Post on 01-Jan-2016
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Chapter 4 Earth’s Resources
4.1 Energy & Mineral Resources
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
Examples
Renewable Plants for food Animals for food Natural Fibers for
clothing Trees for lumber/paper Water Wind Sun
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
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
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
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
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
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
4.2 Alternate Energy Sources
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
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
Wind Energy Sailing Ships Windmills 1980 Federal Govn’t started 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
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
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
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