1. Chapter 4 Earth’s Resources

2. 4.1 Energy & Mineral Resources

3. Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources
A renewable resource can be replenished over a short period of time (Months, years, or decades)
A nonrenewable resource takes millions of years to form and accumulate

4. Examples Renewable Plants for food Animals for food
Natural Fibers for clothing
Trees for lumber/paper
Water
Wind
Sun

5. Non - Renewable
When the current supply run out there will not be anymore
Why is this a problem?
Fossil Fuels
Coal
Oil (Petroleum)
Natural Gas

6. Fossil Fuels Any hydrocarbon that may be used as a source of energy
Coal
Primarily used to generate electricity
Scars the land
Dangerous
Air pollution (High Sulfate)
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Oil trap – geological structure that allows large amounts of fluids to accumulate
Stops upward movement of oil and gas

7. Tar Sands & Oil Shale
Some energy experts believe that fuels coming from tar sands and oil shales could be good substitutes for lowering petroleum supplies
Tar sands are mixtures of clay & sand combined with water 7 black tar
The oil in tar sands are not easily pumped out
Problems
Land disturbance
Lots of water
Contaminated water

8. Oil Shale is heated to vaporize kerogen
Oil Shale is a rock that contains a waxy mixture of hydrocarbons called kerogen.
Oil Shale is heated to vaporize kerogen
Kerogen vapors are processed to remove impurities
Around half of the world’s supply is in the Green River Formation of Colorado, Utah, & Wyoming
Problem? YES b/c of lower water amounts in the Green River Formation

9. Formation of Mineral Deposits
Important mineral deposits form by igneous processes & from hydrothermal solutions
Igneous processes produce important deposits of metallic minerals
Hydrothermal solutions generate important ore deposits
Placer Deposits form when eroded heavy materials settle fast from moving water while less dense particles remain still and settle

10. Nonmetallic Mineral Resources
Extracted & processed either for the nonmetallic elements they contain or for their physical & chemical properties
Ex) Fluorite & Limestone
Two Groups
Building Materials
Industrial Minerals
Not abundant as building materials

11. 4.2 Alternate Energy Sources

12. Solar Energy 2 advantages – “fuel” is free & non-polluting
Passive Solar Collectors (south-facing windows)
Roof top devices
Heat water
Photovoltaic (Solar) Cells = electricity
Problems?
Equipment is not cheap
Supplemental unit needed

13. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fission, the nuclei of heavy atoms are bombarded with neutrons. The nuclei split into smaller nuclei & emit neutrons and heat energy
Cost is high
Dangerous
Accidents with radioactive materials

14. Wind Energy Sailing Ships Windmills
1980 Federal Govn’t started wind program systems
Estimate that the next years, wind power could meet btw 5-10 % of the country’s demand for electricity

15. Geothermal Energy
Hot water is used directly for heating and to turn turbines to generate electric power
Underground reservoirs of steam and hot water are tapped into
Not expected to provide a large % of the growing needs for energy

16. Hydroelectric Power Falling Water = energy
The water held in a reservoir behind a dam is a form of stored energy that can be released through the dam to produce electric power
Water is renewable but the dam has a limited lifetime

17. Tidal Power Ocean’s energy potential is still untapped
Harnessed by constructing a dam across the mouth of a bay or estuary in coastal areas. The strong in – out flow that results drive the turbines & electric generators