Earth’s Energy and Mineral Resources Chapter 5 Earth’s Energy and Mineral Resources

Section 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources Most energy sources are nonrenewable, which means they are used up faster than natural processes can replace them Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal formed the remains of swamp plants and other organisms that were buried and altered over millions of years Coal – most abundant fossil fuel, a sedimentary rock that contains at least 50% plant material Hydrocarbons can be extracted from coal to form liquid and gaseous synthetic fuels. As decaying plant material loses gas and moisture, carbon concentration increases Stages of coal formation, peat, lignite coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite coal, the cleanest-burning type of coal

Section 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources… continued Over millions of years the buried remains of microscopic marine organisms form oil and natural gas. Oil is a thick black hydrocarbon. Natural gas is a gaseous hydrocarbon that often forms with oil, but above it, since natural gas is a lighter molecule. Americans obtain most of their energy from oil and natural gas. Natural gas is used mostly for heating and cooking. Oil is used in many ways including as heating oil, gasoline, and in manufacturing.

Section 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources… continued Fossil fuels are removed from the ground through mining or pumping Strip mining or open-pit mining, in which upper layers of rock and soil are removed to expose coal, is used when coal deposits are near the surface. Underground coal mining methods – tunneling, drift mines and slope mines Since oil and natural gas are under pressure, they can be pumped up a narrow pipe to the surface.

Section 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources… continued Reserve – amount of a fossil fuel that can be extracted at a profit using current technology Current reserves of coal will last about 250 years. United States reserves of natural gas will last about 60 years. Methane hydrates, located in ocean floor sediments, are believed to contain high amounts of carbon and might someday be useable source for clean-burning methane. Conserving fossil fuels will help slow down the current consumption rate

Section 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources… continued Nuclear energy – alternate energy source produced from the fission, or splitting, of uranium atoms Nuclear energy is considered a nonrenewable energy resource. One problem with nuclear energy is that nuclear power plants produce highly radioactive nuclear waste; EPA has determined that nuclear waste must be stored and contained for at least 10,000 years. Fusion – the fusing of low-mass materials to form higher- mass substances Potential clean source of energy Current technologies do not exist to allow fusion in a controlled manner.

Section 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources… continued What is meant by the term nonrenewable? How are fossil fuels formed? What are some advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels? What were the conditions of the prehistoric environment that lead to the production of fossil fuels?

Section 2: Inexhaustible and Renewable Energy Resources Inexhaustible energy resources include the Sun, wind, water, and geothermal energy. Solar energy – energy from the Sun South-facing windows act as passive solar collectors, warming exposed rooms. Solar cells actively collect Sun energy and convert it to electricity. Solar energy is not readily useable on cloudy days or at night. A wind farm uses a large number of windmills to generate electricity. Few regions of the world have strong enough wind to generate electricity. Wind does not always blow steadily, so it is an unreliable energy source.

Section 2: Inexhaustible and Renewable Energy Resources… continued Hydroelectric energy – electricity generated from running water flowing over dams; dams can create environmental problems. Geothermal energy – energy obtained from hot magma or dry, hot rocks inside the Earth Renewable energy resources, such as biomass energy, energy from burning organic material, can be replaced in a relatively short time such as during a human life span. Burning wood, the most commonly used biomass fuel, can cause pollution and disrupt natural habitats when trees are cut down Biomass fuel, such as corn, can be distilled into alcohol, such as ethanol, and mixed with another fuel. Currently, the production processes for biomass fuels, such as ethanol, use more energy than the ethanol produces Trash-burning power plants can burn garbage to generate electricity, but the resulting air pollution and toxic ash residue can present problems.

Section 2: Inexhaustible and Renewable Energy Resources… continued What is the difference between inexhaustible and renewable energy? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to inexhaustible and renewable energy?

Section 3: Mineral Resources Mineral resources – deposits of useful minerals; metals are in the form of ore, deposits in which a minerals exist in quantities large enough to be mined at profit. Economic factors such as supply and demand determine whether a mineral deposit is an ore. To exact a useful substance from ore, it must be concentrated and refined, which uses energy; smelting is one method of refining some ores. Nonmetallic mineral resources – any mineral resources not used as fuels or as sources of metals, an be grouped into industrial minerals and building materials. Industrial minerals include sandstone ( for glass making), halite (for table salt and road salt), and garnet (for abrasive sand paper) Nonmetal mineral resources used for building materials include aggregate (for concrete), gypsum (for plaster and wallboard), and building stone (such as granite, limestone, or sandstone).

Section 3: Mineral Resources… continued Recycling uses old materials to produce new ones and helps reduce demand for mineral resources, which are nonrenewable

Section 3: Mineral Resources… continued What determines whether or not a mineral deposit is an ore? Fact: Less than 25% of what can be recycled is!