Chapter 4 Earth’s Resources

1. Chapter 4 Earth’s Resources

2. 4.1 Energy & Mineral Resources

3. 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

4. Examples Renewable • Plants for food • Animals for food • Natural Fibers for clothing • Trees for lumber/paper • Water • Wind • Sun

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 4.2 Alternate Energy Sources

12. 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

13. 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

14. Wind Energy • Sailing Ships • Windmills • 1980 Federal Govn’tstarted 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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