The Earth’s crust contains The Earth’s crust contains more than 3,000 useful more than 3,000 useful minerals that are finite—they minerals that are finite—they are are nonrenewablenonrenewable—they —they cannot be replaced once they cannot be replaced once they have been used.have been used.  

Unlike trees, which are Unlike trees, which are considered considered renewablerenewable, , because more can be planted because more can be planted to replace those which have to replace those which have been cut down, and air and been cut down, and air and water which are recycled, water which are recycled, mineralsminerals are formed through are formed through processes which take millions processes which take millions of years.of years.  

Formation of OresFormation of Ores  oresores - natural mineral - natural mineral deposdeposits its in high in high concentration from which concentration from which metals and non-mentals can metals and non-mentals can be profitably extractedbe profitably extracted

Ex: Hematite – iron oreEx: Hematite – iron ore

  

Some mineral deposits that Some mineral deposits that are classified as ores today are classified as ores today weren’t considered ores weren’t considered ores before and vice versa. before and vice versa.

This is because the world This is because the world politics, economics, and the politics, economics, and the technologies of recovery have technologies of recovery have changed.changed.  

Drilling is very Drilling is very expensive, but it expensive, but it is the only way is the only way to determine the to determine the presence and quality of the presence and quality of the ore and the size of the ore and the size of the deposit.deposit.

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Mining Mining techniquestechniques: :

underground underground mining mining

open pit/ surface miningopen pit/ surface mining

(Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah)(Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah)

Undersea MiningUndersea Mining

The ocean floor contains significant mineral resources.

Problems with this method:1. cost of drilling

underwater2. great water depths to get

deposits

SmeltingSmelting

Process of melting crushed ore at high temperatures to separate impurities from molten metal.

MineralMineral

Naturally occurring Inorganic Solid Chemical composition Internal structure

Amethyst

Although mining and Although mining and mineral processing mineral processing technologies have become technologies have become cheaper and more efficient in cheaper and more efficient in allowing extraction from low allowing extraction from low grade ores, there is a limit grade ores, there is a limit below which a particular below which a particular mineral cannot be profitably mineral cannot be profitably recovered.recovered.

We should be using minerals We should be using minerals in proportion to their in proportion to their availability, but seem to be availability, but seem to be doing just the opposite!doing just the opposite!  

Economic and Political Economic and Political Issues Issues of Mineral Resources of Mineral Resources  Since tectonic forces have Since tectonic forces have not evenly distributed mineral not evenly distributed mineral resources across the globe, resources across the globe, some must be imported, while some must be imported, while those that occur in greater those that occur in greater abundance can be exported. abundance can be exported.   

Although the U.S. is still rich Although the U.S. is still rich in mineral resources, many in mineral resources, many are imported for reasons of are imported for reasons of governmental policy and governmental policy and economics.economics.

A A strategic mineralstrategic mineral is one that is one that has been determined to be has been determined to be essential to the functioning of essential to the functioning of our economy and military our economy and military capabilities, but which is not capabilities, but which is not mined/produced in the United mined/produced in the United States to meet such needs.States to meet such needs.

It is “stockpiled”— enough of It is “stockpiled”— enough of the mineral is kept available the mineral is kept available for the duration of a three-for the duration of a three-year conventional war.year conventional war.

  

Many Third World countries Many Third World countries have mineral resources which have mineral resources which have only begun to be have only begun to be recovered for much-needed recovered for much-needed revenue. revenue.

Unfortunately, environmental Unfortunately, environmental damage, pollution, and the damage, pollution, and the disruption of the lives of disruption of the lives of native peoples have resulted.native peoples have resulted.  

Non Renewable/ Non Renewable/ RenewableRenewable

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable EnergyEnergy can run out. can run out. Examples: coal, oil, natural gasExamples: coal, oil, natural gas

Renewable Renewable EnergyEnergy can be used over can be used over and over again and never runs out. and over again and never runs out.

Examples: solar power, water Examples: solar power, water power, wind powerpower, wind power

FOSSIL FUELSFOSSIL FUELS - the - the remains of ancient plants remains of ancient plants and/or animals, which and/or animals, which when burnedwhen burned release release heat and light energiesheat and light energies

coal, crude oil coal, crude oil (petroleum), and natural (petroleum), and natural gas gas

  

hydrocarbonshydrocarbons - that group of - that group of chemical compounds which chemical compounds which consist primarily of hydrogen consist primarily of hydrogen and carbonand carbon  

CoalCoal - a combustible, - a combustible, sedimentary and sedimentary and metamorphic rock metamorphic rock composed of carbon, composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfursulfur, , nitrogen, and various nitrogen, and various trace elementstrace elements  

Complex chemical and Complex chemical and physical changes over physical changes over millions of years millions of years converted the converted the trees, ferns, trees, ferns, and other plantsand other plants which which flourished in prehistoric flourished in prehistoric swamps, into coal. swamps, into coal.

Near anaerobic conditions of Near anaerobic conditions of these waters prevented the these waters prevented the dead plants from being dead plants from being completely decomposed, and completely decomposed, and the coal deposits used today the coal deposits used today are a result of their are a result of their carbonization. carbonization.

Coal is Coal is found found in 32 in 32 eastern eastern counties, is counties, is Ohio’s Ohio’s most most valuable valuable energy energy resource, resource, and is the nation’s most and is the nation’s most abundant fuel.abundant fuel.

Coal is found on all Coal is found on all continents, but almost continents, but almost 2/3 of the known 2/3 of the known deposits are found in the deposits are found in the US, Russia, and China.  US, Russia, and China.  

Scientists estimate that Scientists estimate that the world’s coal reserves the world’s coal reserves will last about 200 years.will last about 200 years.

There are four stages for There are four stages for the formation of coal, each the formation of coal, each of which can be used as a of which can be used as a fuel, and with increasing fuel, and with increasing heat energy output from heat energy output from peat through anthracite.peat through anthracite.

  PPetroleumetroleum OilOil & & NaturalNatural gasgas Oil and gas are our most Oil and gas are our most important fossil fuels, important fossil fuels, obtained from wells, tar obtained from wells, tar sands, and oil shale. sands, and oil shale.

Made from marine life Made from marine life called diatoms, which are called diatoms, which are like tiny plants and like tiny plants and animalsanimals

  

They are also of They are also of prehistoric origin, formed prehistoric origin, formed from the bodies of marine from the bodies of marine invertebrates and plants invertebrates and plants which were buried in marine which were buried in marine sediments, then changed by sediments, then changed by pressure and heat over time. pressure and heat over time.

  

Formation of oil and gasFormation of oil and gas

As the biotic materials changed As the biotic materials changed from solids to liquids and gases, from solids to liquids and gases, they began to migrate upwards they began to migrate upwards through cracks or permeable through cracks or permeable strata until they were stopped by strata until they were stopped by impermeable layers of rock impermeable layers of rock (usually shale)--the “cap rock”--(usually shale)--the “cap rock”--in geological formations called in geological formations called “traps”.“traps”.

Anticline Oil TrapAnticline Oil Trap

  

Once located and Once located and pumped out of the pumped out of the ground, the gas and ground, the gas and water would be water would be separated, then the separated, then the crude oil would go to the crude oil would go to the refineryrefinery

Different products of oilDifferent products of oil

Products made from Products made from PetroleumPetroleum

Ink Crayons Bubble gum Dishwashing liquids Deodorant Eyeglasses CDs and DVDs Tires Ammonia Heart valves

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Natural gas supplies Natural gas supplies about about 25%25% of US energy of US energy needs, and is a preferred needs, and is a preferred source of fuel because it source of fuel because it is:is:- Cleaner burning- Cleaner burning- Easier to transport in - Easier to transport in pipelinespipelines- Has a significantly - Has a significantly lower cost lower cost when compared to fuels when compared to fuels delivering equal Btu delivering equal Btu values (heat output)values (heat output)

((BtuBtu = British thermal = British thermal unit = amount of energy unit = amount of energy needed to raise the needed to raise the temperature of one temperature of one pound of water 1 degree pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit)Fahrenheit)  

  

Scientists estimate that about Scientists estimate that about 75% of the petroleum and 75% of the petroleum and natural gas in the US has natural gas in the US has already been discovered, but already been discovered, but that there are undiscovered that there are undiscovered supplies along the continental supplies along the continental shelf.shelf.

What can we do?What can we do?

There are many ways to help protect our natural resources.

Can you think of an action that you do already to protect our minerals or fossil fuels from running out?

ConservationConservation  Because mineral resources Because mineral resources are are finitefinite (nonrenewable), (nonrenewable), they must be conserved by they must be conserved by this and future generations.this and future generations.  

They may become lost from They may become lost from an economic aspect, but we an economic aspect, but we can use technology to can use technology to recover and reuse them, by recover and reuse them, by buying products made from buying products made from recycled materials. recycled materials.

What do you think?What do you think?

Most of our mineral resources are located Most of our mineral resources are located in the public lands of Western US and in the public lands of Western US and Alaska—3/4 of these public lands are now Alaska—3/4 of these public lands are now off limits.off limits.

Should we ruin these landscapes to Should we ruin these landscapes to keep our luxury lifestyle? When will keep our luxury lifestyle? When will it be ok to ruin them?it be ok to ruin them?

So until then----the way to So until then----the way to help conserve the mineral help conserve the mineral resources we have is:resources we have is:  recyclingrecycling to reuse mineral to reuse mineral products;products;

redesigningredesigning products to products to reduce mineral requirements;reduce mineral requirements;

substitutingsubstituting more common more common minerals when possibleminerals when possible and andreclaimingreclaiming the mined land the mined land

11:4 ALTERNATIVE

ENERGY SOURCES 

Direct Solar Energy - taking the energy straight from the Sun and using it—but this energy is difficult to collect, convert, concentrate and store.

passive solar energy - the method of using the Sun’s radiant energy which requires no other energy input 

It has been used since ancient times, such as the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde.

The openings in the cliff faces were warmed during the day, but shaded from the direct rays, and would radiate heat stored in the rock during the evening.

Cold-blooded animals, such as insects and reptiles, will sun themselves to increase their body temperatures.

active solar energy - requires some energy input to operate fans or pumps

President Barack Obama, checked out the President Barack Obama, checked out the solar panels at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada solar panels at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in May of 2009in May of 2009

 

Usually there is some kind of solar energy collector—a solar panel—through which water or air is circulated. The heat energy is then transported and released where it is needed in the building.

photovoltaic cell (solar cell) - device which converts solar energy directly to electricity; unfortunately, they are expensive

Besides the fossil fuels which have already been discussed previously, another form of stored solar energy is:

biomass - organic material which can be used as fuel to generate heat or electricity 

One advantage of biomass is that is renewable.

The burning of wood and animal dung is the major source of energy for most of the world.

hydroelectric power - using the kinetic energy of moving or falling water to generate electricity 

People harnessed this energy early in their history, as currents in rivers were used to carry boats or turn water/mill wheels. 

wind power - using the winds (caused by uneven heating of the Earth’s surface) to generate electricity or run pumps. 

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY - use of the Earth’s internal temperatures to heat, cool, or

generate electricity 

Water is pumped into the ground through pipes where it will release heat picked up from a building or absorb heat from magma sources to be circulated. 

The ground stays about 22C (55F) which allows it to supplement a home heating or cooling system.  

Iceland, uses geothermal energy extensively—since it sits on top of the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, the ground has an ‘endless’ supply of heat energy which can be used to heat buildings or generate electricity. 

TIDAL POWER - using the differences in tide levels to power electrical generators

There must be extreme differences between high and low tides. 

Tidal power plants have been built in France, Canada, and Russia, but this source of power is limited to the very few areas of the world which have the extreme difference between high and low tides necessary to run a plant using tidal power.