Mineral Resources Section 7.1

After You Read 1. Renewable Resources: These resources can be restored and used again and again. Air, water, sunlight

After You Read 1. Nonrenewable Resources: These resources can be used only once Coal, petroleum, natural gas, crushed stone.

7.1 After You Read Explain how the difficulty and cost of extracting a resource affects its supply. Name at least one possible extraction difficulty. The more difficult it is to extract a resource, the more expensive the process will be. For example, ores may need to be separated from the other materials. This limits the supply and adds cost.

7.1 After You Read Explain how increasing demand might lead to increasing the areas considered as a mineral reserve. One factor in outlining a mineral reserve is the cost effectiveness of getting the mineral. If demand were to rise sharply, process would also rise sharply. This might increase the area of mineral resources that could be profitably extracted.

7.2 Energy Resources Renewable: Wind, water, solar, geothermal Nonrenewable: Fossil fuels, uranium

7.2 After You Read Explain why coal, petroleum, and natural gas are considered nonrenewable resources even though they continue to form under the Earth’s surface. Humans are using these resources as a rate far faster than the resources are forming. Because they take millions of years to form, they are (nonrenewable).

7.2 After You Read Humans are using up the available supplies of nonrenewable energy resources. As this happens, what may happen to the use and availability of renewable energy resources? Their use and availability should increase.

7.3 Environmental Issues While You Read 1. Mined minerals Waste rock; sulfuric acid; chemical contamination; water pollution; open pits; loss of top soil 2. Nuclear power Radioactive byproducts; accident potential 3. Fossil fuel power Air pollution; acid rain; threatens open lands; oil spills 4. Water power Need dams for storage 5. Wind power Interfere with broadcast reception; interfere with bird migration; use of arable land; storage limitations 6. Geothermal power Not located near centers of need; cave-ins; water pollution 7. Solar power Storage limitations; weather dependent

7.3 After You Read 1. Explain the processes of conservation and recycling. What role does each play in the responsible management of Earth’s resources? Conservation involves both preserving resources by preserving negative impact on them and improving efficiency in our use of them.

7.3 After You Read (continued) Recycling involves reusing materials such as glass, plastic, and metal rather than discarding them. Both methods play important roles in maintaining enough resources for humans to meet their personal and industrial needs.

7.3 After You Read 2. List two ways that laws have been used by governments to protect the environment and conserve resources. EPA laws protect drinking water supplies by regulating pollution standards. The 1990 Pollution Prevention Act encourages recycling and efficient resource use. State laws require cleaner cars or recycling of household waste.