These Are Weekly Extraalternative Credit Assignments Open To Everyone These are weekly extra/alternative credit assignments open to everyone. These assignments should take the form of a short essay with references. See the Critical Writing Rubric (Course Resources Module, below) for more details. They should be typed-up as a word document (.doc, .docx) and uploaded to Canvas by the posted due date. **Prompt/Question for Critical Writing Assignment 1:** Research a mine (active or abandoned) near where you live. Find at least one article on the mine. Summarize what is mined there, how much economic activity it supports, what environmental issues arise from the mine, and what if anything is being done about it (find a second article if the first one doesn't address this). Do you think that the mine is 'worth it'? What do you think could be done better, if anything? Use the CRITICAL WRITING GUIDELINES AND RUBRIC (see below) to evaluate the authors and apply skepticism to their positions.
### Paper For Above instruction Introduction Mining has long played a vital role in supporting economic development and technological progress, providing essential raw materials for industries, infrastructure, and everyday products. Near sedentary populations, mines—whether active or abandoned—significantly influence local economies and environments. This essay explores a mine near my location, synthesizing information from relevant articles to understand its operations, economic contributions, environmental impacts, and the measures taken to mitigate adverse effects. Additionally, it critically evaluates the sources of information and reflects on whether the mine's benefits justify its costs, proposing potential improvements where applicable. Case Study: The [Name of the Mine] The selected mine is located in [location], where it primarily extracts [main minerals/materials]. According to [Author, Year], the mine has supported substantial economic activity, providing employment for over [number] individuals and generating approximately [amount] in revenue annually. The minerals extracted include [list minerals], which sustain local industries and contribute to national export revenues. However, the environmental footprint of the mine presents significant concerns such as habitat destruction, water