Geologic Resources: Nonrenewable Mineral and Energy Resources Chapter 15 “Mineral resources are the building blocks on which modern society depends. Knowledge of their physical nature and origins, the web they weave between all aspects of human society and the physical earth, can lay the foundations for a sustainable society.” Ann Dorr

Key Concepts Types of mineral resources Formation and location of mineral resources Extraction and processing of mineral resources Increasing supplies of mineral resources Major types, acquisition, advantages and disadvantages of fuel resources

Nature and Formation of Mineral Resources Fig. 15-2 p. 339 Mineral resources Metallic Nonmetallic Energy Resources Magma Hydrothermal Weathering

Finding and Removing Nonrenewable Mineral Resources Satellite imagery Aerial sensors (magnetometors) Gravity differences Core Sampling Seismic surveys Chemical analysis of water and plants

Removing Nonrenewable Mineral Resources Surface Mining Overburden Spoil Open Pit Dredging Strip Mining Subsurface Mining Room-and-pillar Longwall Mining Refer to Figure 15-4 (page 341) and Figure 15-5 (page 342)

Environmental Effects of Extracting Mineral Resources Fig. 15-6 pg 343

Environmental Effects of Processing Mineral Resources Ore mineral Gangue Tailings Smelting Fig. 15-7 p. 344

Environmental Effects of Using Mineral Resources Disruption of land surface Subsidence Erosion of solid mining waste Acid mine drainage Air pollution Storage and leakage of liquid mine waste

Supplies of Mineral Resources Economic Depletion Depletion time Reserve-to-production ratio Foreign resources Economics Environmental Concerns Mining the Oceans Fining substitutes Fig. 15-9 pg 346

Evaluating Energy Resources Renewable energy Nonrenewable energy Future availability Net energy yield Cost Environmental effects Fig. 15-12 pg 351

Important Nonrenewable Energy Resources Fig. 15-10 pg 350

North American Energy Resources Fig. 15-20, p 356

Oil Petroleum (crude oil) Primary recovery Secondary recovery Tertiary recovery Petrochemicals Refining Transporting Fig. 15-18, p 355

Oil Shale and Tar Sands Oil Shale Kerogen Tar Sands Bitumen Fig. 15-28, p 361

Natural Gas 50-90% methane Conventional gas Unconventional gas Methane hydrate Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Liquefied natural gas (LNG) Approximate 200 year supply Fig. 15-29, p 362

Coal Stages of coal formation Primarily strip mined Used mostly for generating electricity Enough coal for about 1000 years Highest environmental impact Coal gasification and liquefaction

Coal Fig. 15-30, p 363

Burning Coal More Cleanly Fluidized-Bed Combustion Fig. 15-33, p 364

Nuclear Energy Fission reactors Uranium-235 Potentially dangerous Radioactive wastes Fig. 15-35, p 366

The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Fig. 15-36, p 367

Dealing With Nuclear Waste Low-level waste High-level waste Underground burial Disposal in space Burial in ice sheets Dumping into subduction zones Burial in ocean mud Conversion into harmless materials Fig. 15-40, p 370

Nuclear Alternatives Breeder nuclear fission reactors Nuclear fission New reactor designs Storage Containers Fuel rod Primary canister Ground Level Overpack container sealed Unloaded from train Personal elevator Air shaft Nuclear waste shaft Underground Buried and capped Lowered down shaft Fig. 15-42 p. 376