1. Environmental Science Unit 9 Resource Management
9A – Forestry (Chp. 11)
9B – Soil & Agriculture (Chp. 12)
9C – Minerals & Mining (Chp. 13)

2. Unit 9 ABC Vocabulary (34) Acid drainage Adaptive management
Aquaculture
Bedrock
Clear cutting
Contour farming
Crop rotation
Deforestation
Desertification
Ecosystem based management
Genetic Engineering
Genetically modified organism (GMO)
Irrigation
Maximum Sustainable Yield
Mineral
Open Pit Mining
Ore
Organic agriculture
Pesticide
Placer mining
Prescribed burn
Rock
Rock cycle
Salinization
Salvage logging
Seed tree approach
Selection system
Smelting
Soil degradation
Strip mining
Subsurface mining
Terracing
Tilling
Weathering

3. Unit 9A – Forestry (Chp. 11)
Page 323 – Battling over Clayoquot’s Big Trees – Central Case
Decision Making Analysis
What is the problem?
What is your proposed solution?
Analyze your solution: 3 Pros, 3 Cons, 3 Short-term consequences, 3 Long-term consequences
Conclusion: was your solution a good one? Why or Why not?

4. Unit 9A Objectives
Explain the importance of managing specific renewable resources such as water, soil, animals and timber
Describe 3 different resource management approaches & their goals
Identify methods used to strike a balance between the ecological & economic values of our resources
Identify & explain methods used to harvest timber sustainably

5. How can we manage renewable resources for sustainable use?
11.1 Resource Management
How can we manage renewable resources for sustainable use?

6. Renewable Resource Management
To manage resource harvesting so that resources are not depleted.
Soil – made by natural processes, but fertile topsoil can take can take hundreds of years to form; major topsoil erosion concerns
Fresh water – maintaining clean, adequate supplies for drinking & agriculture; pollution issues
Wild animals – animals hunted legally are called game; fishing has caused numbers to dwindle (cod); poaching, CITES, problems with enforcement
Timber – harvesting timber is essential to our standard of living; forests are disappearing

7. How We Use Land Non-urban lands include:
Forests (harvest timber for paper and lumber)
Grasslands (support livestock and farmlands)
Other (mineral resources)

8. Resource Management Approaches
Maximum Sustainable Yield – harvest the maximum amount of a resource without reducing the amount of future harvests; quicker growth at intermediate size well below carrying capacity; could result in changes of other populations
Ecosystem-Based Management – harvest resources in ways that minimize impact on the ecosystems & ecological processes that provide the resources; challenging for managers
Adaptive Management – scientifically test different approaches & then customize an approach based on the results; can be time consuming & complicated

9. 11.1 Review Define resource management. Why is it important?
Describe the goals of maximum sustainable yield management, ecosystem-based management, and adaptive management. List a drawback of each.
How may managing a resource for maximum sustainable yield sometimes conflict with what is best for its ecosystem?
Besides answering the above 3 questions, complete the 11.1 review packet.

10. 11.2 Forests & their Resources
How can resource managers strike a balance between the ecological and economic value of forest resources?

11. Forest Resources
Ecological value: different habitats, biodiversity (mature forests have more), prevent soil erosion, slow water run-off, reduce flooding, take in C02 & release 02 (moderate climate)

12. Forest Resources
Economical value: provide timber for many products, fuel for fires, building houses & ships, paper, food & medicine (fruit, nuts, spices, herbs come from forest plants), cancer treating drugs (Paclitaxel – yew, rosy periwinkle)

13. Timber Harvesting
There are costs & benefits to every method of timber harvesting
2 categories:
Even-aged stands – result from regrowth of trees that were mostly cut at the same time
Uneven-aged stands – result from regrowth of trees that were cut at different times

14. Uneven stands typically have more biodiversity, offering more diverse habitats
All methods of logging disturb forest communities, changing forest structure and composition as larger trees forming canopies/subcanopies are removed
Most methods increase soil erosion, leading to muddy waterways and degrade animal habitats
Most methods increase runoff, causing flooding & landslides

15. Clear-cutting
The process that involves removing ALL of the trees from a land area
Results in even-aged stands
Destroys wildlife habitats
Increases soil erosion
Diminishes beauty
Cost efficient
Increases light to ground
Begins secondary succession

16. Seed Tree Approach
Small numbers of mature and healthy seed-producing trees are left standing so that they can reseed the logged area
Leads to regrowth that is mostly even-aged.

17. Shelterwood Approach
Small numbers of mature trees are left in place to provide shelter for seedlings as they grow.
Leads to regrowth that is mostly even-aged.

18. Selective Cutting Involves cutting only middle-aged or mature trees
Has less impact on the forest than any other method
Maintains wildlife/ecosystems

19. Selection Systems Only some of the trees in a forest are cut at once
Result in uneven-aged stands
Single-tree selection – trees spaced widely apart are cut one at a time
Group selection – small patches of trees are cut
Roads compact soil, more expensive, more dangerous

21. Deforestation
Involves clearing trees from an area without replacing them
Helps nations develop, but it can be ecologically destructive
Provides warmth, shelter, & trade, but causes soil degradation & loss of biodiversity
Negative effects are greatest in the tropical regions (loss of biodiversity) & arid regions (loss of soil productivity)
Adds CO2 to the atmosphere

22. Deforestation

23. Deforestation in the US
By 1850s, we deforested our vast deciduous forests to expand, making way for small farms
Timber built the cities of the East Coast and Midwest
With the Industrial Revolution, logging moved to Texas, Florida and the Carolinas. Then the timber companies moved west for the bigger trees/old-growth forests

24. Today
Most of the redwoods, oaks and maples are no longer old-growth trees in North America, leading to a concern for old-growth ecosystems
Deforestation is rapid in the Tropical Rain Forests of developing nations, leading to loss of biodiversity on a large scale and worsening global warming due to CO2 from burning as well as fewer trees

25. Quick Lab Page 334 A Tree’s History
Turn to page 334 in your textbook, read the directions (#1-3 in blue) and then answer questions 1-4 with your partner.

26. 11.2 Review
What is one way a forest is ecologically valuable? What is one way a forest is economically valuable?
How are clear-cutting and the shelterwood approach similar? How are they different? How do both differ from select systems?
What, generally, is the current level of deforestation in the U.S.? In developing nations? How would you expect deforestation in developing nations to change in the next 100 years? Explain.
Also, do 11.2 review packet.

27. Forest Management 11.3
What steps toward sustainable forestry have been taken in the last 100 years?

28. US National Forests
Logging in national forests is managed by the Forest Service, but profits go to timber companies
Public lands set aside to grow trees for timber and to protect watersheds.
Established in 1905 after deforesting our deciduous forests caused a fear of “timber famine.”

29. National Forest Logging
Timber is harvested by private timber companies.
Forest Service plan & manage timber sales & build roads to provide access, but the logging companies receive the profits
Taxpayers’ money is being used to help private corporations harvest publicly held resources for profit
Recreation, wildlife, and ecosystem health are being urged

30. National Forest Management Act 1976
Multiple use – forests were to be managed for recreation, wildlife habitat, mining and other uses in addition to timber
NFMA requires plans for renewable resource management be drawn up for every national forest and to be consistent with multiple use and maximum sustainable yield.

31. NFMA, continued
Success stories – logging has declined in national forests since the 1980s, and in 2006, tree regrowth outpaced tree removal on these lands by more than 11:1.
Challenges – in 2004, Bush passed regulations that weakened the NFMA & repealed the “roadless” rule that had limited building new roads. In 2009, Obama reinstated the roadless rule.

32. Private Land
Most logging in the US today takes place on tree plantations owned by timber companies
Most harvesting is fast-growing tree species in the NW and South
These plantations are mostly monocultures – single crop, even-aged stands cut in rotation time and the land is replanted with seedlings
Low biodiversity due to little variation

33. Fire Policies
Suppression of all wildfires can endanger ecosystems, property, and people.
Many ecosystems depend on fire, and diversity & abundance of species decline without it
Jack pine seeds germinate only after a fire, and Kirtland’s Warbler (songbird) nest in 5-7 year old jack pines

34. Future Fire Potential
Suppression of small, natural fires can lead to larger, more dangerous fires by allowing limbs, sticks & leaf litter to build up
Prescribed burns – burning areas of forest under carefully controlled conditions, which ultimately lowers the risk of injury, property damage, and ecosystem loss from catastrophic wildfires.

35. Healthy Forest Restoration Act
Goal: make forests less fire-prone
Primarily promotes the removal of small trees, underbrush, and snags by timber companies
Salvage logging – removal of snags/dying trees following a natural disturbance
Snag value: insect food, holes provide nesting/roosting
Removing timber from recently burned land can cause erosion & soil damage, and slow forest regrowth

36. Sustainable Forestry Products
Sustainable forestry certification – certifies products produced using methods they consider sustainable
The Forest Stewardship Council has the strictest certification process, carry logos (FSC)
70% of annual timber harvest in British Columbia Canada is certified
More costly, but consumers demand

37. 11.3 Review
What are the roles of the Forest Service & timber companies in logging US National Forests? What are the requirements of the NFMA?
Generally, how does a tree plantation’s biodiversity differ from that of a natural forest? Give 2 reasons for your answer.
Suppose you lived very close to a fire-prone forest where there had been no fire for many years, & the Forest Service wanted to have a prescribe burn there. What are 2 questions you would ask the Forest Service?
How do organizations such as the FSC decide whether to certify a product?
Also, do 11.3 review packet.

38. Unit 9B – Soil & Agriculture Chapter 12
Page 351 Chp. 12 Case Study – Possible Transgenic Maize in Oaxaca, Mexico
Analyze using Decision Making Model
What is the problem?
What is your proposed solution?
Analyze your solution: 3 Pros, 3 Cons, 3 Short-term Consequences, 3 Long-term Consequences
Conclusion: Is your solution a good one? Why or Why not?

39. Unit 9B Soil & Agriculture Objectives
Explain how soil forms, the horizons that make up a soil profile, & the characteristics used to classify soil.
Describe the practices that can lead to soil erosion, desertification, & pesticide pollution and their resulting impacts economically & environmentally.
Describe the development of agriculture from its beginnings to the green revolution.
Understand the increasing need to increase food production in a sustainable way.
Explain how biotechnology may be the key to future food production, but it is not without risk.

40. 12.1 Soil
We use about 38% of Earth’s land surface for agriculture, which depends on fertile soil
Soil – a complex plant-supporting system made up of disintegrated rock, remains & wastes of organisms, water, gases, nutrients, and microorganisms.
Soil is a renewable resource, it could take 100s or 1000s of years to make 1”

41. Factors that Influence Soil Formation
Climate – forms faster in warm, wet climates
Organisms – worms mix & aerate soil, add organic matter
Landforms – runoff, erosion, leaching, exposure to sun
Parent material – chemical & physical attributes influence soil
Time – soil formation takes time

42. Soil Formation
Soil is a complex substance that forms through weathering, deposition & decomposition.
Soil is roughly 45% mineral matter & 5% organic matter.
Parent material – the base geological material in a particular location; lava, glacier rock, sand dunes, river sediment, bedrock
Bedrock – continuous mass of solid rock that makes up the crust

43. Weathering
Physical & chemical processes that break down rocks & minerals into smaller particles, 1st process in soil formation
Physical – anything that touches a rock, ex. Wind, rain, temperature
Chemical – water & other substances chemically break down the parent rock; warm, wet conditions increase chemical weathering

44. Deposition & Decomposition
Deposition – the drop-off of eroded material at a new location; erosion may help form soil in one area by depositing material eroded from another
Decomposition – activities of living & formerly living things help form soil; organisms deposit waste or die & decompose, incorporating nutrients into the soil; leaf litter, humus

45. Soil Horizons A soil profile consists of layers known as horizons
Soil profile – a cross-section of all the soil horizons in a specific soil, from surface to bedrock
Simplest way to categorize:
A – topsoil
B – subsoil
C – weathered parent material

46. Top soil Crucial horizon for agriculture and ecosystems
Consists mostly of mineral particles with organic matter and humus
Is the horizon that has the most plant nutrients available
Its loose texture, dark color, and ability to hold water come from its humus content
Topsoil is fragile, eroding or being depleted easily

47. Lower Horizons
Generally, particle size increases and organic matter decreases as you move down the profile
Minerals leach downward as water filters through the soil
If leaching occurs too quickly and plants are deprived of nutrients
Iron, aluminum, and silicate clay are commonly leached out

48. Soil Characteristics
Soils can be classified by their color, texture, structure and pH
Color – darker soils are usu. richer in humus (nutrients) & fertility
Texture – clay/silt/sand; influences its workability and how porous it is
Structure – arrangement of soil particles, clumpiness is richer but may compact & hinder roots
pH – affects plant growth; acid rain

49. 12.1 Review
Describe 3 major processes that contribute to the formation of most soils.
What is a soil profile? Describe the A, B, and C horizons.
What do each of the 4 characteristics of soil indicate about its ability to support plant life?
Recall the analogy between soil & coffee grounds (bottom page 355) in the section called “Lower Horizons.” In this analogy, what do you think the “soil coffee” consists of?
In addition to the 4 questions above, complete the 12.1 packet.

50. 12.2 Soil Degradation & Conservation
Soil degradation – deterioration of soil characteristics needed for plant growth or other ecosystem services
Farmers have shown that the most productive soil is loam with a neutral pH that is workable, contains nutrients, and holds water.
Human activities cause erosion, desertification & pollution making soil less productive.

51. Erosion
Certain farming, ranching and forestry practices can erode soil, but other practices can protect it
Erosion & deposition are natural processes that can create soil; flood-plains are excellent for farming
Erosion usu. occurs faster than soil is formed; erosion tends to remove top-soil; and erosion can be hard to detect
Erosion occurs from leaving soil bare after harvests, overgrazing rangeland & clearcutting forests on steep slopes

52. Farming Practices
Plant cover protects soil from erosion by slowing wind & water, roots hold soil in place and absorb water.
Intercropping – planting different crops in mixed arrangements; gives more crop cover
Crop rotation – alternate crops in a field to return nutrients to the soil & break disease
Shelterbelts – windbreaks, rows of trees
No-till method – plant between the rows
Terracing – staircase the plants, labor intense
Contour farming – plant sideways across a hillside, perpendicular to the hill’s slope

53. Ranching Practices
The raising and grazing of livestock affects soils and ecosystems.
Livestock mostly feed on grasses.
As long as livestock populations stay within a range’s carrying capacity and do not eat grasses faster than the grasses can grow back, grazing may be sustainable.

54. Overgrazing
When too many animals graze in an area for too long, and damage the grass beyond its ability to recover
Soil erosion makes it difficult for vegetation to regrow
Influx of non-native weeds
Common in Florida

55. Two Rangeland Management Techniques:
Grazing management – limit animal herd sizes
Range improvements – eliminating weedy plants, planting vegetation on bare soil, cross fencing, and increasing the number of waterholes

56. Desertification
Loss of more than 10% of productivity due to erosion, soil compaction, forest removal, overgrazing, drought, salt buildup, climate change, depletion of water sources, etc.
When overgrazing and harsh conditions convert rangeland to desert; Dust Bowl
Usually the land does not recover from this condition
Ex. Fertile Crescent region
Affects 1/3 of Earth’s land area

57. Soil Conservation Policies
1935 Soil Conservation Act – in response to the Dust Bowl
1994 renamed Natural Resources Conservation Service, expanded to include water quality & pollution control
Farmers must adopt soil conservation plans before they can receive government subsidies; pay farmers to stop cultivating cropland that erodes easily, plant grasses & trees

58. “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” F.D.R.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck describes the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s
Resulted from poor agricultural practices and severe drought
This set the stage for wind erosion of the top soil

59. International Programs
United Nations promotes soil conservation & sustainable agriculture through its Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Supports creative approaches to resource management challenges in many developing countries
Call on local leaders to educate and encourage local farmers

60. Soil Pollution
Irrigation & Pesticide use can improve soil productivity in the short term, but pollute long-term
Irrigation – providing of water other than precipitation to crops
Too much results in water-logged crops & salinization (use drip method)
Pesticides – chemicals that kill organisms that attack plants
Toxic, may remain in the soil, water, biomagnification, kills pollinators

61. 12.2 Review
Describe one farming practice that can erode soil and one that can conserve soil.
Explain how overgrazing and planting in poor soil can cause a cycle of desertification.
In your own words, write one paragraph about the effects of the Conservation Reserve Program (pg. 363, top paragraph).
How can irrigation and pesticides cause soil pollution?
Besides the above 4 questions, complete the 12.2 review packet.

62. 12.3 Agriculture
Began 10,000 years ago when a warmer climate allowed planting seeds & raising livestock
It went from hunter/gatherer to selective breeding & settlement
Traditional agriculture was performed by humans & animals
Industrial agriculture introduced large-scale mechanization & fossil-fueled engines, replacing horse & oxen with faster, more efficient means of harvesting, processing, & transporting

63. Industrial Agriculture
Resulted in irrigation improvements & synthetic fertilizers & pesticides
Produces huge amounts of crops & livestock, relying on huge inputs of energy, water & chemicals
This requires large areas to be planted in a single crop (monoculture), increasing harvests but less biodiversity and more genetic similarity & vulnerability to disease & pests

64. How can we feed more people in the world?
Increase the crop yields with new varieties
New farming techniques
Or…………………

66. The Green Revolution
Agricultural scientists introduced new technology, crop varieties & farming practices to developing nations
1940s Norman Borlaug introduced Mexico’s farmers to a specially bred strain of wheat, tripling their wheat production in 2 decades.
Developing nations began applying large amounts of synthetic fertilizers & chemical pesticides, liberally irrigating crops, & using heavy equipment powered by fossil fuels.

67. Environmental Effects of the Green Revolution
Green Revolution saved millions of lives.
Technology comes at a high energy cost
Less additional land was needed, so it preserved some ecosystems
Intensive application of water, inorganic fertilizers & pesticides has worsened erosion, salinization, desertification, eutrophication, & pollution. Increased fossil fuel use has increased air pollution & global warming

68. Pests
Chemical pesticides – since 1960, pesticide use has risen fourfold worldwide, continuing to rise in developing nations; resistance!
Biological pest control – battle pests & weeds with organisms that eat or infect them; wasps & caterpillars, soil bacterium (Bt), could create invasive species
Integrated pest management – combin-ing both of above to achieve the most effective long-term pest reduction

69. Pollinators
Most insects are harmless to agriculture & some are essential
Without pollination, plants cannot reproduce sexually
Pollinators are among the most vital yet least appreciated factors in agriculture
As pesticide use increases, pollinator populations decrease
Pollinator conservation !!!!

70. 12.3 Review
Write a paragraph describing when and how agriculture likely began. End with a description of the beginnings of selective breeding.
How have industrial agriculture & the green revolution affected the world’s population?
How do (a) chemical pesticides, (b) biological control, and (c) integrated pest management protect crops from pests?
How are pollinators important to crop agriculture?
Besides the above 4 questions, do 12.3 review packet.

71. 12.4 Food Production
How can we produce enough food for a rapidly growing population while sustaining our ability to produce it?
Each year Earth gains 75 million people & loses million acres of productive cropland
Arable (suitable for farming) land is running out, yet world population of 9 billion is predicted by 2050

72. Food Security
Is the guarantee of an adequate & reliable food supply for all people at all times
Because hunger continues and the population is growing, we need to find a way to increase food production sustainably
The world’s soils are in decline, & nearly all arable land is being farmed
We must maintain healthy soil & water, protect biodiversity of food sources, & ensure safe distribution

73. Undernourished/Malnutrition
Hunger is a problem not only in developing nations, but in the US as well
Malnutrition – shortage of nutrients the body needs; lacks quantity and/or quality
Kwashiorkor – disease caused by eating too little protein; bloating, poor hair quality, skin problems, developmental de-lays, lower immunity, anemia, sunken eyes

74. Genetically Modified Organisms
Genetic engineering – any process in which scientists directly manipulate an organism’s DNA
Uses recombinant DNA technology; scientists place genes that code for desired traits into the genomes of organisms lacking these traits
Ex’s – rapid growth, pest resistance, frost tolerance
Biotechnology uses creation of geneti-cally modified organisms, development of medicines, clean up pollution, etc…

75. GM Crops
GM crops are everywhere: crops that resist herbicides, insect attack; GM seed sales have increased rapidly in the US
Over 85% of corn, soybeans, cotton & canola crops are GM
Risks: resistance by pests, dangerous to eat?, GM genes will make their way into wild plants
Benefits: reduces use of insecticides & therefore use of fossil fuels, increases no-till farming

76. Industrial Food Production
Feedlots – concentrated animal feeding operations; greater, more efficient production of food without degrading soil, manure can be used as fertilizer; manure can contaminate bodies of water, high density increases antibiotic use, inhumane treatment of animals
Aquaculture – raising aquatic animals for food in controlled environments; disease spread, lots of waste; sustain-able, protects wild fish, less fossil fuel

77. Plant Diversity
Risk of GM genes moving into the wild by pollinators & outcompete them leaving us with a monoculture in the wild & farms
Genetic diversity is decreasing
Seed banks preserve seeds of diverse plants
Production of meat for food is extremely inefficient, especially beef (eggs & milk are efficient)

78. Sustainable Agriculture
Is agriculture that doesn’t deplete soil faster than if forms, nor reduce amount or quality of soil, water, & genetic diversity
Organic agriculture – use no synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides or herbicides; production increasing with demand
Low input agriculture – uses smaller amounts of pesticides, fertilizers, etc….
Locally supported agriculture – average food product in US travels 1500 miles farm to shelf, often chemically treated to preserve it, less varieties; local, fresh, in-season crops

79. 12.4 Review
Why does the world need to grow more food? Why do the methods need to be sustainable?
What is a genetically modified organism? What questions would you ask about a food made from genetically modified corn before eating it?
What are 2 advantages & 2 disadvantages of industrial food production?
Do you think organic foods are worth the extra cost? Explain.
In addition to above, do 12.4 Review Packet.

80. Unit 9C - Minerals & Mining
Objectives:
Identify Earth’s major geological processes and hazards
Describe the formation & recycling of rocks & minerals
Identify Earth’s mineral resources & describe the environmental effects of using them.
Identify methods of using minerals more sustainably.

81. Chp. 13 Case Study – Mining for….Cell Phones?
Page 391 – Central Case
Do a Decision-Making Analysis (15 pts.)
What is the Problem? What is your proposed Solution? Now analyze your proposed solution: 3 Pros, 3 Cons, 3 Short-term consequences, 3 Long-term consequences. Now, form a Conclusion about your proposed solution & why.

82. Minerals
“Mineral” – solid inorganic substance that is found in nature and consists of a single element or compound in an orderly, repetitive crystalline structure
“Mineral Resources” – minerals useful to humans

83. Mineral Formation
Formed by crystallization from magma or lava, from precipitation related to evaporation or hydrothermal solutions, from exposure to high pressure and temperature, or produced by organisms
Rock – solid mass of minerals/mineral-like that occurs naturally
Rock cycle – rocks are heated, melted, cooled, weathered, & eroded as they slowly change between 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, & metamorphic

84. 13.1 Review
Which of the 5 criteria that define minerals explains why polymorphs are actually different minerals?
How is the rate at which magma cools related to the size of the crystals in a mineral?
Explain the processes that would cause the material in an igneous rock to become sedimentary rock and then metamorphic rock.
Also, do 13.1 review packet (if assigned).

85. Mining
Involves breaking the ground to gain access to minerals, fossil fuel or water, and then extracting them
Ore – mineral that is mined so a metal can be removed from it
Copper, iron, lead, gold silver, alum-inum are the most common metals
Nonmetallic minerals include sand, grave, limestone, salt, gemstones
Fuel sources include uranium, coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc…

86. Mining Methods Open Pit Copper Mine
Strip Mining – machines clear away large strips of the Earth’s surface; coal, sand & gravel
Subsurface mining – vertical shafts & horizontal tunnel networks are dug; zinc, lead, nickel, tin, gold, copper, uranium
Open-pit mining – machines are used to dig large holes in the ground and remove mineral-containing rock; copper, iron, gold, diamonds, coal, clay, gravel, sand, limestone
Open Pit
Copper Mine

87. Mining Methods, continued
Mountaintop Removal – used primarily for coal mining; forests are clear-cut and the timber sold or burned, topsoil is removed and rock is blasted away
Solution mining – miners pump a chemical solution into a mine to leach the desired resource from the ore, removing the liquid after the solution has reacted with the ore; salt mining
Placer mining – sifting through material in modern/ancient riverbed deposits; gold mining
Undersea Mining – dredging the sea floor, limited as it is so expensive

88. Effects of mining: Wildlife habitat is lost
Disruption of the land surface
Land erosion
Toxic substances left behind after processing

89. Mining in Florida
Sand
Clay
Phosphate
Timber

90. 13.2 Review
In your own words, explain why all sources of valuable metals are not considered to be ore.
A mining geologist locates a horizontal seam of coal close to the surface. What type of method will the mining company most likely use to extract it? Explain your answer…..why?
What are tailings?

91. Mining Impacts & Regulation
Impacts include erosion, increased sediment & debris, and pollution of water, land & air.
As mining continued to grow, the technology became more powerful and destructive to the environment
Laws became necessary to control access, effects & safety of miners
Mining regulations that govern mining consider the environmental and safety impacts of mining along with the economic costs to the industry

92. Regulations
General Mining Law of 1872 – enacted in response to gold mining; governs mining on public lands, claim staking
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 – governs leasing of public lands for mining of fossil fuels, phosphates, sodium & sulfur
Amending the General Mining Law – critics say it gives away valuable public resources, defenders say mining companies take on great financial risks

93. Regulations, continued
Surface Mining Control & Reclama-tion Act (1977) – due to negative environmental effects of strip mining, gov’t requires coal mining companies to reclaim/restore the land after mining is completed; still have acid drainage and non-native plant damage persisting for years
Mining Safety – ventilation require-ments, minimum age; modern day mining safety is regulated under Federal Mine Safety & Health Act

94. Reclamation
Restore the mined land to the condition it was in before mining began
“Mining companies should restore the land the same successional stage it was in when they mined it.” Do you agree or disagree, and why?

95. Responsible Mineral Use
Because minerals are a nonrenewable resource, we need to be concerned about finite supplies and ways to use them more responsibly, such as reducing use, reusing and recycling minerals
Increased cell phone use boosted demand for tantalum but decreased demand for copper used in wiring
Recycled car batteries saves lead, half of aluminum used is recycled saving 1/20th the energy extracting it from ore

96. 13.3 Review
Describe 2 ways that mines can continue to cause damage to communities even after mining is complete.
Compare & contrast the goals of the General Mining Law of 1872 and the proposed Hardrock Mining & Reclamation Act of 2009.
Although both minerals & fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources, how is mineral use more sustainable than fossil fuel use?
Also, if assigned, do 13.3 review packet.