Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

1
Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources
G. Tyler Millers Living in the Environment 14th
Edition Chapter 16
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Key Concepts

• Major geologic processes

• Earthquakes and volcanoes

• Minerals, rocks, and the rock cycle

• Finding and extracting mineral resources

• Non-renewable mineral resources

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Geologic Processes Structure of the Earth
Fig. 4-7 p. 60
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Features of the Crust and Upper Mantle
Fig. 16-2 p. 333
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Plate Tectonics

• Divergent boundary

• Convergent boundary

• Subduction zone

• Transform fault

Refer to Fig. 16-3 p. 334
Fig. 16-5 p. 336
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Earths Major Tectonic Plates
Fig. 16-4, p. 335
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External Earth Processes

• Erosion

• Mechanical weathering

• Frost wedging

• Chemical weathering

• Biological weathering

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Natural Hazards Earthquakes

• Features

• Magnitude

• Aftershocks

• Primary effects

• Secondary effects

Fig. 16-6 p. 337
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Expected Earthquake Damage
Fig. 16-7 p. 337
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Natural Hazards Volcanic Eruptions
Fig. 16-8 p. 338
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Minerals and Rocks

• Mineral (diamond, quartz)

Rock Types

• Igneous (granite, basalt)

• Sedimentary (limestone, sandstone)

• Metamorphic (marble, slate)

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Rock Cycle
Heat, Pressure
Heat, Pressure
Igneous Rock Granite, Pumice, Basalt
Magma (Molten Rock)
Fig. 16-9 p. 339
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Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

• Metallic

• Non-metallic

• Energy resources

• Ores

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Nonrenewable Mineral Resources Categories

• Identified

• Undiscovered

• Reserves

• Other

Fig. 16-10 p. 340
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Finding Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

• Satellite and air imagery

• Radiation detectors

• Magnetometers

• Gravity differences

• Seismic surveys

• Chemical analyses

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Extracting Nonrenewable Mineral Resources Fig.
16-11 and 16-12

• Open-pit (surface mining)

• Dredging (surface mining)

• Area strip (surface mining)

• Contour strip (surface mining)

• Room-and-pillar (subsurface mining)

• Longwall (subsurface mining)

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Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

• Established 1977

• Mine lands must be restored to pre-mining
  conditions

• Taxes on mining companies to restore pre-1977
  sites

• Limited success

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Environmental Effects of Mining Mineral Resources

• Disruption of land surface

• Subsidence

• Erosion of solid mining waste

• Acid mine drainage

• Air pollution

• Storage and leakage of liquid mining waste

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Environmental Effects of Mining Mineral Resources
Fig. 16-14 p. 344
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More Environmental Impacts of 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

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Processing Mineral Resources

• Ore mineral

• Gangue

• Tailings

• Smelting

Refer to Fig. 16-15 p. 344
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Supplies of Mineral Resources

• Economic depletion

• Depletion time

• Foreign sources

• Environmental concerns

• Economics

• New technologies

• Mining the ocean

• Finding substitutes

Fig. 16-16 p. 346