Chapter 4 – Earth’s ResourcesChapter 4 – Earth’s ResourcesEarth Science

Section 4.1 Energy and Mineral Resources

Section 4.1 Energy and Mineral Resources

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources 4.1Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources 4.1• Renewable – replenished over fairly short time

– Ex: plants, animals, natural fibers, trees, water, wind, and sun

• Nonrenewable – take millions of years to form– Ex: coal, oil, natural gases, iron, copper, uranium,

and gold

• Increase for demand– 6% of population lives in US we use 30% of

annual production of mineral and energy resources

Fossil Fuelscoal, oil, natural gas 4.1

Fossil Fuelscoal, oil, natural gas 4.1

• Hydrocarbon used for energy source• Coal – forms when heat and pressure change

plants over time– 4 stages of development

1. Peat – partially decayed plants2. Lignite – sedimentary rock called brown coal3. Bituminous Coal, or soft coal - sedimentary4. Anthracite Coal, or hard coat – metamorphic

• Releases most heat/energy when burned

• Power plants mostly use coal• Surface mining – harms land• Burning = air pollution (high in Sulfur acid rain)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgrUwPWjj2Q 10 minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZS2Klye00A – 1 minute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNSQvh08OD0 – 8 minutes

• Petroleum – oil and Natural Gas– Remains of plants and animals buried under

ocean –floor sediments• Chemical reaction occurs• Squeezed and moved to permeable beds• Less dense than water

Tar Sands and Oil Shale 4.1Tar Sands and Oil Shale 4.1• Tar sands

– Mixture of clay and sand combined with water and varying amounts of bitumen (thick tar)

– Occurs in sand, sandstone, shale, and limestone– More resistant to flow– Canada has largest deposits– Mined at surface

• Causes great land disturbance

• Oil Shale– Rock that contains waxy mixture of hydrocarbons called

kerogen– Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming have ½ world’s supply– Part of sedimentary layers– Currently, it is unprofitable to mine

Formation of Mineral Deposits 4.1Formation of Mineral Deposits 4.1• Ore – useful metallic mineral that can be mined

• Important mineral deposits form thru igneous process and hydrothermal solutions– Igneous process = gold, silver, copper, mercury,

lead, platinum, and nickel– Hydrothermal solution = gold, lead, zinc, silver

Placer Deposits 4.1Placer Deposits 4.1• Settling of sediments according to density

• Minerals are normally durable and chemically resistant

• Common in steam bends, cracks, depressions

• Gold = CA Gold Rush

Nonmetallic Mineral Resources 4.1Nonmetallic Mineral Resources 4.1

• Ex: fluorite and limestone– Used for steelmaking an d fertilizers

• 2 categories– Building material

• Crushed stone, sand, gravel• Limestone – used as crushed rock and stone and

in cement

– Industrial material • Limestone – manufacture of steel and neutralizes

acidic soil• Normally not as abundant

Alternative Energy Sources 4.2Alternative Energy Sources 4.2

• Nonrenewable energy supplies world about 90% of energy– May only last 170 years

Solar Energy 4.2Solar Energy 4.2• Direct use of sun’s rays to supply heat or electricity• 2 advantages: fuel free, non-pollutant• Passive Solar Collectors – do not move

– Ex: window

• Active Solar Collectors –circulate air/liquids thru piping• Photovoltaic Cells- convert sun energy directly into

electricity – Ex: calculator

• Drawbacks– Cloudy days

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYBj1sEWkzU5.5 minutes

Nuclear Energy 4.2Nuclear Energy 4.2• Meets 7% US energy demands• Nuclear FiSSion – nuclei of Uranium-235

bombarded with neutrons and split, releasing energy chain reaction atomic explosion– Controled in nuclear reactor = releases great amount

of heat steam turns a turbine

• Draw backs– Cost– Hazards– Radioactive material

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjgdgAhOzXQ3 minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7C14UIKuv82 minutes

Wind Energy 4.2Wind Energy 4.2

• If wind in N & S Dakota could be harnessed, would provide 80% electrical energy for US

• Developed b/c of “energy crisis” in 1970s dealing with oil

• Draw backs– Noise pollution– Technical advances– cost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CloycIl5vU2.5 minutes

Hydroelectric Power 4.2Hydroelectric Power 4.2• Power that water generates

• Drives turbines

• Produce about 5% of US’s electricity

• Use large dams – control water

• Dam can not work after sediment fills the reservoir – Takes 50 – 300 years– Estimated that ½ reservoirs will

be filled by 2025

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEL7yc8R42k 2 minutes

Geothermal Energy 4.2Geothermal Energy 4.2• Harnessed by tapping natural

underground reservoirs

• Hot water turns turbines

• Found at The Geysers in the US• Used for San Francisco and Oakland

• Lasts no more than 10 – 15 years, once hot water exhausted

• Not expected to provide high percentage of energy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ajqiPe_9Ko1 minute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AprORaUFwiQ5 minutes

Tidal Power 4.2Tidal Power 4.2• In-and-out flow drives turbines and electric

generator

• Largest constructed is at mouth of France’s Rance River

• Not economical if tidal range is less than 8 meters

Natural Resource Website with worksheet

8 Minutes + time to work

Natural Resource Website with worksheet

8 Minutes + time to work

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/slideshows/renewable_energy.html

Water, Air, and Land Resources 4.3Water, Air, and Land Resources 4.3

• The Water Planet– Water covers nearly 71% of Earth’s surface

• Most salt– Oceans help moderate climate, inhabit marine animals, and aid

in water cycle

– Freshwater 2 types of pollutant• Point source – comes from known location

– Factory pipes

• Nonpoint source – no specific origin– Runoff – water flows over land and carries pollution

» Oil, pesticides, sulfuric acid

• Can lead to birth defects, diseases, cancer, harm animals

Earth’s Blanket of Air 4.3Earth’s Blanket of Air 4.3• Nitrogen, Oxygen, Water vapor, and others• Helps maintain life

– Shields solar radiation (ozone)– Greenhouse

• Pollution– Can change chemical composition of the atmosphere– Fossil-fuel major pollutant– =acid rain– CO2

– Global Warming– Chloroflourocarbons – once used in AC and plastic foam

• Destroy ozone

– Health = cough, headaches, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer

Land Resources 4.3Land Resources 4.3• Soil, forest, mineral, and energy• Damage

– 500,000 mines in US• Essential but tear up surface and destroy vegetation• Cause erosion

– Agriculture• Stalinization – build-up of salts in soil

– Useless to plant eventually

– Removal of forests• Removal of ecosystems and habitat

– Disposal site• Landfills• Done correctly – minimal impact• May leak wastes into soil and ground water

Protecting Resources 4.4Protecting Resources 4.4

• In 1 year, the following are thrown out:– 8 million TV– 30 million cell phones– Enough tires to circle the earth 3 times

• Conservation – careful use of resources

• Pollution Prevention

Keeping Water Clean and Safe 4.4Keeping Water Clean and Safe 4.4

• 1970s – Law to prevent or decrease pollution

• Clean Water Act (CWA) – 1972– Requires industries to reduce/eliminate point

source pollution – Increase in sewage treatment plants– Surface water for fishing and swimming

increased

• Safe Water Drinking Water Act – 1974– Protect drinking sources

Protecting the Air 4.4Protecting the Air 4.4

• Clean Air Act – 1970– National Ambient Air Quality Standards

• 6 pollutants to cause health problems– Carbon Monoxide– Ozone– Lead– Sulfur Dioxide– Nitrogen Oxides– Particulates

• Decrease emissions from cars & power plants

Caring for Land Resources 4.4Caring for Land Resources 4.4• Prevent pollution and manage resources• Farmers

– Prevent topsoil loss and keep fertile soil– Less pesticides

• Use Compost- partly decomposed organic material

• Loggers– Selective cutting

• Increase sanitary landfills (replacing dumps)• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act – 1976

– Illegal to dump hazardous waste

• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act – 1980– Must clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites

• Recycling – Collecting and processing used items