Chapter 15Chapter 15

Geology and Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Nonrenewable Mineral

ResourcesResources

Chapter Overview QuestionsChapter Overview Questions

What are nonrenewable mineral resources What are nonrenewable mineral resources and where are they found?and where are they found?

How do we find and extract mineral How do we find and extract mineral resources from the earth’s crust, and what resources from the earth’s crust, and what harmful environmental effects result from harmful environmental effects result from removing and using these minerals?removing and using these minerals?

Chapter Overview Questions (cont’d)Chapter Overview Questions (cont’d)

Will there be enough nonrenewable mineral Will there be enough nonrenewable mineral resources for future generations?resources for future generations?

Can we find substitutes for scarce Can we find substitutes for scarce nonrenewable mineral resources?nonrenewable mineral resources?

How can we shift to more sustainable use of How can we shift to more sustainable use of nonrenewable mineral resources?nonrenewable mineral resources?

MINERALS, ROCKS, AND THE MINERALS, ROCKS, AND THE ROCK CYCLEROCK CYCLE

The earth’s crust consists of solid inorganic The earth’s crust consists of solid inorganic elements and compounds called minerals elements and compounds called minerals that can sometimes be used as resources.that can sometimes be used as resources. Mineral resourceMineral resource: is a concentration of : is a concentration of

naturally occurring material in or on the earth’s naturally occurring material in or on the earth’s crust that can be extracted and processed into crust that can be extracted and processed into useful materials at an affordable cost.useful materials at an affordable cost.

General Classification of General Classification of Nonrenewable Mineral ResourcesNonrenewable Mineral Resources

The U.S. Geological Survey classifies The U.S. Geological Survey classifies mineral resources into four major categories:mineral resources into four major categories: IdentifiedIdentified: known location, quantity, and quality : known location, quantity, and quality

or existence known based on direct evidence and or existence known based on direct evidence and measurements.measurements.

UndiscoveredUndiscovered: potential supplies that are : potential supplies that are assumed to exist.assumed to exist.

ReservesReserves: identified resources that can be : identified resources that can be extracted profitably.extracted profitably.

Other: undiscovered or identified resources not Other: undiscovered or identified resources not classified as reservesclassified as reserves

General Classification of General Classification of Nonrenewable Mineral ResourcesNonrenewable Mineral Resources

Examples are Examples are fossil fuels (coal, fossil fuels (coal, oil), metallic oil), metallic minerals (copper, minerals (copper, iron), and iron), and nonmetallic nonmetallic minerals (sand, minerals (sand, gravel).gravel).

Figure 15-7Figure 15-7

GEOLOGIC PROCESSESGEOLOGIC PROCESSES

Deposits of nonrenewable mineral resources Deposits of nonrenewable mineral resources in the earth’s crust vary in their abundance in the earth’s crust vary in their abundance and distribution.and distribution.

A very slow chemical cycle recycles three A very slow chemical cycle recycles three types of rock found in the earth’s crust:types of rock found in the earth’s crust: Sedimentary rock (sandstone, limestone).Sedimentary rock (sandstone, limestone). Metamorphic rock (slate, marble, quartzite).Metamorphic rock (slate, marble, quartzite). Igneous rock (granite, pumice, basalt).Igneous rock (granite, pumice, basalt).

Rock CycleRock Cycle

Figure 15-8Figure 15-8

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF USING MINERAL RESOURCESUSING MINERAL RESOURCES

The extraction, processing, and use of The extraction, processing, and use of mineral resources has a large environmental mineral resources has a large environmental impact.impact.

Figure 15-9Figure 15-9

Fig. 15-10, p. 344

Natural Capital DegradationExtracting, Processing, and Using Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources

StepsSteps Environmental effectsEnvironmental effects

Mining Disturbed land; mining accidents; health hazards, mine waste dumping, oil spills and blowouts; noise; ugliness; heat

Exploration, extractionProcessing

Solid wastes; radioactive material; air, water, and soil pollution; noise; safety and health hazards; ugliness; heat

Transportation, purification, manufacturingUse

Noise; ugliness; thermal water pollution; pollution of air, water, and soil; solid and radioactive wastes; safety and health hazards; heat

Transportation or transmission to individual user, eventual use, and discarding

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF USING MINERAL RESOURCESUSING MINERAL RESOURCES

Minerals are removed through a variety of Minerals are removed through a variety of methods that vary widely in their costs, safety methods that vary widely in their costs, safety factors, and levels of environmental harm.factors, and levels of environmental harm.

A variety of methods are used based on A variety of methods are used based on mineral depth.mineral depth. Surface miningSurface mining: shallow deposits are removed.: shallow deposits are removed. Subsurface miningSubsurface mining: deep deposits are removed.: deep deposits are removed.

Open-pit MiningOpen-pit Mining

Machines dig Machines dig holes and holes and remove ores, remove ores, sand, gravel, sand, gravel, and stone.and stone.

Toxic Toxic groundwater can groundwater can accumulate at accumulate at the bottom.the bottom.

Figure 15-11Figure 15-11

Area Strip MiningArea Strip Mining

Earth movers Earth movers strips away strips away overburden, and overburden, and giant shovels giant shovels removes mineral removes mineral deposit.deposit.

Often leaves highly Often leaves highly erodible hills of erodible hills of rubble called rubble called spoil spoil banksbanks..

Figure 15-12Figure 15-12

Contour Strip MiningContour Strip Mining

Used on hilly or Used on hilly or mountainous mountainous terrain.terrain.

Unless the land is Unless the land is restored, a wall of restored, a wall of dirt is left in front dirt is left in front of a highly of a highly erodible bank erodible bank called a called a highwallhighwall..

Figure 15-13Figure 15-13

Mountaintop RemovalMountaintop Removal

Machinery Machinery removes the tops removes the tops of mountains to of mountains to expose coal.expose coal.

The resulting The resulting waste rock and waste rock and dirt are dumped dirt are dumped into the streams into the streams and valleys below.and valleys below.

Figure 15-14Figure 15-14

Mining ImpactsMining Impacts

Metal ores are Metal ores are smelted or treated smelted or treated with (potentially toxic) with (potentially toxic) chemicals to extract chemicals to extract the desired metal.the desired metal.

Figure 15-15Figure 15-15

SUPPLIES OF MINERAL SUPPLIES OF MINERAL RESOURCESRESOURCES

The future supply of a resource depends on The future supply of a resource depends on its affordable supply and how rapidly that its affordable supply and how rapidly that supply is used.supply is used.

A rising price for a scarce mineral resource A rising price for a scarce mineral resource can increase supplies and encourage more can increase supplies and encourage more efficient use.efficient use.

SUPPLIES OF MINERAL SUPPLIES OF MINERAL RESOURCESRESOURCES

Depletion curves Depletion curves for a renewable for a renewable resource using resource using three sets of three sets of assumptions. assumptions. Dashed vertical Dashed vertical

lines represent lines represent times when 80% times when 80% depletion occurs.depletion occurs.

Figure 15-16Figure 15-16

Fig. 15-16, p. 348

A Mine, use, throw away; no new discoveries; rising prices

Recycle; increase reserves by improved mining technology, higher prices, and new discoveriesB

Prod

uctio

n

Recycle, reuse, reduce consumption; increase reserves by improved mining technology, higher prices, and new discoveriesC

Present Depletion time A

Depletion time B

Depletion time C

Time

SUPPLIES OF MINERAL SUPPLIES OF MINERAL RESOURCESRESOURCES

New technologies can increase the mining of New technologies can increase the mining of low-grade ores at affordable prices, but low-grade ores at affordable prices, but harmful environmental effects can limit this harmful environmental effects can limit this approach.approach.

Most minerals in seawater and on the deep Most minerals in seawater and on the deep ocean floor cost too much to extract, and ocean floor cost too much to extract, and there are squabbles over who owns them.there are squabbles over who owns them.

Getting More Minerals from the Getting More Minerals from the OceanOcean

Hydrothermal Hydrothermal deposits form when deposits form when mineral-rich mineral-rich superheated water superheated water shoots out of vents shoots out of vents in solidified magma in solidified magma on the ocean floor.on the ocean floor.

Figure 15-17Figure 15-17

USING MINERAL RESOURCES USING MINERAL RESOURCES MORE SUSTAINABLYMORE SUSTAINABLY

Scientists and engineers are developing new Scientists and engineers are developing new types of materials as substitutes for many types of materials as substitutes for many metals.metals.

Recycling valuable and scarce metals saves Recycling valuable and scarce metals saves money and has a lower environmental impact money and has a lower environmental impact then mining and extracting them from their then mining and extracting them from their ores.ores.

Fig. 15-18, p. 351

Solutions

Sustainable Use of Nonrenewable Minerals

• Do not waste mineral resources.

• Recycle and reuse 60–80% of mineral resources.

• Include the harmful environmental costs of mining and processing minerals in the prices of items (full-cost pricing).

• Reduce subsidies for mining mineral resources.

• Increase subsidies for recycling, reuse, and finding less environmentally harmful substitutes.

• Redesign manufacturing processes to use less mineral resources and to produce less pollution and waste.

• Have the mineral-based wastes of one manufacturing process become the raw materials for other processes.

• Sell services instead of things.

• Slow population growth.

Case Study: Case Study: The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution

Growing signs point to an ecoindustrial Growing signs point to an ecoindustrial revolution taking place over the next 50 revolution taking place over the next 50 years.years.

The goal is to redesign industrial The goal is to redesign industrial manufacturing processes to mimic how manufacturing processes to mimic how nature deals with wastes.nature deals with wastes. Industries can interact in complex resource Industries can interact in complex resource

exchange webs in which wastes from exchange webs in which wastes from manufacturer become raw materials for another.manufacturer become raw materials for another.

Case Study: Case Study: The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution

Figure 15-19Figure 15-19

Fig. 15-19, p. 352

Sludge

Pharmaceutical plant Local farmersSludgeGreenhouses Waste heat

Waste heat

Waste heat

Waste heat Fish farming

Oil refinery Surplus natural gas

Electric power plant

Fly ash

Surplus sulfur

Surplus natural gas

Waste calcium sulfate

Waste heatCement manufacturer

Sulfuric acid producer

Wallboard factory Area homes