UNIT OVERVIEW

Every time you hold a gold ring, fill a car with petrol, or switch on a light, you are using resources from the lithosphere — Earth's rocky outer layer. South Africa sits on some of the world's richest mineral deposits. Understanding how we access and process these resources matters for science, industry, and informed citizenship.

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

• Describe the layered structure of the Earth and the composition of the lithosphere
• Explain the chemical processes for extracting gold using the carbon-in-pulp (CIP) method
• Write and balance chemical equations for gold dissolution and recovery
• Describe the formation and extraction of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas)
• Evaluate the environmental impacts of mining and fossil fuel use
• Apply stoichiometric calculations to industrial chemical processes

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