Earth’s Energy and Earth’s Energy and Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

Chapter 5Chapter 5

EnergyEnergy

The ability to create change.The ability to create change.

Nonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable Resources

Resources that are being used faster Resources that are being used faster than natural processes can replace than natural processes can replace them.them. Fossil fuelsFossil fuels

Fuels that form from the remains of buried Fuels that form from the remains of buried organisms.organisms.

Coal, oil, natural gasCoal, oil, natural gas

CoalCoal

Most abundant fossil fuel in the Most abundant fossil fuel in the world.world.

Is a rock that contains at least 50% Is a rock that contains at least 50% plant remains.plant remains.

At current rate of use, coal will last At current rate of use, coal will last for another 250 years.for another 250 years.

Synthetic FuelsSynthetic Fuels

Fuels extracted from solid organic Fuels extracted from solid organic material, such as coal.material, such as coal. Hydrocarbons are extracted from the Hydrocarbons are extracted from the

coal to form liquid and gaseous coal to form liquid and gaseous synthetic fuel.synthetic fuel.

Stages of Coal FormationStages of Coal Formation As plant material decays it loses gas and As plant material decays it loses gas and

moisture and increases in carbon content.moisture and increases in carbon content. Stage 1 – PeatStage 1 – Peat

Organic sediment with a high concentration of water Organic sediment with a high concentration of water and impuritiesand impurities

Stage 2 – LigniteStage 2 – Lignite Soft, brown coal formed from the burial and Soft, brown coal formed from the burial and

pressurization of peatpressurization of peat Stage 3 - Bituminous CoalStage 3 - Bituminous Coal

Soft coal that is compact, black, and brittleSoft coal that is compact, black, and brittle Stage 4 – AnthraciteStage 4 – Anthracite

Cleanest burning coal because it has the highest Cleanest burning coal because it has the highest carbon contentcarbon content

OilOil

Thick, black liquid formed from the Thick, black liquid formed from the buried remains of microscopic buried remains of microscopic marine organisms.marine organisms.

Composed of hydrocarbons.Composed of hydrocarbons.

Natural GasNatural Gas

Often forms with oil.Often forms with oil. Composed of hydrocarbons.Composed of hydrocarbons. Enough natural gas is located in the Enough natural gas is located in the

US to last about 60 more years.US to last about 60 more years.

Formation of Oil and Natural GasFormation of Oil and Natural Gas

Tiny marine organisms called plankton die Tiny marine organisms called plankton die and are buried by sediment.and are buried by sediment.

Pressure and heat change the organisms to Pressure and heat change the organisms to natural gas and oil.natural gas and oil.

Because both oil and gas are lighter than Because both oil and gas are lighter than water, they move toward the surface of the water, they move toward the surface of the earth.earth.

While moving up, they may be trapped While moving up, they may be trapped under an folder layer of impermeable rock under an folder layer of impermeable rock such as shale.such as shale. Shale is known as a caprock.Shale is known as a caprock. The rock layer underneath the caprock is known The rock layer underneath the caprock is known

as a reservoir rock.as a reservoir rock.

Coal MiningCoal Mining

Strip miningStrip mining Used when coal deposits are close to the Used when coal deposits are close to the

surface.surface. Layers of soil and rock are removed and Layers of soil and rock are removed and

piled to the sidepiled to the side Coal is removedCoal is removed Soil is replaced and trees are planted Soil is replaced and trees are planted

through land reclamation.through land reclamation.

Coal MiningCoal Mining

Underground coal miningUnderground coal mining Tunnels are dug in order to remove the Tunnels are dug in order to remove the

coal.coal. Drift miningDrift mining

Coal close to the surface is removed through Coal close to the surface is removed through horizontal openings in the sides of hills or horizontal openings in the sides of hills or mountains.mountains.

Slope miningSlope mining An angled opening and air shaft are made in the An angled opening and air shaft are made in the

side of the mountain to remove the coal.side of the mountain to remove the coal.

Drilling for Oil and GasDrilling for Oil and Gas

Wells are drilled down to rock layers Wells are drilled down to rock layers that may have oil and gas deposits.that may have oil and gas deposits. Wells are lined with pipe to prevent Wells are lined with pipe to prevent

collapse.collapse. Once the targeted layer is reached, Once the targeted layer is reached,

equipment to control the flow of oil.equipment to control the flow of oil. Surrounding rock is fractured to allow Surrounding rock is fractured to allow

oil and gas to flow into the well.oil and gas to flow into the well. Oil and gas are pumped to the surface.Oil and gas are pumped to the surface.

Fossil Fuel ReservesFossil Fuel Reserves

Fossil Fuel ReserveFossil Fuel Reserve Amount of a fossil fuel that can be Amount of a fossil fuel that can be

extracted at a profit using current extracted at a profit using current technology.technology.

Fossil Fuel ResourceFossil Fuel Resource Fossil fuels that are concentrated Fossil fuels that are concentrated

enough that they can be extracted in enough that they can be extracted in useful amounts.useful amounts.

Methane HydratesMethane Hydrates

Stable molecules found trapped in Stable molecules found trapped in ice structures in ocean floor ice structures in ocean floor sedimentssediments

Form under relatively low temps and Form under relatively low temps and high pressures.high pressures.

Estimated to contain more carbon Estimated to contain more carbon than in all current fossil fuel deposits than in all current fossil fuel deposits combined.combined.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

Nuclear fissionNuclear fission The splitting of heavy elements to produce energy.The splitting of heavy elements to produce energy. Carried out in nuclear power plants using uranium.Carried out in nuclear power plants using uranium.

Uranium fuel rods sit in water inside a nuclear reactor.Uranium fuel rods sit in water inside a nuclear reactor. Neutrons are fired into the fuel rod, splitting the uranium Neutrons are fired into the fuel rod, splitting the uranium

atoms which produces heat and releases more neutrons to atoms which produces heat and releases more neutrons to hit other atoms.hit other atoms.

Heat causes the water to produce steam which drives a Heat causes the water to produce steam which drives a turbine, which turns a generator that produces energy.turbine, which turns a generator that produces energy.

Process produced radioactive wastes that must be stored at Process produced radioactive wastes that must be stored at least 10,000 years.least 10,000 years.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

FusionFusion Materials with low mass are fused to Materials with low mass are fused to

produce a substance with higher mass.produce a substance with higher mass. Occurs naturally in the sun (hydrogen is Occurs naturally in the sun (hydrogen is

fused into helium).fused into helium).

Inexhaustible Energy ResourcesInexhaustible Energy Resources

Energy sources that are constant and Energy sources that are constant and will not run out.will not run out. SunSun WindWind WaterWater GeothermalGeothermal

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Solar cellsSolar cells Actively collect energy from the sun and Actively collect energy from the sun and

transform it into electricity.transform it into electricity. DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Only works when sunlight is availableOnly works when sunlight is available

Wind EnergyWind Energy

WindmillsWindmills Use wing to produce energy.Use wing to produce energy.

Wind FarmWind Farm Large number of windmills in one area.Large number of windmills in one area.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Not consistentNot consistent Wind must blow at certain speedsWind must blow at certain speeds

Energy from WaterEnergy from Water

Hydroelectric EnergyHydroelectric Energy Electricity produced with water power.Electricity produced with water power. Water released through dams turn Water released through dams turn

turbines which then turn generators that turbines which then turn generators that produce electricity.produce electricity.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Environmental concerns with loss of Environmental concerns with loss of

habitat, increased erosion, and habitat, increased erosion, and increased sediment deposition.increased sediment deposition.

Energy from the EarthEnergy from the Earth

Geothermal energyGeothermal energy Energy obtained using hot magma or Energy obtained using hot magma or

hot, dry rocks inside the Earth.hot, dry rocks inside the Earth. Heated groundwater produced steam Heated groundwater produced steam

which is used to turn turbines which turn which is used to turn turbines which turn generators which produce electricity.generators which produce electricity.

Renewable Energy ResourcesRenewable Energy Resources

Energy sources that can be replaced Energy sources that can be replaced in nature or by humans in a relatively in nature or by humans in a relatively short period of time (within the short period of time (within the lifetime of a human).lifetime of a human).

Biomass EnergyBiomass Energy

Energy derived from burning organic Energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood, alcohol, and materials such as wood, alcohol, and garbage.garbage.

WoodWood

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Small particles are released into the air Small particles are released into the air

when burned.when burned. Habitat is destroyed.Habitat is destroyed.

AlcoholAlcohol

GasoholGasohol Ethanol, produced during the distillation Ethanol, produced during the distillation

of corn, mixed with gasolineof corn, mixed with gasoline DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Currently takes abundant energy to Currently takes abundant energy to produceproduce

GarbageGarbage

Approximately 2/3 of garbage is Approximately 2/3 of garbage is burnable.burnable.

Garbage can be burned to heat Garbage can be burned to heat water, producing steam used to drive water, producing steam used to drive generators.generators.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Air pollution and heavy metalsAir pollution and heavy metals

Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

A deposit of useful mineralsA deposit of useful minerals

Metallic Mineral ResourcesMetallic Mineral Resources

OresOres Deposits in which minerals exist in large Deposits in which minerals exist in large

enough amounts to be mined for profit.enough amounts to be mined for profit. Mineral must be in demandMineral must be in demand Enough mineral must exist to make mining Enough mineral must exist to make mining

profitableprofitable Must be fairly easy to separate from rest of Must be fairly easy to separate from rest of

the materialthe material

Metallic Mineral ResourcesMetallic Mineral Resources

Refining OreRefining Ore After the ore is mined, it is crushed and After the ore is mined, it is crushed and

waster rock (called gangue) is removedwaster rock (called gangue) is removed Once the mineral is removed it is refined Once the mineral is removed it is refined

in processes such as smelting in order to in processes such as smelting in order to be as pure as possible.be as pure as possible.

Nonmetallic Mineral ResourcesNonmetallic Mineral Resources

Any mineral resources not used as Any mineral resources not used as fuels or as sources of metal.fuels or as sources of metal.

Divided into two groups:Divided into two groups: Industrial mineralsIndustrial minerals Building materialsBuilding materials

Nonmetallic Mineral ResourcesNonmetallic Mineral Resources

Examples of Industrial MineralsExamples of Industrial Minerals Sylvite is used in fertilizersSylvite is used in fertilizers Halite is used for various saltsHalite is used for various salts Corundum and garnet are used as Corundum and garnet are used as

abrasivesabrasives Examples of Building MaterialsExamples of Building Materials

Aggregate and limestone in concreteAggregate and limestone in concrete Gypsum in plaster and wallboardGypsum in plaster and wallboard Various rocks as building blocks/sheetsVarious rocks as building blocks/sheets

Recycling Mineral ResourcesRecycling Mineral Resources

Using old materials to make new Using old materials to make new onesones

Advantages:Advantages: Reduces the demand for new mineral Reduces the demand for new mineral

resourcesresources Uses less energy to make productUses less energy to make product Profit Profit