Exploitation of Lithosphere Resources Minerals and Energy

Exploitation of Minerals Ore- rock which contains minerals Geologists test for deposits- high concentration and large quantities of minerals Quebec- world depends on certain mineral deposits Extraction process costly and complex

Uses of Minerals Found in QuebecMineral Possible Use GoldJewellery Electronic equipment Commercial exchanges Copper Plumbing pipes and fittings Electronic wire Electronic equipment Construction (roofs) Zinc Plating of steel (to increase corrosion resistance) Moulded pieces for the automotive industry Nickel Manufacture of stainless steel CoinsMagnets Iron Manufacture of steel

Surface Mines Deposit close to surface an open mine called a surface mine used layers of surface vegetation, dirt, and if necessary, layers of bedrock removed in order to reach buried ore deposits ore is recovered using drilling machines, mechanical shovels, and enormous dump trucks

Subsurface Mines If deposit layer is too deep, sub-surface mining used consists of digging tunnels or shafts into earth to reach buried ore deposits Initially immense vertical shaft dug in which elevator installed to transport material and personnel. Tunnels radiate and are stretched horizontally, along layer equipped with drains which convey air and water Ore brought to the surface through the tunnels and shafts Different minerals processed differently

Energy Resources Fossil fuels Uranium Geothermal resources Used to heat buildings, fuel trucks and cars, power factories

Fossil Fuels Energy from coal, natural gas, oil called fossil energy Oil- from dead marine organisms; sand, mud, and other rocks and minerals covered them over time Under pressure slowly transformed into oil Natural gas same source as oil

Fossil Fuels Coal- from terrestrial plants and trees used to grow in marshes  sand and mud buried marshes  Compressed transformed into coal. Contrary to oil, which is liquid, and to natural gas, which is gas, coal is a solid.

Fossil fuels While burning, release thermal energy which can be converted into electrical energy or mechanical energy Combustion releases by-products: mainly carbon dioxide (greenhouse effect) Other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide oxides from nitrogen, which are responsible for acid rain natural gas (mainly methane)- gas with greenhouse effect 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide

Uranium Radioactive element Fraction nucleus (fission) to release large amount of energy No greenhouse gases but other problems Material in close contact radioactive for hundreds of years Expensive facilities for safety Quebec- Gentilly-2 nuclear plant

Geothermal Energy Energy which comes from internal heat of Earth Circulate fluid in depth of Earth Energy transformed into electricity or used directly for heat Volcanic regions- underground water creates hot springs Geothermal heat used in houses- renewable, reduce carbon dioxide

Geothermal Energy

Future Energy Hydrogen fuel cells Hydrogen reacts with oxygen  electricity + heat + water Hydrogen most abundant element But bonded with other elements and isolation needs lots of energy

P. 214 #1-6 P. 215 # 12, 15,16