1. Energy and Mineral Resources
GY111 Physical Geology
Energy and Mineral Resources
GY111 Physical Geology lectures on Energy & Mineral Resources.

2. Resources & Reserves
Energy & Mineral Resources: educated guesses on remaining deposits.
Reserves: proven by drilling and/or geophysical prospecting.
Non-renewable: once used will not be replaced because of long generation cycle (i.e. Petroleum, Coal, Ore Deposits).
Resources & Reserves:
1. Energy & Mineral Resources: educated guesses on remaining deposits.
2. Reserves: proven by drilling and/or geophysical prospecting.
3. Non-renewable: once used will not be replaced because of long generation cycle (i.e. Petroleum, Coal, Ore Deposits).

3. U.S. Energy Consumption
Exponential growth of U.S. demand matches population growth.
Oil & Natural Gas provide most of the current U.S. Energy production.
Recent discoveries of Natural Gas in North America point to increasing reliance on this energy resource.
U.S. Energy Consumption:
1. Exponential growth of demand matches population growth.
2. Oil & Natural Gas provide most of the energy production in the U.S.
3. Recent discoveries of Natural Gas in North America point to increasing reliance on this energy resource.

4. Global Energy Consumption
India & China are major consumers of energy in developing countries.
Global Energy Consumption:
1. India & China are major consumers of energy in developing countries.

5. Combustion Combustion oxidizes a chemical compound releasing energy.
By-products include CO2 and H2O.
Example: CH4 + 2(O2) = CO2 + 2H2O.
Example: 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O.
Note that the only product is water
Unfortunately coal and gasoline have other components (N,S) that produce pollutants (NO2,H2SO4,H2S,etc.).
Coal is by far the “dirtiest” fossil fuel, methane (natural gas) the “cleanest”.
Combustion:
1. Combustion oxidizes a chemical compound releasing energy.
2. By-products include CO2 and H2O.
Example: CH4 + 2(O2) = CO2 + 2H2O.
Example: 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O.
Note that the only product is water
3. Unfortunately coal and gasoline have other components (N,S) that produce pollutants (NO2,H2SO4,H2S,etc.).
4. Coal is by far the “dirtiest” fossil fuel, methane (natural gas) the “cleanest”.

6. Potential Known Energy Resources with Current Technology.
Based on educated guesses!
Potential Known Energy Resources with Current Technology:
Uranium Oxide (Nuclear Fission).
Coal & Lignite.
Heavy Oil and Tar Sands.
Crude Oil.
Natural Gas.

7. Global Distribution of Petroleum Resources
Middle East Dominates this Resource.
Global Distribution of Petroleum Resources:
1. Middle East Dominates this Resource: 62%.
2. Russia: 10%.
3. SE Asia including China & India: 4%.

8. Decline of Petroleum as an Energy Resource
US production peaked in 1970’s.
World production has peaked (2006).
Decline of Petroleum as an Energy Resource:
1. US production peaked in 1970’s.
2. World production has peaked (2006).

9. Formation of Coal Formation of Coal:
Climate that supports abundant vegetation (swampy, tropical).
Rapid deposition: deltaic.
Time and heat determines grade of coal (lignite, bituminous, anthracite).

10. U.S. Coal Resources
Mainly in Appalachian and Rocky Mt. Orogenic belts.
U.S. Coal Resources:
1. Mainly in Appalachian and Rocky Mt. Orogenic belts.

11. Traps for Oil & Gas Resources
Various types of traps for oil and natural gas:
Anticlinal.
Fault.
Stratigraphic.
Salt Dome.
Traps for Oil & Gas Resources:
1. Various types of traps for oil and natural gas:
a. Anticlinal.
b. Fault.
c. Stratigraphic.
d. Salt Dome.

12. Energy Fact Matrix Proven tech., easy transport.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Petroleum
Proven tech., easy transport.
Abundant in US, 200 year supply.
Clean, easy transport.
Proven tech., very efficient, no pollution, 500 year supply from US reserves.
Decreasing supply, pollutes.
Dirty, difficult to transport.
Decreasing supply.
Radioactive waste.
Coal
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Energy Fact Matrix:
Advantages Disadvantages
Petroleum: Proven tech., easy transport. Decreasing supply, pollutes.
Coal: Abundant in US, 200 year supply. Dirty, difficult to transport.
Natural Gas: Clean, easy transport. Decreasing supply.
Nuclear: Proven tech., very efficient,
no pollution, 500 year supply from Radioactive waste.
US reserves.

13. Detrimental Effects of Fossil Fuel Consumption
Disruption of environment from extraction.
Pollution.
Climate Change.
Over consumption of a non-renewable resource.
Detrimental Effects of Fossil Fuel Consumption:
1. Disruption of environment from extraction.
2. Pollution.
3. Climate Change.
4. Over consumption of a non-renewable resource.

14. Climate Change Potential
Remember that CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas – CH4 and H2O also trap heat.
The Earth has systems that can remove CO2 from the atmosphere (carbon cycle).
Climate Change Potential:
1. Remember that CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas – CH4 and H2O also trap heat.
The Earth has systems that can remove CO2 from the atmosphere (carbon cycle).

15. Mineral Resources
Non-energy mineral resources are critical to modern technology.
The U.S. imports the majority of these resources.
Mineral resources are generally non-renewable but they are often recyclable.
Mineral Resources:
1. Non-energy mineral resources are critical to modern technology.
2. The U.S. imports the majority of these resources.
3. Mineral resources are generally non-renewable but they are often recyclable.

16. Ore Deposits Ore deposit: can be mined at a profit.
Mineral deposit: cannot be mined at a profit.
Ore reserves: accurate assessment of future production.
Ore resources: rough estimate of future production.
Most ore deposits are created in hydrothermal systems.
Ore Deposits:
1. Ore deposit: can be mined at a profit.
2. Mineral deposit: cannot be mined at a profit.
3. Ore reserves: accurate assessment of future production.
4. Ore resources: rough estimate of future production.
5. Most ore deposits are created in hydrothermal systems.

17. Open-Pit Mining Environmentally destructive; Reclamation is expensive.
Processes large volumes of low-grade ore to make a profit.
Open-pit Mining:
1. Environmentally destructive. Reclamation is expensive.
2. Processes large volumes of low-grade ore to make a profit.

18. South Africa Mineral Resources
By far the richest country in terms of mineral resources.
Many are in Precambrian shield regions.
Metallic Deposits: Gold, Platinum, Chrome, Silver, Copper.
South Africa Mineral Resources:
1. By far the richest country in terms of mineral resources.
2. Many are in Precambrian shield regions.
3. Metallic Deposits: Gold, Platinum, Chrome, Silver, Copper.

19. Non-Metallic Resources
Calcite.
Gem stones.
Asbestos.
Gypsum.
Dimension stone.
Aggregate.
Non-Metallic Resources:
1. Calcite.
2. Gem stones.
3. Asbestos.
4. Dimension stone.
5. Aggregate.

20. Exam Review
Know definitions of energy reserves, resources, non-renewable, etc.
Know ranking of future potential energy resources.
Know the ranking of the 2015 global energy consumers.
Be familiar with the various types of combustion reactions and the advantages/disadvantages of each.
Be familiar with the global distribution of petroleum production.
Be familiar with the energy fact matrix.
Know examples of metallic versus non-metallic mineral resources.
Exam Review:
Know definitions of energy reserves, resources, non-renewable, etc.
Know ranking of future potential energy resources.
Know the ranking of the 2015 global energy consumers.
Be familiar with the various types of combustion reactions and the advantages/disadvantages of each.
Be familiar with the global distribution of petroleum production.
Be familiar with the energy fact matrix.
Know examples of metallic versus non-metallic mineral resources.