Earth’s Energy and Mineral Resources

1. Earth’s Energy and Mineral Resources Chapter 5

2. Energy • The ability to create change.

3. Nonrenewable Resources • Resources that are being used faster than natural processes can replace them. • Fossil fuels • Fuels that form from the remains of buried organisms. • Coal, oil, natural gas

4. Coal • Most abundant fossil fuel in the world. • Is a rock that contains at least 50% plant remains. • At current rate of use, coal will last for another 250 years.

5. Synthetic Fuels • Fuels extracted from solid organic material, such as coal. • Hydrocarbons are extracted from the coal to form liquid and gaseous synthetic fuel.

6. Stages of Coal Formation • As plant material decays it loses gas and moisture and increases in carbon content. • Stage 1 – Peat • Organic sediment with a high concentration of water and impurities • Stage 2 – Lignite • Soft, brown coal formed from the burial and pressurization of peat • Stage 3 - Bituminous Coal • Soft coal that is compact, black, and brittle • Stage 4 – Anthracite • Cleanest burning coal because it has the highest carbon content

7. Oil • Thick, black liquid formed from the buried remains of microscopic marine organisms. • Composed of hydrocarbons.

8. Natural Gas • Often forms with oil. • Composed of hydrocarbons. • Enough natural gas is located in the US to last about 60 more years.

9. Formation of Oil and Natural Gas • Tiny marine organisms called plankton die and are buried by sediment. • Pressure and heat change the organisms to natural gas and oil. • Because both oil and gas are lighter than water, they move toward the surface of the earth. • While moving up, they may be trapped under an folder layer of impermeable rock such as shale. • Shale is known as a caprock. • The rock layer underneath the caprock is known as a reservoir rock.

10. Coal Mining • Strip mining • Used when coal deposits are close to the surface. • Layers of soil and rock are removed and piled to the side • Coal is removed • Soil is replaced and trees are planted through land reclamation.

11. Coal Mining • Underground coal mining • Tunnels are dug in order to remove the coal. • Drift mining • Coal close to the surface is removed through horizontal openings in the sides of hills or mountains. • Slope mining • An angled opening and air shaft are made in the side of the mountain to remove the coal.

12. Drilling for Oil and Gas • Wells are drilled down to rock layers that may have oil and gas deposits. • Wells are lined with pipe to prevent collapse. • Once the targeted layer is reached, equipment to control the flow of oil. • Surrounding rock is fractured to allow oil and gas to flow into the well. • Oil and gas are pumped to the surface.

13. Fossil Fuel Reserves • Fossil Fuel Reserve • Amount of a fossil fuel that can be extracted at a profit using current technology. • Fossil Fuel Resource • Fossil fuels that are concentrated enough that they can be extracted in useful amounts.

14. Methane Hydrates • Stable molecules found trapped in ice structures in ocean floor sediments • Form under relatively low temps and high pressures. • Estimated to contain more carbon than in all current fossil fuel deposits combined.

15. Nuclear Energy • Nuclear fission • The splitting of heavy elements to produce energy. • Carried out in nuclear power plants using uranium. • Uranium fuel rods sit in water inside a nuclear reactor. • Neutrons are fired into the fuel rod, splitting the uranium atoms which produces heat and releases more neutrons to hit other atoms. • Heat causes the water to produce steam which drives a turbine, which turns a generator that produces energy. • Process produced radioactive wastes that must be stored at least 10,000 years.

16. Nuclear Energy • Fusion • Materials with low mass are fused to produce a substance with higher mass. • Occurs naturally in the sun (hydrogen is fused into helium).

17. Inexhaustible Energy Resources • Energy sources that are constant and will not run out. • Sun • Wind • Water • Geothermal

18. Solar Energy • Solar cells • Actively collect energy from the sun and transform it into electricity. • Disadvantages • Only works when sunlight is available

19. Wind Energy • Windmills • Use wing to produce energy. • Wind Farm • Large number of windmills in one area. • Disadvantages • Not consistent • Wind must blow at certain speeds

20. Energy from Water • Hydroelectric Energy • Electricity produced with water power. • Water released through dams turn turbines which then turn generators that produce electricity. • Disadvantages • Environmental concerns with loss of habitat, increased erosion, and increased sediment deposition.

21. Energy from the Earth • Geothermal energy • Energy obtained using hot magma or hot, dry rocks inside the Earth. • Heated groundwater produced steam which is used to turn turbines which turn generators which produce electricity.

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

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

24. Wood • Disadvantages: • Small particles are released into the air when burned. • Habitat is destroyed.

25. Alcohol • Gasohol • Ethanol, produced during the distillation of corn, mixed with gasoline • Disadvantages • Currently takes abundant energy to produce

26. Garbage • Approximately 2/3 of garbage is burnable. • Garbage can be burned to heat water, producing steam used to drive generators. • Disadvantages • Air pollution and heavy metals

27. Mineral Resources • A deposit of useful minerals

28. Metallic Mineral Resources • Ores • Deposits in which minerals exist in large enough amounts to be mined for profit. • Mineral must be in demand • Enough mineral must exist to make mining profitable • Must be fairly easy to separate from rest of the material

29. Metallic Mineral Resources • Refining Ore • After the ore is mined, it is crushed and waster rock (called gangue) is removed • Once the mineral is removed it is refined in processes such as smelting in order to be as pure as possible.

30. Nonmetallic Mineral Resources • Any mineral resources not used as fuels or as sources of metal. • Divided into two groups: • Industrial minerals • Building materials

31. Nonmetallic Mineral Resources • Examples of Industrial Minerals • Sylvite is used in fertilizers • Halite is used for various salts • Corundum and garnet are used as abrasives • Examples of Building Materials • Aggregate and limestone in concrete • Gypsum in plaster and wallboard • Various rocks as building blocks/sheets

32. Recycling Mineral Resources • Using old materials to make new ones • Advantages: • Reduces the demand for new mineral resources • Uses less energy to make product • Profit