Geologic Resources: Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources

1
Geologic Resources Nonrenewable Mineral and
Energy Resources
G. Tyler Millers Living in the
Environment MATES Chapter 15
2
Key Concepts

• Types of mineral resources

• Formation and location of mineral resources

• Extraction and processing of mineral resources

• Increasing supplies of mineral resources

• Major types, acquisition, advantages, and
  disadvantages of fuel resources

3
Nature and Formation of Mineral Resources

• Mineral resources

• Metallic

• Non-metallic

• Energy resources

• Magma

• Hydrothermal

• Weathering

4
Finding Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

• Satellite imagery

• Aerial sensors (magnetometers)

• Gravity differences

• Core sampling

• Seismic surveys

• Chemical analysis of water and plants

5
Removing Nonrenewable Mineral Resources
Surface mining
Subsurface mining

• Overburden

• Room and pillar

• Spoil

• Longwall

• Open-pit

• Dredging

Refer to Figs. 15-4 and 15-5, p. 341 and 342

• Strip mining

6
Environmental Effects of Extracting Mineral
Resources
Fig. 15-6 p. 343
7
Environmental Effects of Processing Mineral
Resources

• Ore mineral

• Gangue

• Tailings

• Smelting

See Case Study p. 345
8
Environmental Effects of Using Mineral Resources

• Disruption of land surface

• Subsidence

• Erosion of solid mining waste

• Acid mine drainage

• Air pollution

• Storage and leakage of liquid mining waste

9
Supplies of Mineral Resources

• Economic depletion

• Depletion time

• Reserve-to-productionratio

• Foreign sources

• Economics

• Environmental concerns

• Mining the ocean

Fig. 15-9 p. 346

• Finding substitutes

10
Evaluating Energy Resources

• Renewable energy

• Non-renewable energy

• Future availability

• Net energy yield

• Cost

• Environmental effects

Fig. 15-12 p. 351
11
Important Nonrenewable Energy Sources
Fig. 15-10 p. 350
12
North American Energy Resources
Fig. 15-20 p. 356
13
Oil

• Petroleum (crude oil)

• Primary recovery

• Secondary recovery

• Tertiary recovery

• Petrochemicals

• Refining

• Transporting

14
Oil Shale and Tar Sands

• Oil shale

• Keragen

• Tar sand

• Bitumen

Fig. 15-28 p. 361
15
Natural Gas

• 50-90 methane

• Conventional gas

• Unconventional gas

• Methane hydrate

• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Fig. 15-29 p. 362

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG)

• Approximate 200 year supply

16
Coal

• Stages of coal formation

• Primarily strip-mined

• Used mostly for generating electricity

• Enough coal for about 1000 years

• Highest environmental impact

• Coal gasification and liquefaction

17
Coal
18
Burning Coal More Cleanly

• Fluidized-Bed Combustion

Fig. 15-32 p. 364
19
Nuclear Energy

• Fission reactors

Fig. 15-35 p. 366

• Uranium-235

• Potentially dangerous

• Radioactive wastes

Refer to Introductory Essay p. 338
20
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Fig. 15-36 p. 367
21
Dealing with Nuclear Waste

• Low-level waste

• High-level waste

• Underground burial

• Disposal in space

Fig. 15-40 p. 370

• Burial in ice sheets

• Dumping into subduction zones

• Burial in ocean mud

• Conversion into harmless materials

22
Nuclear Alternatives

• Breeder nuclear fission reactors

• Nuclear fusion

• New reactor designs

Storage Containers
Fuel rod
Primary canister
Ground Level
Overpack container sealed
Unloaded from train
Personnal elevator
Air shaft
Nuclear waste shaft
Underground
Buried and capped
Lowered down shaft
Fig. 15-42 p. 376