United States of America – Consumption of Resources You alone consume 40,000 pounds of minerals each year. Stone and Cement: Building Silicon: Fiber Optics and Computers Fertilizers: Farming Aluminum: Cars, Trucks, etc.
What is an Ore? Any rock that contains enough of a metallic element to make separation profitable. Examples of resources found in ore rock: Gold Silver Iron Aluminum Copper Aluminum, Copper and Gold
Supply and Demand Reserve: The known deposits of a mineral in ores that are worth mining.
Mining of Ores Underground mines reached by tunnels.
Mining of Ores Near surface through open pit mines.
Energy Resources: Nonrenewable Energy 1.What percentage of coal is used in the U.S.? 22.7% 2. What are the three types of fossil fuels? Coal, natural gas, petroleum
Fossil Fuels Formed from the remains of living organisms that lived on Earth millions of years ago. Coal Oil Natural Gas
Fossil Fuels Are nonrenewable. Finite, found in limited amounts in specific locations on Earth. Most of the world’s energy come from fossil fuels.
Electrical Energy Most electrical energy is produced as a result of burning fossil fuels The fossil fuels are combusted to boil water to make steam
Coal Organic sedimentary rock, formed from the decayed remains of: plants Examples: Ferns Mosses Trees
United States of America – Coal Reserves
Fast Facts about Coal United States of America The U.S. produces about 1.1 billion tons (20%) of the world's coal. China is second. Coal deposits contain more energy than that of all the world's oil reserves. Each person uses 3.8 tons of coal each year.
Coal and the Environment Coal has a reputation as a dirty fuel source which pollutes the air and damages the landscape. Coal suppliers are utilizing: Land Reclamation Reduction of Air Pollution No Scrubbers = More Pollution Scrubbers= less pollution
Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Releases large quantities of CO2 into atmosphere = Greenhouse gas Can cause Climate Change Releases other pollutants into atmosphere = Mercury, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides Can cause acid rain
Oil (Petroleum) Liquid formed more than 300 million years ago from the remains of: Diatoms (sea creatures the size of a pin head) which converted sunlight directly into stored energy.