Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Chapter 12

Core Case Study: Nanotechnology

Bottom-up manufacturing

Widespread applications

Potential risks

Need for guidelines and regulations

Future applications

Nanosolar Cells

Fig. 12-1, p. 261

12-1 What Are the Earth’s Major Geological Processes?

Concept 12-1 Gigantic plates in the earth’s crust move very slowly atop the planet’s mantle, and wind and water move matter from place to place across the earth’s surface.

The Earth Is a Dynamic Planet

What is geology?

Earth’s internal structure• Core• Mantle • Crust

Plate Tectonics

Tectonic plates

Lithosphere

Types of plate boundaries• Divergent• Convergent• Transform fault

Plate Tectonics and Natural Hazards

Earthquakes

Volcanoes

Tsunamis

Geologic recycling and biodiversity

Earth’s Crust and Upper Mantle

Fig. 12-2, p. 263

Mantle (asthenosphere)

Mantle (lithosphere)

Mantle (lithosphere)

Continental crust(lithosphere)

Continentalrise

Continentalslope

ContinentalshelfAby

ssal

pla

in

Foldedmountain belt

Abyssal plain

Oceanic crust(lithosphere)

Abyssal hillsAbyssal

floorAbyssal

floorOceanic

ridgeTrench

Craton

Volcanoes

Plate Tectonics

Fig. 12-3, p. 264

Innercore

Hot outercore

Mantle

Continentalcrust

Cold densematerial fallsback through

mantle

Hot material rising through the mantle

Two plates movetowards each other.One is subductedback into the mantleon a falling convectioncurrent.

Mantleconvection

cell

Oceanic crustOceanic crust

Oceantrench

Spreadingcenter

Continentalcrust

Subduction zone

Material coolsas it reaches

the outer mantle

Earth’s Major Tectonic Plates

PACIFICPLATE

JUAN DEFUCA PLATE

CHINASUBPLATE

PHILIPPINEPLATE

INDIA-AUSTRALIANPLATE

AFRICANPLATE

ARABIANPLATE

SOMALIANSUBPLATE

ANATOLIANPLATE

CARIBBEANPLATE

EURASIAN PLATENORTHAMERICANPLATE

SOUTHAMERICANPLATE

NAZCAPLATE

Fig. 12-4, p. 265

ANTARCTIC PLATE

The San Andreas Fault

Fig. 12-5, p. 265

External Earth Processes

Weathering• Physical• Chemical• Biological

Erosion• Rain, flowing water, wind• Glaciers

12-2 What Are Minerals and Rocks and How Are Rocks Recycled?

Concept 12-2A Some naturally occurring materials in the earth’s crust can be extracted and processed into useful materials.

Concept 12-2B Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks in the earth’s crust are recycled very slowly by geologic processes.

Nonrenewable Mineral Resources (1)

Minerals

Mineral resource• Fossil fuels• Metallic• Nonmetallic

Nonrenewable Mineral Resources (2)

Identified resources

Reserves

Potential impact of nanotechnology

Rocks and Minerals

Rock• Igneous• Sedimentary• Metamorphic

Ore• High-grade ore• Low-grade ore

Rock cycle

The Rock Cycle

Fig. 12-6, p. 267

Metamorphic rockSlate, marble,gneiss, quartzite

Melting

Magma(molten rock)

Cooling

Granite, pumice,basalt

Weathering

Erosion

Transportation

Deposition

Heat, pressure

Heat, pressure,stress

Sandstone, limestone

Sedimentary rock

Igneous rock

12-3 What Are the Harmful Environmental Effects of Using Mineral Resources?

Concept 12-3 Extracting and using mineral resources can disturb the land, erode soils, produce large amounts of solid waste, and pollute the air, water, and soil.

Environmental Impact of Using Mineral Resources (1)

High energy use

Disturb land

Erode soil

Produce solid waste

Environmental Impact of Using Mineral Resources (2)

Pollute air, water, and soil

Total impact may depend on grade of ore

Life Cycle of a Metal Resource

Fig. 12-7, p. 268

Surfacemining

Metal ore Separationof ore fromgangue

Smelting Meltingmetal

Conversionto product

Discardingof product

Recycling

Conversionto product

Fig. 12-7, p. 268

Stepped Art

Surfacemining

Metal ore Separationof ore fromgangue

Smelting Meltingmetal

Discardingof product

Recycling

Environmental Effects of Using Mineral and Energy Resources

Fig. 12-8, p. 268

Extracting Mineral Deposits

Surface mining

Subsurface mining

Overburden

Spoils

Mining Methods

Open-pit mining

Strip mining

Area strip mining

Contour strip mining

Mountaintop removal

Open-pit Mining

Fig. 12-9, p. 269

Strip Mining

Fig. 12-10, p. 269

Contour Strip Mining

Fig. 12-11, p. 270

Spoil banks

Bench

Undisturbed land

Overburden

Pit

Mountaintop Mining

Fig. 12-12, p. 270

Harmful Environmental Effects of Mining

Disruption of land surface

Subsidence

Toxic-laced mining wastes

Acid mine drainage

Air pollution

Harmful Environmental Effects of Removing Metals from Ores

Ore mineral – desired metal

Gangue – waste material

Smelting• Air polluting by-products

Chemical removal processes

Toxic holding ponds

12-4 How Long Will Mineral Resources Last?

Concept 12-4 An increase in the price of a scarce mineral resource can lead to increased supplies and more efficient use of the mineral, but there are limits to this effect.

Uneven Distribution of Mineral Resources

Abundant minerals

Scarce minerals

Exporters and importers

Strategic metal resources• Economic and military strength• U.S. dependency – four critical minerals• Sources?

Supplies of Mineral Resources

Available supply and use

Economic depletion

Six choices after depletion• Recycle, reuse, waste less, use less, find a

substitute, do without

Depletion time

Depletion Curves for a Nonrenewable Resource

Fig. 12-13, p. 272

Recycle, reuse, reduceconsumption; increasereserves by improvedmining technology,higher prices, andnew discoveries

Mine, use, throw away;no new discoveries;rising prices

Recycle; increase reservesby improved miningtechnology, higher prices,and new discoveries

Depletiontime A

Time

Depletiontime C

Depletiontime B

Present

Pro

du

ctio

n

A

B

C

Effect of Market Prices on Supplies of Nonrenewable Resources

Role of economics in mining

Standard economic theory

Limited free market in developed countries• Subsides, taxes, regulations, import tariffs

Economic problems of developing new mines

Mining Lower-grade Ores

Improved equipment and technologies

Limiting factors• Cost• Supplies of freshwater• Environmental impacts

Biomining• In-situ mining• Genetic engineering

Ocean Mining (1)

Minerals from seawater

Minerals for ocean sediments

Hydrothermal deposits

Manganese-rich nodules

Ocean Mining (2)

Mining issues in international waters

Environmental issues

12-5 How Can We Use Mineral Resources More Sustainably?

Concept 12-5 We can try to find substitutes for scarce resources, recycle and reuse minerals, reduce resource waste, and convert the wastes from some businesses into raw materials for other businesses.

Finding Substitutes and Alternatives for Scarce Mineral Resources

Materials revolution• Ceramics and plastics

Limitations

Recycle and reuse• Less environmental impact

Using Nonrenewable Resources More Sustainably

Decrease use and waste

3M Company • Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program

Economic and environmental benefits of cleaner production

Sustainable Use of Nonrenewable Minerals

Fig. 12-14, p. 275

Case Study: Industrial Ecosystems (1)

Mimic nature to deal with wastes – biomimicry

Waste outputs become resource inputs

Recycle and reuse

Resource exchange webs

Case Study: Industrial Ecosystems (2)

Reclaiming brownfields

Industrial ecology

Ecoindustrial revolution

An Industrial Ecosystem

Fig. 12-15, p. 276

Pharmaceutical plant Local farmers

Fish farming

Cement manufacturer

Area homes

Surplus natural gas

Surplusnatural gas

Surplussulfur

Waste heat

Wasteheat

Wasteheat

Wasteheat

Sludge

Sludge

Wasteheat

Wastecalciumsulfate

Electric power plant

Wallboard factory

Sulfuric acid producer

Fly ash

Greenhouses

Oil refinery

Electric power plant

Sulfuric acid producer

Surplussulfur

GreenhousesWasteheat

Cement manufacturer

Fly ash

Oil refinery

Waste heat

Surplusnatural gas

Area homes

Wasteheat

Fish farming

Wasteheat

Wallboard factory

Wastecalciumsulfate

Surplusnatural gas

Local farmers

Sludge

Sludge

Pharmaceutical plant

Wasteheat

Stepped Art

Fig. 12-15, p. 276

Animation: Geological Forces

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Animation: Plate Margins

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Animation: Sulfur Cycle

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Animation: Resources Depletion and Degradation

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Video: Continental Drift

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Video: Asteroid Menace

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Video: Indonesian Earthquake

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Video: Tsunami Alert Testing

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Video: Mount Merapi Volcano Eruption

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