Chapter 4 Earth’s Resources

4.1 Energy & Mineral Resources

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources A renewable resource can be

replenished over a short period of time (Months, years, or decades)

A nonrenewable resource takes millions of years to form and accumulate

Examples

Renewable Plants for food Animals for food Natural Fibers for

clothing Trees for lumber/paper Water Wind Sun

Non - Renewable

When the current supply run out there will not be anymore

Why is this a problem? Fossil Fuels

Coal Oil (Petroleum) Natural Gas

Fossil Fuels Any hydrocarbon that may be used as a source of

energy Coal

Primarily used to generate electricity Scars the land Dangerous Air pollution (High Sulfate)

Petroleum Natural Gas

Oil trap – geological structure that allows large amounts of fluids to accumulate

Stops upward movement of oil and gas

Tar Sands & Oil Shale Some energy experts believe that fuels coming

from tar sands and oil shales could be good substitutes for lowering petroleum supplies

Tar sands are mixtures of clay & sand combined with water 7 black tar

The oil in tar sands are not easily pumped out Problems

Land disturbance Lots of water Contaminated water

Oil Shale is a rock that contains a waxy mixture of hydrocarbons called kerogen.

Oil Shale is heated to vaporize kerogen Kerogen vapors are processed to remove

impurities Around half of the world’s supply is in the

Green River Formation of Colorado, Utah, & Wyoming Problem? YES b/c of lower water amounts in

the Green River Formation

Formation of Mineral Deposits Important mineral deposits form by igneous

processes & from hydrothermal solutions Igneous processes produce important

deposits of metallic minerals Hydrothermal solutions generate important

ore deposits Placer Deposits form when eroded heavy

materials settle fast from moving water while less dense particles remain still and settle

Nonmetallic Mineral Resources Extracted & processed either for the

nonmetallic elements they contain or for their physical & chemical properties

Ex) Fluorite & Limestone Two Groups

Building Materials Industrial Minerals

Not abundant as building materials

4.2 Alternate Energy Sources

Solar Energy 2 advantages – “fuel” is free & non-polluting Passive Solar Collectors (south-facing windows) Roof top devices Heat water Photovoltaic (Solar) Cells = electricity Problems?

Equipment is not cheap Supplemental unit needed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngqYjHfr98 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eINAuYg-ftM

Nuclear Energy Nuclear fission, the nuclei of heavy

atoms are bombarded with neutrons. The nuclei split into smaller nuclei & emit neutrons and heat energy

Cost is high Dangerous Accidents with radioactive materials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

_UwexvaCMWA

Wind Energy Sailing Ships Windmills 1980 Federal Govn’t started wind

program systems Estimate that the next 50-60 years,

wind power could meet btw 5-10 % of the country’s demand for electricity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYYHfMCw-FI

Geothermal Energy Hot water is used directly for heating and to

turn turbines to generate electric power Underground reservoirs of steam and hot

water are tapped into Not expected to provide a large % of the

growing needs for energy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

rfUQy86ZMpQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

uVDBRQvBVso

Hydroelectric Power Falling Water = energy The water held in a reservoir behind a

dam is a form of stored energy that can be released through the dam to produce electric power Water is renewable but the dam has a

limited lifetime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

rnPEtwQtmGQ

Tidal Power Ocean’s energy potential is still

untapped Harnessed by constructing a dam across

the mouth of a bay or estuary in coastal areas. The strong in – out flow that results drive the turbines & electric generators

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBACzRE3Gw