Nonrenewable Resources
What are nonrenewable resources? Provide examples.
Nonrenewable resources are natural resources that cannot be replenished within a human timescale, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and minerals like uranium.
Renewable Resources
What are renewable resources? Provide examples.
Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over short periods, such as solar energy, wind energy, and biomass.
Sustainable Resources
What is a sustainable resource? Provide examples.
A sustainable resource is one that is used and managed in a way that meets current needs without compromising future availability, such as sustainably harvested timber and fish from well-managed fisheries.
Nonrenewable Resources and Sustainability
Is it possible to make a nonrenewable resource sustainable? Why or why not?
It is generally not possible to make a nonrenewable resource sustainable because they are finite and will eventually run out, though we can manage their use to minimize environmental impact.
Rocks as Natural Resources
Why are rocks considered a natural resource?
Rocks are considered a natural resource because they contain valuable minerals and materials that can be extracted for various uses, including construction and manufacturing.
Minerals
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.
Mineral Resource
What is a mineral resource? Provide an example.
A mineral resource is a concentration of minerals that can be economically extracted from the Earth, such as iron ore.
Ores
What is an ore? Provide an example. Is every mineral an ore?
An ore is a type of rock that contains sufficient minerals with valuable components that can be extracted, like bauxite for aluminum; not every mineral is an ore, as some do not contain economically viable amounts of valuable metals.
Common Minerals
Identify a few common minerals and their uses from the provided table.
Aluminum (bauxite) is used for automobile manufacture, copper is used for electric wires, and gypsum is used for wallboard and cement production.
Fossil Fuels
What are fossil fuels? Provide examples.
Fossil fuels are natural substances formed from ancient organic materials, consisting mainly of coal, oil, and natural gas.
Fossil Fuels: Renewable or Nonrenewable?
Are fossil fuels renewable or nonrenewable? Why?
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable because they take millions of years to form and are consumed faster than they can be replenished.
Formation of Fossil Fuels
What is the link between living things that died long ago and fossil fuels?
The link lies in the decomposition of ancient organic matter, such as plants and animals, which over millions of years, transformed under heat and pressure into fossil fuels.
Crude Oil
What is crude oil? Where is it found? What are some products produced by refining crude oil?
Crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel found deep beneath the Earth's surface, and refining it produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and various petrochemicals.
Carbon Source
What is the source of the carbon that is burned in fossil fuels?
The carbon burned in fossil fuels originates from the organic matter of ancient plants and animals that were buried and transformed over time.
Coal
Is coal renewable or nonrenewable? Explain your thinking.
Coal is nonrenewable because it forms over millions of years and cannot be regenerated on a human timescale after extraction.
Uses of Coal
What is coal primarily used for?
Coal is primarily used for electricity generation and as a fuel in industrial processes.
Energy Exploration Concerns
What is one potential issue/concern about drilling for crude oil?
One potential issue is the risk of oil spills, which can cause severe environmental damage to marine and coastal ecosystems.
Fracking
What is fracking?
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting oil and natural gas by injecting high-pressure fluid into underground rock formations.
Concerns with Fracking
What is one potential issue/concern with fracking?
One concern with fracking is the potential for groundwater contamination from chemicals used in the process.
Bitumen
What is Bitumen, where is it found and how is it used?
Bitumen is a thick, sticky form of crude oil found in tar sands, and it is primarily used in road construction and roofing.
Coal Extraction
Where do we find coal and how do we obtain this resource?
Coal is typically found in underground seams or surface deposits and is obtained through surface mining or underground mining techniques.
Nuclear Power
How does a nuclear power plant produce energy?
A nuclear power plant produces energy by initiating nuclear fission reactions in uranium fuel, which generates heat to produce steam that drives turbines.
Environmental Dangers of Energy Resources
List the benefits of one energy resource as well as the harm that mining it or drilling for it can cause to the environment.
For solar energy, the benefits include being renewable and producing no emissions, while the harm can include land degradation and habitat loss during panel installation.
Soil
What is soil?
Soil is a natural resource composed of mineral and organic matter, air, and water that supports plant life.
Hummus
What is hummus?
Hummus is a rich organic component of soil formed by the decomposition of plant and animal material.
Soil Horizons
Layer O is _______________ it is important because…
Layer O is the organic horizon rich in decomposed plant material; it is important because it provides essential nutrients for plant growth.
Layer A is _______________ it is important because…
Layer A is the topsoil layer; it is important because it contains the highest concentration of organic matter and nutrients.
Layer C is _______________ it is important because…
Layer C is the weathered rock layer; it is important as it provides minerals and contributes to soil formation.
Layer R is _______________ it is important because…
Layer R is the bedrock layer; it is important because it serves as the parent material from which soil layers are developed.
Importance of Soil
Why/how is soil an important resource?
Soil is crucial for agriculture, as it hosts the nutrients and organisms necessary for plant growth and supports ecosystems.
Soil as Nonrenewable Resource
Why is soil essentially a nonrenewable natural resource?
Soil is considered a nonrenewable resource because its formation takes thousands of years, and it can be easily depleted through erosion and mismanagement.
Conservation
What does “conservation” mean?
Conservation refers to the responsible use and management of natural resources to prevent depletion and ensure their availability for future generations.
Conservation of Metals
Why should we be focused on the conservation of metals?
Focusing on the conservation of metals is crucial because their extraction can harm the environment, and recycling metals reduces the need for mining.
Conservation Practices
Conservation of resources includes several things. They include:
- Reducing resource consumption
- Recycling materials
- Using renewable resources
Efficient Resource Use
What does it mean to use a resource more efficiently?
Using a resource more efficiently means utilizing the resource in a manner that maximizes output while minimizing waste and environmental impact.
Recycling Effectiveness
How can recycling help with the conservation of resources? According to the text, how effective is recycling?
Recycling helps conserve resources by reducing the demand for new raw materials, and it is highly effective, reducing waste and energy consumption.
Clean Air Act
Explain the Clean Air Act. What was/is the goal?
The Clean Air Act is a federal law aimed at reducing air pollution and protecting public health and the environment by setting air quality standards.
Clean Water Act
Explain the Clean Water Act. What was/is the goal?
The Clean Water Act is aimed at restoring and maintaining the integrity of the nation's waters by regulating discharges of pollutants and ensuring water quality.
Deposits
What are deposits?
Deposits are accumulations of minerals, ores, or other geological materials that can be economically extracted from the Earth.
Minerals Underground
What are some examples of minerals found underground?
Examples of minerals found underground include gold, silver, copper, and graphite.
Drilling Technology
What technology allows engineers to penetrate rock at multiple angles?
Advanced drilling technology, such as rotary drilling and directional drilling, allows engineers to penetrate rock at multiple angles.
Factors for Drill Selection
What two factors determine the type of drill needed?
The two factors that determine the type of drill needed are the type of rock being drilled and the depth of the deposit.
Importance of Drilling Technology
Why might using technology for drilling be an important part of the mining process?
Using technology for drilling can improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and allow access to deeper or more difficult deposits.
Types of Mining
Explain surface mining, underground mining, and placer mining.
Surface mining involves removing the overburden to access minerals near the surface; underground mining involves digging tunnels or shafts to reach deeper deposits; placer mining involves extracting minerals from riverbeds or sediments through hydraulic methods.