1. Natural Resources Gallery Walk
8th Grade Science
KMS

2. Diamonds What element is diamond made of?
Carbon
Why are diamonds a nonrenewable resource?
Because they are very rare and take thousands of years to be produced.
Describe 4 ways that diamonds are formed
Mantle – high heat and pressure within Earth
Subduction zone – tectonic plates collide and one is forced down into Earth’s mantle.
Impact sites – pressure and heat due to asteroid hitting Earth.
Space – collision of meteorites
Where are diamonds found
Earth’s core (a lot of heat and pressure)
Additional information
A large amount of heat and pressure is always needed for diamonds to form.

3. Natural Gas How is natural gas formed?
Remains of plants and animals that have decayed and built up thick layers. Over time a lot of heat and pressure was applied changing these materials into natural gas.
What are common uses for natural gas?
Electricity, propane, fertilizer, plastic, antifreeze, medicine
What are DIGESTERS used for?
Machines that turn organic material into a biogas (to use in place of a natural gas) so that we don’t need to wait thousands of years.
In what areas of the world is Natural Gas found?
Mainly in the middle East, Europe & the USSR (central and south America)

4. Petroleum Why is petroleum a fossil fuel?
Because it is buried marine organisms (plants and animals) that had large amounts of heat and pressure over millions of years in order for it to form.
What are the steps in the formation of petroleum?
Step 1 – marine organisms die and sink to the ocean floor
Step 2 – these organisms get crushed and buried.
Step 3 – Large amounts of heat and pressure are applied to turn it into petroleum
How do we access petroleum
Developmental drilling – drilling where oil reserves are already found
Exploratory drilling – drilling to find reserves
Directional drilling – drilling at an angle
What do we use petroleum for?
Gasoline, nail polish, ammonia

5. Coal How is coal formed? How long does it take for coal to form?
From energy stored in plants that lived millions of years ago. When plants died chemical and physical changes caused oxygen to push the coal out.
How long does it take for coal to form?
Millions of years
How do we access coal?
Surface mining (when you are mining up to 200 feet below Earth’s crust)
Underground mining (when you are mining over 200 feet below Earth’s crust)
How do we use coal?
Electricity generation
Steel production
Liquid fuel
Additional Information
Scrubbers are used to remove sulfur from the smoke so it doesn’t get into the air.
Coal is nonrenewable

6. Fossil Fuels
All fossil fuels were formed in a similar way…what makes them different?
Oil and Natural Gas
Long after the great prehistoric seas and rivers vanished, heat, pressure and bacteria combined to compress and "cook" the organic material under layers of silt. In most areas, a thick liquid called oil formed first, but in deeper, hot regions underground, the cooking process continued until natural gas was formed. Over time, some of this oil and natural gas began working its way upward through the earth's crust until they ran into rock formations called "caprocks" that are dense enough to prevent them from seeping to the surface. It is from under these caprocks that most oil and natural gas is produced today.
Coal
The same types of forces also created coal, but there are a few differences. Coal formed from the dead remains of trees, ferns and other plants that lived 300 to 400 million years ago. In some areas, such as portions of what-is-now the eastern United States, coal was formed from swamps covered by sea water. The sea water contained a large amount of sulfur, and as the seas dried up, the sulfur was left behind in the coal. 

7. Carbon Cycle Explain how carbon cycles on Earth
Through each of Earth’s systems
Biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.
Why is carbon a renewable resource?
Because it is constantly being transferred from plants and animals.
It can be considered NONRENEWABLE when being transferred from fossil fuels.
Which of Earths systems contain the greatest amounts of carbon?
The geosphere (lower mantle)
Name 3 ways in which carbon is exchanged between Earth’s systems.
Geosphere to atmosphere – carbon dioxide
Atmosphere to biosphere – photosynthesis
Atmosphere to hydrosphere – Carbon dioxide dissolved in water

8. Soil
What makes up soil?
Air, mineral particles, organic materials, water and living organisms.
List and explain the 5 factors that influence soil formation.
Parent material – minerals forming
Living organisms – earth worms and insects
Climate – affects the rate of weathering and organic decomposition
Topography – slope of land that affects drainage and erosion
Time – influence properties.
Why is soil a valuable natural resource?
It is important for sustaining life on Earth
How can we conserve soil in our environment?
Soil erosion prevention
Soil pollution prevention

9. Gold How did gold get to our planet?
From meteorites packed with other metals. Molten Iron sank into earths center to form in the core.
Why is gold considered a precious metal?
It is very rare and has a high monetary value.
Where do we find gold on Earth?
In Earth’s core
What are some uses of gold?
Jewelry
Exchange for money

10. Water Cycle List and describe the stages of the water cycle.
Step 1 – evaporation & transpiration
Step 2 – Condensation
Step 3 – Precipitation
Step 4 – Runoff & infiltration (trees soak in the water)
Why is water important?
It is needed to sustain all forms of life.
Why is water a renewable resource?
Because it is constantly being cycled between all of Earth’s systems.
How have humans impacted the water cycle?
Irrigation – use of fertilizer pollutes water.
Deforestation – removing trees affects climate which in turn affects cycling of water.
Green House Effect – Human use of fossil fuels affect Earth’s temperature.

11. Nitrogen Cycle Why is the nitrogen cycle important?
Living things cannot live without it!
How much of our atmosphere is made up of nitrogen?
78%
List and explain the processes in the nitrogen cycle:
Fixation – bacteria changes nitrogen to ammonium so it can be used by plants
Nitrification – ammonium changes to nitrates which is easily taken up by plants
Assimilation – plants absorb nitrates from the soil
Ammonification – ammonia is made by decomposing bacteria (some plants can use this)
Denitrification – extra nitrogen in soil gets put back into the atmosphere.