1. Earth & Environmental Sciences
Year 12 ATAR
Mrs Tagore

2. Course outline Unit 3 Managing Earth resources
Students examine renewable and non‐renewable  resources, the implications of producing these  resources, and associated management approaches. 
Unit 4 Earth hazards and climate change 
Students consider how Earth processes and human  activity can contribute to Earth hazards, and the ways in which these hazards can be predicted and managed to  reduce their impact on Earth environments. 

5. Geological time
Non-renewable resources took millions of years to form and will run out one day
Eventually, these resources will be replenished, but does not fit into human timescales 
The geological setting for these mineral and energy resources determines their locations

6. Pilbara Iron Ore
Most iron ore in WA is found in banded iron formation rocks
Black, red and grey banded sedimentary rocks laid down about 2500 million years ago
Consists of alternating iron and silica rich layers

7. Resources Renewable Non-renewable (finite)
Natural (physical) resources e.g. minerals, soil, vegetation
Non-renewable (finite)
Fossil fuels e.g. oils
Minerals e.g. iron ore
Renewable
Continuous e.g. wind, waves
Sustainable e.g. forests, soils, water, ecosystems, landscapes
Human and economic resources e.g. people, skills, machinery, capital

8. Earth Resources Important terms you need to know:
A resource is a substance humans need for some use(s)
A reserve is an amount of a resource that can be extracted at today’s costs and selling prices. The total resource may be much larger than a reserve but may not become a reserve until well into the future.

9. Earth Resources
Renewable resources – can be replaced over relatively short periods of time e.g. months, years, decades
Non-renewable resources – non-living resources e.g. coal, oil, uranium, metals and fertilizers are not renewed quickly
E.g. petroleum can take millions of years

10. Earth Resources
The value of resources can be classified based on a number of factors
Feature
Low-Value Earth’s resources
High-Value Earth’s resources
Size of deposit
Large
Small
Value per tonne
Low
High
Importance of where it is found as to whether it is extracted or not
Import/export trade
Few
Many
How common?
Common
Rare
Processing needed
Little
Complex
Geology of deposit
Simple

11. Exampoles of high and low value resources
Value of the resource
Metallic
Non-metallic
High
Aluminum
Titanium
Copper
Lead
Silver
Zinc
Uranium
Gold
Platinum
Phosphates
Sulfur
Coal (certain types)
Petroleum
Low
Cement
Sand
Clay
Gravel
Gypsum
Water

12. Questions Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources
Distinguish between a resource and a reserve
Compare high and low value resources

13. Answers
Renewable resources can be replaced, usually by natural means. Non-renewable resources are not able to replace themselves, and once used, are gone forever.
A resource is a material that is needed by humans for some use(s). A reserve is an amount of a resource that can be extracted at today’s costs and selling prices
High and low value resources are similar in that they are use to humans. They differ in that high value resources have a high economic value that only makes it profitable to mine in remote locations if in very high concentrations. Low value resources are usually mined close to where they are used.

14. Classifying mineral reserves and resources
Value
Identified – reserve and resource that have been measured
Undiscovered
In known districts
In undiscovered districts or forms
Economic
Reserve – can be mined at current costs and prices
Resources – hypothetical as their presence can only be inferred
Resources – speculative resources
Sub economic
Resources – cannot be mined at current costs and prices

15. Considerations when looking for resources
Classifying resources as economic or subeconomic can be expensive and time consuming
Resources have to be in a concentrated area to be viable to mine. If they are too spread out, time and cost outweighs the profits
Ariel surveys and on-the-ground sampling and eventually drilling help to evaluate the economic potential of an area

16. Considerations when looking for resources
Environmental and economic considerations
Destruction of environment
Waste
Pollution
National park status
Land rights
Necessary transport to and from mine sites

17. Non-renewable resources
Finite, but timescale is not known
Geology of Earth has not been fully investigated, so we cannot say with certainty what is there
The price we are willing to pay for fossil fuels also drives need and therefore supplies

18. How can we meet future needs?
Find more sources
Mine lower grade deposits
Make use of new technology
Reduce usage/find more efficient use
Find substitutes

19. Depletion curves
Describe the three phases shown in the graph using the following headings:
Rapid consumption
Conservation
Recycling

20. Depletion curves Rapid consumption Conservation Recycling
Rapidly depleted e.g. fisheries – overfishing has meant that species become extinct/endangered
Fossil fuels will eventually run out – exploration of new areas currently being researched
Conservation
Efficient mining techniques extend resources
Advances in technology allows for greater and more efficient extraction
Renewable resources substituted for non-renewable
Recycling
Lengthen use of resource e.g. copper, lead and aluminum recycling
Conservation and recycling = sustainability!
Resources can be used indefinitely now and in the future

21. A sustainable resource
The sustainable use of a resource means that it is used in a way that keeps it available for use by future generations. This means that non-renewable resource is used at such a low rate that it will continue to be available for thousands of years. For a renewable resource it means it is used at a rate at which the natural environment can replace the resource