Human Interaction with the Rock Cycle

5th year Geography

Learning Outcome

• Identify the economic value and uses of Rocks• Examine Human Interaction with the Rock

Cycle during the process of Quarrying

Economic Value of Rocks

• Recreation; Hill walking, Climbing• Tourism; Burren• Decorative Pieces; Fireplaces, Headstones,

Worktops• Construction Materials; Gravel, Limestone• Metals; Lead, Zinc, Gold• Energy Source; Coal, Oil, Gas, Geothermal

Uses of Certain RocksRock Use

Basalt Road Chippings

Sand Glass

Limestone Fertiliser

Slate Roofing

Coal/Oil Heating

China Clay Pottery

Quarrying

• Important Resources• Construction Industry• Granite, Limestone and Marble are the most

common rocks quarried in Ireland

What is Quarrying?

• Removal of Rocks from the Earths Surface• 400 active quarries in Ireland• In recent year with the improved

developments in infrastructure in Ireland, there has been an increased demand for quarried materials

Chapter 5: The Rock Cycle• Methods of quarryingI. Plug and feather

drilling holes split the rock extracting large pieces, e.g. floor

coveringII. Explosive

extracting large and small pieces of rock

III. Channelling machinery cuts large slices of rock metamorphic rock such as marble

Chapter 5: The Rock Cycle Positive impacts of quarrying

Direct employment Construction Indirect employment

Chapter 5: The Rock CycleNegative impacts of quarrying Visual pollution Noise pollution Heavy machinery damage to infrastructure Dust pollution Water pollution Disused quarries

Case Study; Carrara Marble

Tuscany, Italy White or blue-grey marble Used since the time of ancient Rome Statue of David – Michelangelo Exported all around the world Construction of buildings Warm countries Reflect light Create an air of coolness

Major Case Study

• Tara Mines, Co Meath.

Homework

• Pg 59 – 61• Q; 1, 6, 7, 10• In Exercise Copy