Theory question 112
West Africa and ECOWAS(a) On an outline map of Africa, mark and name (i) one area important for gold in Ghana, (ii) one area important for petroleum in Libya (iii) one area important for copper in Zaire (iv) one important town in each area
(b) Using specific examples, show how mining has contributed to economic development in West Africa
(c) In what four ways has mining posed a problem to the environment in West Africa?
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(a) Map: gold – Obuasi/Tarkwa (Ghana); petroleum – Sirte basin, e.g. Zelten/Sidra (Libya); copper – Katanga/Shaba (Lubumbashi, Kolwezi) in Zaire
(b) Foreign exchange (oil in Nigeria, iron ore in Liberia, bauxite in Guinea, gold in Ghana); employment; growth of towns (Jos, Enugu, Tarkwa); raw materials and power for industry; roads/railways built to mines; government revenue for social services
(c) Land degradation – open pits and mine spoil (Jos tin mines); water pollution and oil spillage (Niger Delta); air pollution from dust and gas flaring; deforestation and loss of farmland; soil erosion and abandoned pits/ponds breeding mosquitoes
Use named minerals and countries in (b).