reasons to be unhappy: pollution / dust can cause health problems; visual pollution from spoil heaps; noise from quarry and transport; road congestion from transport; damage to environment; deforestation; loss of farmland; need to relocate homes; loss of existing jobs; mineral extraction is dangerous; insufficient accommodation for influx of workers resulting in informal settlements;

2 The Dominican Republic has one of the world’s largest surface gold mines. The drawing shows part of this surface mine. In 2018, the government was asked to give a licence for the first subsurface (underground) gold mine in the Dominican Republic. The subsurface mine is expected to work for seven years. The cost of developing this mine is expected to be paid back in three years. (a) The world gold price between 2012 and 2019 is shown in the table. year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 world gold price / 1000 USD per kg 50 53 38 38 34 36 40 40 (i) On the grid, plot a graph of world gold price against year. [4] (ii) Suggest why the mining company thinks that the cost of developing the subsurface mine can be paid back in three years. Use the data to support your answer. … … … … [2] (b) (i) Suggest reasons why a subsurface mine is expected to cause less damage to the environment than the surface mine shown in the drawing. … … … … … … [3] (ii) Suggest two benefits of the proposed subsurface mine to local people. … … … … [2] (iii) A mining licence is only given if the mining company agrees to be responsible for the site for several years after the mine has closed. Suggest reasons why. … … … … [2] [Total: 13]

2(a)(i) x-axis labelled ‘year’ AND y-axis labelled ‘(world gold) price / 1000 USD per kg’; linear scale such that plots occupy at least half of grid; 6 plots correct; 8 plots correct; 4 2(a)(ii) any two from: price unlikely to fall / price won’t go below 34 ($) / no fluctuation / price similar; price increasing (in last 4 years); price was high in, 2012 / 2013 AND could be this high again; costs (of mine) are less than profit / eq.; company thinks, there is lots of gold underground / more gold will be extracted; AVP; 2 2(b)(i) any three from with a subsurface mine, less / fewer: ground cleared / deforestation; habitats destroyed; impact on, biodiversity / food chains / animals being scared away; dust / debris; waste piles / overburden; noise; surface run off; so less chance of water pollution; visual pollution; 3 2(b)(ii) any two from: employment opportunities / increased income; locals trained to be skilled workers / learn to use complex machines; better infrastructure; improved local economy / more money for local people; AVP; 2 2(b)(iii) any two from: to make sure the company pays for the restoration / so the government doesn’t pay for restoration; to minimise / deter, damage to, land / habitats / biodiversity; to allow time for restoration / because damage continues after mining stops; to encourage company to, keep site pollution-free / dispose safely of waste; 2

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management · 0680

IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) Rocks and minerals and their exploitation past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) — Rocks and minerals and their exploitation with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

27 free questions from 2019–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Rocks and minerals and their exploitation in IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Rocks and minerals and their exploitation accounted for 60 questions worth 835 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) papers.