Natural Resources Chapter 7

Minerals Environment: all resources, influences, and conditions near Earth’s surface Renewable resource: can be replaced in nature at a rate close to the rate used Nonrenewable resource: fixed amount; used faster that can be replaced in nature 93% of world’s energy = nonrenewable

Which of the following is most likely made from a nonrenewable resource? A. bread B. gasoline C. oxygen D. lumber

What percent of the world’s energy comes from nonrenewable energy resources? A. 100 percent B. 93 percent C. 75 percent D. 7 percent

Earth’s Minerals Elements can be nonmetal/metal Important metallic elements in minerals Ore mineral: valuable mineral; contains metallic element Gangue: rest of the rock Other valuable minerals not found in ore (nonmetallic) Sand, gravel, rock salt, talc, graphite, etc

Supply & Demand Like a store Minerals work the same Want to supply products to meet the needs of shoppers Minerals work the same Problem = natural ability to replace used minerals Reserve: deposits of a mineral in ores that are worth mining Difficult to determine where they exist b/c the world hasn’t been explored for all minerals

Minerals are non-renewable Knowing size of the reserve + rate at which it is being used  determine how long it will last Use continues reserves in the US will be used up within the next 60 years Why are these resources important? Iron  steel  skyscrapers, buildings, tunnels Copper  electrical wiring and makes brass Zinc  protects from rust Aluminum  cans, cookware, bicycle frames Lead  car batteries, shields around radioactive material Must plan for when the resources will not be around Decrease in demand = longer availability, but will eventually be gone

A mineral reserve refers to A. the rate at which the mineral is used B. the cost of mining the mineral C. the equipment needed to find the mineral D. the known deposits of the mineral that are worth mining

Although the mining process can be difficult and expensive, metal mineral reserves are mined because A. metals are easily located B. there is little demands for metals C. metals are useful and there is a great demand for them D. metals cannot be imported

Energy Resources Nonrenewable Energy Fossil fuel Fossil fuels Uranium Formed from the remains of organisms that lived millions of years ago Coal, petroleum, natural gas Burning = release of energy Used much faster than they are forming Coal used in power plants to generate electricity

Fossil fuels (cont.) Petroleum (i.e. oil)  liquid Recovered by drilling Slow chemical changes in organic matter Compacted & oil/gas forced into pores of sandstone/limestone (usually in shale) Oil trap keeps oil/gas from escaping Natural gas = mix of methane & other hydrocarbon gases Found w/petroleum, helps bring petroleum to the surface Can be found in pockets alone Other fossil fuels = oil shales, tar sands

Uranium Nucleus (nuclei): center of an atom; contains protons (positive part of an atom) & neutrons (neutral part of an atom) Fusion: combining of the nuclei of lighter elements to form a heavier element Fission: splitting of atoms Atomic fusion reaction: atoms of uranium are hit with neutrons Releases energy New neutrons cause fission of other nuclei Happens in a nuclear power plant Recovered from black mineral – uraninite

A fossil fuel that is sometimes obtained from shale is A. uranium B. peat C. anthracite D. oil

The main use of coal in the US today is A. home heating B. electricity generation C. steel production D. petroleum refining

A fuel commonly found with oil is A. lignite B. natural gas C. gasoline D. uranium

Fossil fuels include all of the following except A. coal B. petroleum C. natural gas D. nuclear energy

Renewable Resources Water Produces electricity: hydroelectric power Most efficient Water directly turns turbines E from coal/uranium must convert water to steam first, which turns a turbine as well Tides generate electricity Drops from high to low tide, turns turbine

Wind Wind power: force of moving air Captured in a windmill Creates electricity  amount depends on: Speed of wind Length of the windmill blades Efficiency of the windmill Windmill farm: provides electricity to large areas; contains several hundred windmills CA  more efficient windmills have kept the amount of E generated the same, while the # of farms decreased

The sun Solar power: energy from the sun Solar cells: convert light Passive: collects and stores solar energy Ex: a special window collects energy & doesn’t let heat escape Active: has 3 parts Solar collector facing: absorbs heat Storage area: gets heat from the collector and stores it until needed Distributor: distributes heat throughout the building Solar cells: convert light into electricity

Geothermal Energy Heat from Earth’s interior Steam that naturally rises Drilled & controlled like oil wells Converted into electrical energy when steam/hot water piped through a power plant & run through a generator High where there is high volcanic activity CA the Geysers = largest source of geothermal energy in the world

All of the following methods of generating electricity involve a turbine except A. burning coal B. nuclear fission C. solar cells D. water power

Hydroelectric power generates electricity with A. water B. moving electrons C. moving air D. hot bedrock

The amount of power produced by a windmill depends on all of the following except A. the speed of the wind B. the length of the windmills’ blades C. the energy needs of consumers D. the efficiency of the windmill

Which of the following is not a method of conserving nonrenewable resources? A. recycling materials B. developing substitute materials C. discovering new deposits of nonrenewable materials D. reducing waste

The energy source that depends on Earth’s internal heat is A. water power B. geothermal energy C. fossil fuels D. uranium

Which energy source can be renewed by falling rain? A. hydroelectric power B. wind power C. geothermal power D. solar power

California Geology

Geology of California California has formed over the last billion years of Earth's history Oldest rocks exposed in CA are in the Death Valley & Mojave Desert regions represent ancient oceanic crust & marine platform sediments that accumulated in the oceans of CA

Death Valley

Death Valley

Driving into Death Valley

Forces that shaped the earth in the past are still occurring today, as best demonstrated by California's Earthquakes Volcanic eruptions Landslides Floods Other natural events

Resources Power sources in CA:

Oil is found in 18 of the 58 counties in CA Kern County (Bakersfield) = one of the largest oil production places in the country We only get 1/2 of our oil from CA wells Solar power plants in CA's Mojave Desert use a highly curved mirror = a parabolic trough Focuses sunlight on a pipe running down a central point above the curve of the mirror The pipe so hot that it can boil water into steam The steam is used to turn a turbine = electricity

Problem = it works only when the sun is shining Huge rows of solar mirrors = "solar thermal power plants" Makes electricity for more than 350,000 homes. Problem = it works only when the sun is shining On cloudy days & at night, the power plants can't create energy Some plants are a "hybrid" technology During the daytime they use the sun At night & on cloudy days they burn natural gas to boil the water so they can continue to make electricity

Geothermal energy = 6% of CA electrical needs From plate tectonic spreading, or rifting Use the geothermally heated hot water in Swimming pools Health spas Warm buildings for growing plants, like in the green house Used to heat buildings during the winter (San Bernardino, in Southern CA) Hot water runs through miles of insulated pipes to dozens of public buildings City Hall, animal shelters, retirement homes, state agencies, a hotel and convention center

There are 14 areas in CA where we use geothermal energy to make electricity Some are not used yet b/c the resource is too small, too isolated or the water temperatures are not hot enough to make electricity Main spots: The Geysers area north of San Francisco NW corner of the state near Lassen Volcanic National Park Mammoth Lakes area - the site of a huge ancient volcano Coso Hot Springs area in Inyo County Imperial Valley in Southern California

CA's existing nuclear power plants provide a significant amount of CA's non-fossil fuel based energy and power But there is a significant amounts of spent nuclear fuel

In addition to power … California Central Valley Full of sediments = major agricultural area Caused from faults that occurred as the Sierra Nevada rose and eroded

Agriculture = Need for Water Economy = industry & agriculture = need for a lot of water Most water is from rain & snow in the mountains Yet in Eastern CA  water from the Colorado River As you travel further north = more precipitation (rainfall)

Water and Geography California is a state of different climates, which causes water supply to vary widely Depends on runoff from the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range Floods and droughts can occur in the same year

Precipitation amounts can vary from less than an inch in CA’s Death Valley desert to about 56 inches along the North Coast Precipitation Captured & stored in reservoirs It can recharge groundwater basins These underground aquifers can hold 6-10 times the amount of surface water reservoir Many are over-pumped & some are contaminated by toxins Other aquifers are too deep to reach economically

Agriculture is Important to the Economy 1 out of every 6 jobs in CA is tied to agriculture in some way CA has the largest agricultural economy in the nation 1/2 of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables are grown here Fresno is the most productive county in the nation, with an agricultural worth of 3.5 billion dollars in 2000 Some crops use great quantities of water EX: a hamburger patty = more than 1,300 gallons

Water Projects & State’s Economy Water development has three primary goals flood control water storage hydroelectric power generation CA is home to four massive water projects, plus numerous local projects The Los Angeles Aqueduct brings water from the Owens Valley south to Los Angeles The Colorado River Aqueduct brings water from the Colorado River to Southern California for urban uses

the Imperial Irrigation District operates the Imperial Dam and All-American Canal, which supply water for irrigation in the Imperial Valley. The State Water Project brings water from the San Francisco Bay Delta & delivers it to farmers in the Central Valley, as well as providing water for urban uses in Southern CA All water projects and rivers in CA 

Local Water Projects                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Mineral Resources Sierra Nevada Gold formation Minerals are deposited in the veins of quartz by a hydrothermal (of or relating to hot water) solution

Natural Hazards Earthquakes cause Tsunami (:large wave caused from an underwater earthquake) Could happen in CA if an earthquake occurred along the Pacific Rim Primary concern when living on the coast Landslides Where there is weak underlying rock/sediments Can occur in any state Causes= Severe storms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, coastal wave attack, & wildfires Most likely place for earthquake = San Andres fault

Photo of the 2005 La Conchita Landslide .

Volcanoes Erosion 6 active volcanoes in CA Next slide has pictures Creates coastal cliffs Caused by waves striking the base of these cliffs

Mount Shasta

People living along the coast of CA are primarily concerned with which natural disaster? A. tsunamis B. forest fires C. earthquakes D. volcanic eruptions

Which two power sources provides the greatest amount of electric power for CA? A. nuclear and geothermal B. natural gas and coal C. natural gas and hydroelectric D. coal and nuclear

Which of the following describes the formation of gold deposits in the Sierra Nevada? A. heat and pressure exerted on a coarse-grained metamorphic rock B. heat and pressure compacted carbonized material C. mineral deposited by hydrothermal solutions in quartz veins D. highly viscous magma cooled quickly at Earth’s surface

What might cause a tsunami to strike the coast of CA? A. volcanic activity with CA B. any earthquake along the Pacific Rim C. high tides along the Pacific Rim D. an earthquake in the Sierra Nevada

Hazard Maps Hazard Maps Many types Earthquake hazard maps most widely used in CA Show fault lines Show number of earthquakes that have occurred in a certain time frame Help in predicting where an earthquake will occur

California Division of Mines and Geology Seismic belt: chances of an earthquake happening in this area are greater than anywhere else California Division of Mines and Geology Play an important role in providing earthquake information Good resource if you are considering building in CA

Which is the major source of water for eastern California? A. the Pacific Ocean B. the Colorado River C. groundwater D. snowmelt

Geologic hazard map helps people A. locate water resources B. identify evidence of past geologic events C. predict future geologic events D. predict the future and learn about the past

Why is water more important in CA than in other states? A. CA has less water than any other state B. CA’s water is polluted by the Pacific Ocean C. More people live in CA than in any other state D. CA economy relies on industry/agriculture, which requires more water

What is the source of most of CA’s water? A. coastal rain from the Pacific Ocean winds B. underground aquifers throughout the state C. rain and snow in mountain watersheds D. canals running from the Colorado River