Geology, Energy & Mineral Resources: A Comprehensive Overview

1. GY111 Physical Geology Energy and Mineral Resources

2. Resources & Reserves • Energy & Mineral Resources: educated guesses on remaining deposits • Reserves: proven by drilling and/or geophysical prospecting • Non-renewable: once used will not be replaced because of long generation cycle (i.e. Petroleum, Coal, Ore Deposits)

3. U.S. Energy Consumption • Exponential growth of demand matches population growth

4. Global Energy Consumption • India & China are major consumers of developing countries

5. Combustion • Combustion oxidizes a chemical compound releasing energy • By-products include CO2 and H2O • Example: CH4 + 2(O2) = CO2 + 2H2O • Example: 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O • Note that the only product is water • Unfortunately coal and gasoline have other components (N,S) that produce pollutants (NO2,H2SO4,H2S,etc.) • Coal is by far the “dirtiest” fossil fuel, methane the “cleanest”

6. Potential Energy Resources • Based on educated guesses!

7. Global Distribution of Petroleum Resources • Middle East Dominates this Resource

8. Decline of Petroleum as an Energy Resource • US production peaked in 1970’s • World production is peaking now (2006)

9. Formation of Coal

10. U.S. Coal Resources

11. Traps for Oil & Gas Resources • Various types of traps for oil and natural gas • Anticlinal • Fault • Stratigraphic • Salt Dome

12. Proven tech., easy transport Abundant in US, 200 year supply Clean, easy transport Proven tech., very efficient, no pollution, 500 year supply from US reserves Decreasing supply, pollutes Dirty, difficult to transport Decreasing supply Radioactive waste Energy Fact Matrix Advantages Disadvantages Petroleum Coal Natural Gas Nuclear

13. Detrimental Effects of Fossil Fuel Consumption • Disruption of environment from extraction • Pollution • Climate Change • Over consumption of a non-renewable resource

14. Climate Change Potential

15. Mineral Resources • Non-energy mineral resources are critical to modern technology. • The U.S. imports the majority of these resources. • Mineral resources are generally non-renewable but they are often recyclable.

16. Many ore deposits are hydrothermal • Ore deposit: can be mined at a profit • Mineral deposit: cannot be mined at a profit • Ore reserves: accurate assessment of future production • Ore resources: rough estimate of future production

17. Open-Pit Mining • Environmentally destructive • Processes large volumes of low-grade ore

18. South Africa Mineral Resources • By far the richest country in terms of mineral resources • Many are in Precambrian shield regions • Metallic Deposits: Gold, Platinum, Chrome, Silver, Copper

19. Non-Metallic Resources • Calcite • Gem stones • Asbestos

20. Exam Review • Know definitions of energy reserves, resources, non-renewable, etc. • Know ranking of future potential energy resources • Know the ranking of the 2015 global energy consumers • Be familiar with the various types of combustion reactions and the advantages/disadvantages of each • Be familiar with the global distribution of petroleum production • Be familiar with the energy fact matrix • Know examples of metallic versus non-metallic mineral resources